Glacé Cherries Recipe: How to Make Candied Cherries at Home

Glacé cherries, also known as candied cherries, are a type of candied fruit commonly used to top or fill various desserts. To make this sweet treat, simmer pitted sweet cherries on the stovetop in a simple syrup until the mixture reduces. Once cooled, store the cherries and the liquid in an airtight container in the fridge, which will help preserve the fruit. These preserved fruits will keep well for up to one year when appropriately stored.

Use glacé cherries as a topping for sweet dishes, like ice cream sundaes, trifles, and cherry pie, or add them to baked goods like fruit cakes, cherry cakes, scones, sweet breads, and festive Christmas cakes.

Whether you’re an expert at candying fruit or gearing up for your first time, follow these tips to make glacé cherries.

1. 1. Wash the cherries thoroughly. Before candying your fresh cherries, wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris from their skins.
2. 2. Remove the pits. Always remove the cherry pit with a cherry pitter or sharp paring knife before candying them to avoid any choking hazards. Learn how to pit cherries.
3. 3. Experiment with additions. Adjust the ingredients in any candied cherries recipe to suit your palate. Incorporate flavorful fruit juices and extracts like lemon juice or lemon extract, almond extract, or vanilla extract. For a more tangy dish, swap out the usual sweet cherries for sour cherries.
4. 4. Skim off any discard. Throughout the candying process, a thin film may form over the surface of the syrup: It won’t affect the flavor of your candied fruit, but it’ll make the syrup slightly cloudy. Skim the discard off the top of the sugar syrup using a slotted spoon.
5. 5. Handle and store properly. Make sure to fully submerge the cherries in the syrup before storing them to prevent spoilage. Use a clean spoon to remove the cherries from the jar to avoid introducing any outside bacteria to the preserved fruit. Store your preserved glacé cherries in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to a year. They’ll also keep in the cupboard, but only for a couple of months.