Can I use frozen cherries for brandied cherries?

Fresh sour cherries are best, but you can also make this recipe with frozen morello cherries . These cherries will keep in the refrigerator for several months and are fantastic spooned over ice cream or a simple cake or even dropped into a glass of champagne with a little of their syrup.

How long do canned brandied cherries last?

Whether stored in the refrigerator or canned using the water bath, the unopened jar of cherries should keep for up to a year (until next cherry season). Once opened, keep the jar of brandied cherries chilled in the refrigerator and enjoy them within a week.

Do you have to thaw frozen cherries?

Method 1 (Easiest Method for Freezing Cherries) Place them in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then take and seal them in zip-loc bags and place them back in the freezer. You can pull them out at any time to eat them. We've found it best to let them thaw for a few minutes before trying to eat them .

What brandy is best for brandied cherries?

It doesn't need to be a premium tier brandy— the nuances will get lost in the sweet syrup and spices. But it should be a brandy you'd want to drink. We love to use VS or VSOP Cognac , as they're almost always fruity and lively. It's okay if the brandy is a little fiery, it'll smooth out in the cherry syrup.

Do you refrigerate brandied cherries?

Pour brandy liquid over cherries and let come to room temperature. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 2 days before eating . Cherries will last a couple months in the fridge.

Do canned cherries go bad?

As long as the can is in good shape, the contents should be safe to eat, although the taste, texture and nutritional value of the food can diminish over time. Home canned foods should be used within 1 year .

Do alcoholic cherries go bad?

According to Tracey Brigman, EdD, associate director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation, an unopened jar of co*cktail cherries can last for up to two years . “Once opened, they can keep for about 6 to 12 months, as long as they are continuously refrigerated during that time,” Brigman continues.

Can I use frozen cherries instead of fresh?

Frozen cherries have one advantage that fresh fruit doesn't — because they've been sitting in your freezer for some time, they're more willing to give up their juices than fresh cherries are, giving your pie filling a richer fruit texture.

Are frozen cherries as good as fresh?

Waiting for spring or summer to indulge in cherries? No need. Like most frozen fruit, frozen dark sweet cherries hit the snacking trifecta: juicy, all the nutrients of fresh fruit, and irresistible straight out of the bag . No washing, no de-stemming, no pitting.

Are frozen cherries safe to blend?

There is no concern the pits could leach anything harmful into the fruit while frozen . “Most people put (the cherries) in smoothies, pies or other things so (they) want them pitted. It is much more difficult to pit a frozen cherry than a fresh cherry,” King explained.

Do frozen cherries get mushy?

When using cherries in baking, it is best to let them thaw before you use them as they can make desserts mushy when they're frozen and not properly thawed out . For jams, it's possible to use them either way. It just takes a bit longer to cook them from frozen on the stove.

Sleepytime Brandied Berries and Cherries Recipe (2024)

Do you have difficulties falling asleep at night? Good news, adult readers: this brandied berries and cherries recipe can help improve your sleep AND it is a tasty treat to enjoy right before bedtime.

First, a brief Book Review…

I have fallen in love with my newest book: The Complete Guide to Adaptogens: From Ashwagandha to Rhodiola, Medicinal Herbs that Transform and Heal by Agatha Noveille.

I’ve been a huge fan of Agatha’s website Indie Herbalistfor a quite a while now, and we hang out in the same herb-loving circles on social media. So when I was given the opportunity to review her book The Complete Guide to Adaptogens, I was super excited. I confess that I was haunting our mailbox for the book to arrive.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogen herbs are herbs that “have been shown to have a gentle but measurable influence on immunity, sleep, stress levels, energy, and endurance.” (The Complete Guide to Adaptogens, pg. 9).

So if you, like me, struggle with things like stress, energy, and sleep issues, adaptogen herbs are an amazing thing to research and start using. Adaptogens are becoming quite popular for a good reason!

Agatha’s book has a great chapter with basic information about adaptogens as well as a huge glossary chapter, which contains brief descriptions of all the adaptogen herbs.

So if you want to learn more about adaptogen herbs, this book is a great resource, and it’s a great addition to any herbalist library.

A bit more about this Book…

Let’s take an honest look at the pros and (a few) cons about this book, and then I’ll share the Sleepytime Brandied Berries and Cherries recipe with you, which comes from this amazing book.

Why The Complete Guide to Adaptogens is SO awesome:

The Adaptogens Glossary:

I think one of the reasons that I love this book so much is that the glossary, which includes brief information about each adaptogen herb, also contains information on how to grow those herbs. Score!

