The Best Way to Use a Cup, Quart, and a Pound of Cherries
Cherry season is upon us, and we cannot get enough of these sweet jewel-toned stone fruits. Their season is fleeting, though, so it’s time to stock up and make the most of them while they’re around.
To help you along, here is your cherry checklist. It’s where you’ll find the very best things make, bake, and stir together based on the size of your cherry haul, with no amount too small for something great!
Here’s What to Make Based on How Many Cherries You Have
No matter how many cherries you have, whether it’s a couple handfuls, a couple pounds, or somewhere in between, there are so many ways to put them to work once you’ve had your fill of eating them out of hand.
A Handful of Cherries
If you’re feeling inspired to use up those last few cherries, know that there’s no amount too small. While you won’t be baking up a pie, some smaller-batch ideas are well within your reach.
1 Cup of Cherries
A single cup of cherries is a great starting-off point for so many delicious things. This is just the right amount for using them in fruity sangria (swap cherries for any summer berry), salads, taco toppings, and blondies.
- Sparkling Cherry Rosé Sangria
- Cherry Simple Syrup
- Grain Salad (use fresh cherries in place of dried cherries)
- Taco Topping
- Cherry and White Chocolate Blondies (use cherries in place of strawberries)
1 Quart of Cherries
A quart of cherries is equivalent to roughly a few cups, and less than a pound. This is the sweet spot for making a cool batch of ice cream or a cherry clafouti.
1 Pound of Cherries
Cherries are most commonly sold by the pound, and a single measure is just the right amount for a slew of sweet summer desserts, including crumble, poke cake, and fruit sauce. Of course any of the above options are also on the table if you prefer to use a smaller amount of cherries.
- Cherry-Vanilla Soda Syrup
- Cherry Breakfast and Dessert Sauce
- Cherry Crumble (use fresh sweet cherries in place of frozen tart cherries)
- Cherry Poke Cake
A Few Pounds of Cherries
If you have more than a pound of cherries on your hands — say about two pounds or more — you’ve got some choices to make. In addition to all the options above, this ample haul of fruit is just right for baking up a classic cherry pie, cobbler, and jam. Ready the pitter!