Dehydrated Cherries

Name: Dehydrated Cherries
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 490 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds cherries (rinsed, destemmed, and pitted); lemon juice ((optional topping))

Published: Jul 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 4, 2021 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

Learn how to make Dehydrated Cherries in a dehydrator or the oven. You can use dried cherries for baked goods, salads, yogurt topping, a healthy snack, and more!

dehydrated cherries in a bowl and fresh cherries on the side

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 (see notes in the recipe card).
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.

sliced cherries on a dehydrator tray — sliced bing cherries

whole rainier cherries in a dehydrator — sliced bing cherries

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 in 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 really well when vacuum sealed.

What to do with Dried Cherries

Eat them as a healthy 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 Cherry Pitter

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.

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