Cherry Facts

Q: How can cherries be used in cooking?

Cherries can be eaten fresh or added to fruit salads, sauces, toppings, pancakes, and crepes.

Learn fun cherry facts, how cherries grow, how to choose and store them, and easy ways kids can use cherries in breakfasts, toppings, and snacks. This page also includes a cherry pancakes or crepes recipe.

Fun Cherry Facts

Sweet cherries are often available in late spring.
Sour cherries are often available in June and July.
Cherries grow on trees like apples and plums.
Cherries can be eaten fresh or used in sauces, toppings, pancakes, and crepes.
Cherries come in sweet and sour varieties.

How Cherries Grow, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Cherries Are Available

Bing cherries, also called sweet cherries, are often available in late spring, while sour cherries are often available in June and July.

How Cherries Grow

Cherries grow on trees like apples or plums.

What to Look for When Buying

Buy cherries that are dark in color and plump. Sour cherries should be a true red color. The stems should still be attached, and you should avoid any with brown spots.

Storage Tips

Store cherries in the fridge, but do not wash them before storing. Wash them before using.

Kid Tip: Compare sweet cherries and sour cherries if you can. Notice the color, taste, and how each one works in recipes.

How to Pit Cherries

Wash the cherries before using them.
Use a cherry pitter, paper clip, or safety pin to remove the pit.
Set the pitted cherries aside for fruit salads, sauces, toppings, pancakes, or crepes.

Cooking Tip: Pitting cherries before cooking makes them easier and safer for kids to eat.

Mini Activity

Compare Sweet and Sour

Try a sweet cherry and a sour cherry if available.
Notice the color, texture, and taste of each.
Talk about which one would be better for eating fresh and which one might be better for cooking.

This is a simple way to help kids understand how fruits can taste different and be used in different ways.

Cherry Nutrition Facts

Cherries are high in antioxidants and are a good source of beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Cherries are high in antioxidants.
They are a source of beta carotene.
They provide vitamin C.
They also provide vitamin E.

More Food Fact Resources

Recipe

Cherry Pancakes or Crepes

This easy cherry topping works for both pancakes and crepes and uses cherries with a sweet sour cream drizzle.

Ingredients

Your favorite crepe or pancake recipe
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 jar canned sour cherries, or 2 to 3 cups fresh pitted cherries mixed with 3/4 cup to 1 cup sugar

Instructions

Prepare your favorite crepes or pancakes.
Mix together the sugar and sour cream until the sugar is dissolved.
For crepes, place a row of cherries across the lower fourth of one crepe, roll it up, and drizzle with the sour cream mixture.
For pancakes, top the pancakes with cherries and drizzle the sour cream mixture over the top.

Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can help mix the topping, place cherries on pancakes or crepes, and drizzle the sour cream mixture over the top.

More Cherry Ideas

Cherry Juice Drink

Try a simple drink by mashing cherries and squeezing out the juice.

Upside Down Cake

Upside down cake recipe with cherries

Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

Easy "dump" dessert with 4 ingredients.

Cherry Ripe Slice

A rich chocolate and cherry dessert bar layered with coconut, condensed milk, and a smooth chocolate topping.

Cherry Juice Drink

Submitted by one of our readers.

Mash or squeeze cherries to make a simple cherry juice drink. It is a playful way to enjoy cherries for kids who would rather drink cherries than munch on them.

Cherry Cooking Video

Cherry Facts FAQ

When are cherries available?

Sweet cherries are often available in late spring, while sour cherries are often available in June and July.

How do cherries grow?

Cherries grow on trees like apples or plums.

How should cherries be stored?

Store cherries in the refrigerator and do not wash them before storing. Wash them before using.

How can cherries be used in cooking?

Cherries can be eaten as is or added to fruit salads, sauces, toppings, pancakes, and crepes.

What nutrients are in cherries?

Cherries are high in antioxidants and are a source of beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Keep Learning About Cherries

Food Facts Hub

Explore more ingredient pages and food learning ideas.

Kids Cooking Lessons

Build more kitchen skills with hands-on lessons and activities.

More Tree Fruit Facts

Compare cherries with other fruits that grow on trees.

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