The Complete Guide to Adaptogens wish list:

I don’t think there is such a thing as a perfect book, and since I’m making an honest book review here, I’ll mention my issues with the book, too.

I wish this book had more information, especially science/medical info.Granted, I am a researching nerd, and I almost always wish my books had more information for me, but it does seem like The Complete Guide to Adaptogens could have used some more information. I LOVE that the glossary is full of easy-to-read bulletpoint articles on each adaptogen, however, I also wish there was more data/facts there.

For example, the Sleepytime Brandied Berries and Cherries recipe that I am sharing here (down below, I promise), starts with some brief information about how thyme is good for sleep and nerves, and so are the adaptogen dried schisandra berries. However, there is no mention about how good cherries are for sleep (here’s a great article about cherries for sleep). And when you go to the schisandra berries section in the glossary, I ended up wantingmore information than the glossary section contained, so I searched the internet for more data on schisandra berries. I also searched the internet to learn more about the medicinal benefits of thyme.

Overall, I love this book.

The Complete Guide to Adaptogens is an amazing resource for any herbalist, and also for anyone who wants to learn more about being self-sufficient with natural and homemade remedies.

Like most good books, it has you craving MORE: more information on adaptogens, more information on all herbs, etc. And, like most good books, The Complete Guide to Adaptogens will leave you feeling INSPIRED. There is seriously such a huge range of creative recipes that will keep you inspired for a long, long time.

I loved this book, and I hope you will, too. Click here to buy The Complete Guide to Adaptogens.

Sleepytime Brandied Berries and Cherries: My Final Thoughts

When I had to choose a recipe to include in my book review post, it was super tough! There were so many good recipes in this book to choose from. However, sleep issues are a big deal in my household, so I narrowed it down to the sleep recipes. And my friends and family know that I LOVE cherries. And my hubby knows that thyme is my favorite herb to grow in the garden. And who doesn’t like the idea of having brandy for “medicine”?!

So it was pretty darn obvious that I needed to choose this sleepytime brandied berries and cherries recipe to both make and share with you all. It was my destiny. 🙂

I was unfamiliar with dried schisandra berries, which I purchased to make this recipe. When I bit into one of the berries, the taste was… interesting. It’s kinda sour and earthy, but I immediately could understand how the sweet/tart cherry and earthy thyme flavors would pair very well with the dried schisandra berries.

Sleepytime Brandied Berries and Cherries Recipe

Author Agatha Noveille’s Notes: These brandied cherries include the adaptogen schisandra. Thyme adds an unusual note to the brandied cherries, while having calming nervine properties of its own. Use a few cherries and schisandra berries at a time over desserts or added to yogurt for a bedtime snack. When the berries and cherries are all gone, use 1⁄2 teaspoon of the remaining liquid as an unusual evening elixir.

Even though it’s usually thought of simply as a kitchen spice, thyme has an impressive number of herbal attributes. It offers support to the digestive system as a carminative (an herb that helps to soothe gas and bloating), and to the lungs as an antitussive and expectorant.

Thyme’s history as a nervine is virtually unknown, but I find it particularly fascinating because of its affinity for the nervous system. At various points in history, it has been employed for everything from anxiety to epilepsy to paralysis to fainting. In sleep support formulas, it can be a good choice to promote relaxation from subconscious sources of tension and restlessness in someone who can be easily startled awake or who has nightmares.

YIELDS 1 POUND BRANDIED BERRIES AND CHERRIES

Ingredients:

15 ounces frozen cherries (fresh are also nice, but remember to remove the pits and stems)
1 ounce dried schisandra berries
2 cups brandy
1⁄2 cup granulated cane sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:

1. Pack the cherries and schisandra berries into a quart-sized canning jar or divide evenly into smaller jars.

2. Heat the brandy, sugar, and thyme in a medium saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

3. Pour the brandy and sugar mixture into the jars to cover the cherries. Place lids on the jars, and transfer to the fridge for at least 1 week. These brandied berries and cherries should keep indefinitely as long as they are kept covered by the brandy and sugar solution and refrigerated.

I hope you love The Complete Guide to Adaptogens like I do!

Don’t forget to check out my Shop page to see a list of more of my favorite books (as well as links to my book reviews).

More Herbal Remedy Recipes:

Herbal Tea for Insomnia
Herbal Tea for the Flu
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Nourishing Nursing Mother’s Tea Recipe