Learn how to make Dehydrated Cherries in a dehydrator or the oven. You can use dried cherries for baked goods, salads, a yogurt topping, easy snack, and more!
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Why I Love This Recipe
Dehydrated cherries are one of my all-time favorite summer snacks and they are so easy to make. Every year we get an abundance of cherries from a local farm here in the Pacific Northwest and we allocate at least half of them for drying. There are also so many things you can use dried cherries for, keep reading for my suggestions below!
Once you have dehydrated fruit either in a dehydrator or the oven, you will realize just how easy it is to preserve delicious summer fruits for months to come. Check out my posts for Dehydrated Strawberries, Dehydrated Oranges, and Dehydrated Pears for more ideas.
How to Make Dehydrated Cherries in a Dehydrator
Wash, de-stem, and pit the cherries. You can either slice each cherry in half or leave them whole.
Place each cherry on the dehydrator rack until the entire level is full. Fill all of the levels, making sure to leave room around each cherry so that the air can circulate them.
Place the lid on the dehydrator and set it to 135º. It will take anywhere from 6-10 hours for the cherries to fully dehydrate. Start checking them around 6 hours.
Can you Dry Cherries in the Oven?
Yes, you can dry cherries in the oven! Start by preheating the oven to 200ºF and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cherries on the parchment paper with room to breathe around them.
Cook them for 6-8 hours or until done. Flip the cherries over at hour 3. Allow the cherries to cool on the pan before you remove them.
Can you Freeze Dehydrated Cherries?
Yes, you can freeze-dried cherries for up to 6 months. Place them in a sealed bag or container made for the freezer. They also freeze well when vacuum sealed.
What to do with Dried Cherries
- Eat them as a quick and easy snack
- Use them in baked goods like muffins or scones
- Put them on your favorite salad
- Use them in homemade granola or granola bars
- Put them on top of yogurt or oatmeal
- Add them to your favorite pancake or waffle batter
- Put them in a fruit crisp or pie filling
My Favorite Dehydrator
I have a Nesco dehydrator that I use all the time. I’ve had it for quite a few years and it is still as good as the day I got it. It’s pretty lightweight and is easy to clean...you can put the trays in the dishwasher!
The only negative I can think of is that it does take up some space because it’s bulky. There are quite a few options for dehydrators out there, some are even bigger if you want to dehydrate a ton of food at once. The one shown below is a great beginner option.
The Best and Easiest Cherry Pitter Tool
I have tried a few different cherry pitters and this one is definitely my favorite. Handheld cherry pitters work, of course, but they take longer to pit 2 pounds of cherries and your hand will most likely be sore after a while.
The cherry pitter shown below only does one cherry at a time, but it goes much faster and the pits fall into the bin below for easier cleanup. In my opinion, it's worth every penny if you like fresh cherries.
If you get a chance to make these Dehydrated Cherries, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Dehydrated Cherries
Equipment
- dehydrator (if you don't have a dehydrator, you can use your oven)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cherries rinsed, destemmed, and pitted
- lemon juice (optional topping)
Instructions
- Wash, destem, and pit the cherries. Place sliced or whole cherries on the trays (see notes). I prefer cutting them in half because they turn out more like dried cherries you would buy in the store. Place each cherry on the dehydrator rack until the entire level is full. Fill all of the levels, making sure to leave room around each cherry so that the air can circulate them. You can sprinkle them with lemon juice if desired, but it's really not necessary.
- Place the lid on the dehydrator and set it to 135º. It will take anywhere from 6-10 hours for the cherries to fully dehydrate. Start checking them around 6 hours. You want them to be just a little rubbery but not wet. They will become more firm once they cool.
Notes
- You can either slice each cherry in half or leave them whole. Leaving them whole will obviously increase the dry time. I also increase the temp by 10-15º.
- To make these in the oven, preheat the oven to 200ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook them for 6-8 hours or until done. Flip the cherries over at hour 3.
- Store dried cherries in a sealable container in a cool dark place or freeze them for later.
- Times will vary depending on how big the cherries are, the humidity, the outside and inside temperature at the time, and your dehydrator.
- Always read the manual for your dehydrator and follow all safety recommendations.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Diane says
I love my Nesco! But it actually took 24 hours to dry my sweet cherries. I thought that was awfully long.
Emily says
Hi Diane, that does seem a little long but it also depends on how dry you want your fruit, the climate, etc. Thanks for trying out the recipe!
Brianna May says
Love it!
Gabriela says
This will make the perfect show stopping topper for my overnight oats, what an absolute treat.
Emily says
These are delicious on oats!!! Enjoy 😊
Lilly says
Such a nice snack! Delish!