Quick summary
There are several easy ways to dress up canned cherries to make them a more elegant dessert topping or garnish. Try combining the cherries with ingredients like liqueurs, fresh herbs, spices, citrus zests, flower waters, extracts, nuts, chocolate, whipped cream, or other fruits. You can serve drupped up cherries over ice cream, cakes, cheesecakes, crepes, waffles or pancakes. Or use them to make cherry pies, turnovers, compotes, sauces, martinis and other cocktails. With just a little creativity, plain canned cherries can become a fancy and versatile ingredient.
What types of canned cherries work best?
The most common types of canned cherries are:
- Sweet cherries – These are packed in a sugary liquid called “light syrup”. They have a sweet, mild flavor that works well in most recipes.
- Sour cherries – Usually packed in water, sour cherries have a tart, tangy taste. They’re often used in savory dishes and baking.
- Maraschino cherries – Maraschinos are preserved in a sugar, salt and maraschino liqueur solution. They have a distinctive syrupy taste and bright red color.
Any variety of canned cherries can be dressed up. But sweet cherries packed in light syrup tend to work best for making fancy dessert toppings and garnishes. Their sweet flavor and syrupy juice allow them to soak up other ingredients nicely.
Simple mix-ins for dressing up canned cherries
Here are some easy ideas for mixing in extra flavors with canned cherries:
Liqueurs
– Amaretto
– Brandy
– Cherry brandy (kirsch)
– Chambord
– Coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
– Crème de cassis
– Frangelico
– Grand Marnier
– Marsala wine
– Port wine
– Rum
Just drain the syrup from the cherries. Then combine the cherries with 1-3 tablespoons of your chosen liqueur per 14-16oz can of cherries. Let them soak for 10 minutes or more. The longer they soak, the more flavor they’ll absorb.
Fresh herbs
– Basil
– Lavender
– Lemon verbena
– Mint
– Rosemary
– Sage
– Tarragon
– Thyme
Simply chop about 1-2 tablespoons of fresh herbs per can of cherries. Mix in with the drained cherries and let sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Spices
– Allspice
– Cardamom
– Cinnamon
– Clove
– Ginger
– Nutmeg
– Star anise
– Vanilla bean
Add anywhere from 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of spices per can of cherries. Allow to infuse for 10+ minutes. For vanilla, steep 1 bean, split lengthwise, in the cherries.
Citrus fruits
– Lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit juice and/or zest
Stir in 1-2 teaspoons juice and 1 teaspoon finely grated zest per 14-16oz can of cherries. Let sit 10+ minutes to infuse flavors.
Flower waters
– Orange blossom water
– Rose water
Use about 1 teaspoon per can of cherries. Let sit 10+ minutes to infuse.
Extracts
– Almond extract
– Maple extract
– Peppermint extract
– Raspberry extract
– Strawberry extract
– Vanilla extract
Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon extract per 14-16oz can. Allow to infuse for 10+ minutes.
Nuts
– Almonds, chopped
– Hazelnuts, chopped
– Pecans, chopped
– Pistachios, chopped
– Walnuts, chopped
Drain cherries. Toss with 1-3 tablespoons chopped nuts per can. Allow to sit so nuts soften slightly.
Chocolate
– Chocolate chips or chunks
– Cocoa powder
– Shaved dark chocolate
Melt 1-3 tablespoons chocolate per can of cherries. Toss with drained cherries and allow to sit until chocolate firms up again. For cocoa powder, use 1-2 teaspoons per can.
Fancier drupped up cherry recipes
If you want to make a more elaborate cherry topping, here are some recipe ideas:
Amaretto cherries
- 1 can (14 oz) sweet cherries packed in syrup, drained
- 1/4 cup amaretto
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds
Mix together all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to develop.
Spiced cherry compote
- 1 can (14 oz) pitted sweet cherries in syrup
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- Pinch of nutmeg
Drain cherries, reserving syrup. Combine juice, sugar and spices in a saucepan. Simmer until slightly reduced. Add cherries and reserved syrup. Cook until warmed through. Discard spices before serving.
Cherry-port sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) sweet cherries in syrup
- 1/2 cup port wine
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- Pinch of nutmeg
Drain cherries, reserving syrup. Whisk syrup, wine, vinegar and nutmeg in a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp water. Stir into liquid. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Add cherries and heat through.
Kirsch cherry sorbet
- 1 can (14 oz) sour pitted cherries, drained
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup kirsch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Puree cherries, sugar and kirsch in a blender. Add lemon juice. Pour into a loaf pan and freeze 4 hours. Remove from freezer and break up cherry mixture with a fork. Freeze another 4 hours until solid.
Serving ideas for dressed up canned cherries
Once you’ve jazzed up some canned cherries, here are delicious ways to serve them:
- Over vanilla ice cream, gelato or frozen yogurt
- On top of cheesecake or cake slices
- Spooned over pancakes, waffles or crepes
- As a filling inside crepes or pastries
- Stirred into yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal
- As a topping for pies, tarts or crisps
- Layered in parfaits
- Served with a cheese board
- As a topping for bread pudding or custards
- In trail mix or granola
- In cocktails, punches or champagne
The possibilities are endless! Dressing up canned cherries with extra flavors helps elevate them from topping to delicious ingredient.
Nutrition information
Here is a nutrition comparison between plain canned cherries and cherries drupped up with amaretto, for a 1/2 cup serving:
| Nutrition Facts | Plain Canned Cherries | Amaretto Cherries |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 67 | 105 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Sodium | 3mg | 3mg |
| Total Carbs | 17g | 19g |
| Protein | 1g | 1g |
The added amaretto increases the calorie, carb and sugar content slightly. But the difference is minimal considering the huge flavor payoff.
Cost comparison
Dressing up canned cherries does add some cost. But it’s still an affordable way to make an elegant dessert topping.
Here’s a basic cost breakdown:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 14oz can sweet cherries in syrup | $1.89 |
| 1/4 cup amaretto liqueur | $1.75 |
| 2 tbsp slivered almonds | $0.15 |
| Total cost per serving: | $3.79 |
Compared to $4-6 for a serving of fancy cherries at a restaurant, preparing drupped up canned cherries at home is very economical.
Conclusion
With just a few extra ingredients like liqueurs, herbs or spices, plain canned cherries can be transformed into a impressive dessert garnish. The possibilities are endless for mixing and matching flavors. Drupped up cherries are easy to make, add elegance to dishes, and cost just a fraction of what you’d pay in a restaurant. Keep a few cans on hand along with some flavor boosters so you can quickly dress cherries up any time you want to add a fancy touch of fruit to your desserts.