Dried Cherry

Dried cherries are pitted cherries that have been dehydrated until chewy and slightly glossy. They deliver a tart-sweet, jammy pop and hold their shape in baking, trail mixes, salads, and grain dishes. Common retail forms are sweetened tart cherries, sometimes lightly oil-treated to prevent sticking; they can be chopped or briefly soaked to plump.

Cherries were domesticated in Europe and West Asia and spread through the Mediterranean, with tart types prized for preserves and drying. Modern commercial drying, especially in North America’s Great Lakes region, uses air or tunnel drying and often adds sugar to balance acidity.