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This quick and easy recipe for cherry simple syrup is perfect to flavor your favorite summer drinks and cocktails. It's ready in just 10 minutes and requires only 3 ingredients.
Whether it’s cherry season or not, you must try this cherry simple syrup recipe. It is delicious and perfect to flavor your favorite drinks and cocktails, such as my cherry mojito.
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a liquefied form of sugar that is commonly used to sweeten drinks such as cocktails, iced tea, lemonade, and more. Because it is liquefied, it is easier to blend into drinks rather than regular sugar. It can also be used to sweeten foods such as baked goods or it can be drizzled over desserts such as pancakes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you love cherries and cherry-flavored anything, you’ll love the versatility of this cherry syrup recipe. From drinks to desserts, this recipe can be used as a filling, topper, or sweetener for your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. You can swap your regular maple syrup for this cherry syrup or to flavor drinks such as cocktails, juice, or soda. This is just some of what this recipe has to offer.
Ingredients
- Cherries - Make sure to pit the cherries and cut them in half prior to preparing the syrup.
- Granulated sugar - to sweeten the simple syrup.
- Water - Equal parts sugar and water is what’s needed to make simple syrup. I add a bit less sugar to this recipe to account for the sweetness from the cherries.
Step-by-Steps Instructions
Pit the cherries. Remove the pit from the cherries using a cherry pitter and cut them in half.
Preparing the syrup. Place the cherries in a small saucepan or pot with the sugar and water. Bring to medium heat and let the mixture simmer for about ten minutes. Stir frequently.
Remove it from the heat and let it cool. Mix the cherries in a blender and pass the liquid through a strainer to separate the liquid from the solids.
Serving Suggestions
- While I like to use this cherry simple syrup with my cherry mojito recipe, it can be used for so many other things. For one, you can also try using it to make some margaritas.
- Opting for non-alcoholic drinks? Try adding cherry flavor to some juice drinks. You can make a cherry lemonade, limeade, or even a cherry slushy.
- You can also drizzle this cherry syrup over pancakes or waffles, or glaze it over your favorite ice cream or yogurt.
- Another option is to use it as a filling for desserts like cakes or pies.
Note: If using this recipe as a filling for desserts or as a topping, be sure to reduce the mixture more when cooking. Continue to cook it down for an additional 10-20 minutes until you get the desired consistency.
Recipe Variations
- If you’re looking to add some kick to your syrup, you can try by adding a hint of tartness flavor with lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
- For some spiciness, try adding extra herbs like ginger or rosemary.
Storage Tips
Once the syrup has been strained, pour it into a container with a lid, like a resealable bottle or a mason jar. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze the syrup for up to 6 months. If choosing to freeze, make sure to leave ½ inch headspace for freezing expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cherry syrup healthy?
Because of it’s added use of sugar, cherry syrup is not necessarily healthy. However, when choosing to make it from home with fresh cherries, it is healthier than buying it from the store. Cherry juice though is rich in potassium and has many anti-inflammatory properties, according to Healthline.
What cherries should I use?
I personally like to use regular fresh cherries bought from my local grocery store. While maraschino cherries can be used, it is already sweetened with sugar and has other added preservatives which may make your syrup much sweeter.
Can I use frozen cherries?
Yes! You can use frozen Bing cherries or any other brand available. Just make sure they’re pitted.
Do you have to remove the cherry pits before making this simple syrup?
Yes. This is to avoid an added nuisance when making this recipe. It is best to do so beforehand rather than wait until it is already being cooked.
Is cherry syrup the same as grenadine?
No. Despite the belief that it is cherry flavored, grenadine is actually made from pomegranates. No cherries are involved whatsoever.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- If using this recipe as a filling for desserts or as a topping, be sure to reduce the mixture more when cooking. Continue to cook it down for an additional 10-20 minutes until you get the desired consistency.
- Store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze the syrup for up to 6 months. If choosing to freeze, make sure to leave ½ inch headspace for freezing expansion.
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INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups cherries, pitted and sliced in half
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the cherries, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat when it starts to boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves completely and the cherries become soft.
- Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a blender and mix for about 30 seconds, or until cherries are just broken down slightly.
- Pass the liquid through a strainer to separate the liquid from the solids. Discard the solids and store the liquid in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
NOTES
- If using this recipe as a filling for desserts or as a topping, be sure to reduce the mixture more when cooking. Continue to cook it down for an additional 10-20 minutes until you get the desired consistency.
- Store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze the syrup for up to 6 months. If choosing to freeze, make sure to leave ½ inch headspace for freezing expansion.
Nutrition
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This recipe post was first published in August 2015. It was updated in August 2022 with new photos and additional recipe notes and tips.
Carolyn
Can you freeze this? Have you ever used an artificial sweetener such as Truvia to reduce the calories?
Vanessa
Yes, Carolyn. You can definitely freeze it. I have never used Truvia but I'm sure you can substitute the sugar to reduce calories. I find though that these sweeteners are more sweet than regular sugar so you might want to add less of it.
Renee @ Tortillas and Honey
What a great recipe for cherry season. I love seeing new cherry recipes to use!