Description
These pickled cherries are a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and savory flavors, infused with fresh thyme and warm spices. Quick to prepare, they make a perfect appetizer or a unique garnish for cocktails and charcuterie boards.
Ingredients
Cherries and Herbs
- 1 pound fresh cherries, stemmed and pitted
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
Pickling Brine
- 1 ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup brown sugar, loosely packed
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 bay leaf
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Prepare Jars and Cherries: Fill two glass pint jars (or one glass quart jar) with the fresh, stemmed, and pitted cherries. Tuck in the fresh thyme sprigs among the cherries to infuse herbal flavor.
- Make Pickling Brine: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine ¾ cup water, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, kosher salt, whole black peppercorns, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar completely. Then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Fill Jars with Brine: Carefully pour the hot brine over the cherries in the jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace at the top. If you prefer a milder pickled cherry, strain the brine through a fine mesh sieve before pouring.
- Seal and Store: Cover the jars with lids and let them cool to room temperature. Once cooled, store the jars in the refrigerator. The cherries will be ready to enjoy after a few hours but develop best flavor after sitting overnight.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm cherries to maintain texture after pickling.
- Fresh thyme adds a subtle herbal note; you can substitute with rosemary or omit if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on desired spice level.
- Refrigerate and consume the pickled cherries within 2 weeks for best quality.
- The pickled cherries make a great accompaniment to cheese boards, salads, or cocktails.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
