Waste Not - Cherry Pit Syrup!

Cherry Pit Syrup

Don't throw away those cherry pits! They make a fantastic cherry syrup that you can use to flavour your favourite cocktails or soda water for a refreshing and sweet drink!

Cherry Pit Syrup

Last year I shared with you a recipe for Mango Pit and Skin Syrup and from there I discovered a whole world of waste reduction recipes including this one for cherry pit syrup!

Cherry Pit Syrup

I probably don't need to point out that if you're intending to give this syrup to others you want to cut the cherries in half and then remove the pit rather than chewing and sucking on them. I'd assume the high temperatures and sugar might kill any bugs but then again this is not the year to give medical advice.

Cherry Pit Syrup

This recipe is from a lovely reader Imogen Jones-Crossley. She mentioned how she makes a cherry syrup from the cherry pits and I was surprised at how little meat the cherries needed to create a beautiful deep mahogany coloured syrup. The flavour wasn't as strong as the mango pit syrup but it was amazing how much colour you could get from the pips.

Cherry Pit Syrup
Mr NQN's cherry pit on left vs mine

I had to wrestle the cherries from Mr NQN for this. You see he adores fruit and he loves sucking on cherries for around 5 minutes removing every last bit of flesh from the pit. I knew that if he got a hold of the cherries, I'd actually have nothing to make into a syrup. I eat cherries rather differently, you can see how well he cleans a cherry pit vs mine.

Funnily enough, because I grew up eating meat and he didn't, the reverse is true for eating meat off the bone and seafood. He leaves a lot of meat behind while I barely leave anything on the bone or in the shell.

Cherry Pit Syrup

So tell me Dear Reader, do you eat your cherries clean like Mr NQN? How are you at eating meat off the bone? Are you an efficient bone and pit cleaner?

Cherry Pit Syrup

Did you make this recipe? Share your creations by tagging @notquitenigella on Instagram with the hashtag #notquitenigella
Rated 5 out of 5 by 2 lovely readers. Share your rating:

Adapted from a recipe by Imogen Jones-Crossley

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

  • 30-40g/1-1.4ozs. cherry pits (I didn't count but something like 30-40 pits)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cherry Pit Syrup

Step 1 - Place the cherry pits, water and sugar in a saucepan and melt the sugar. Simmer gently for 30-40 minutes. You don't really have to stir it provided the sugar has melted. When it has reached a syrupy consistency add the vanilla. Cool, strain and bottle.

Cherry Pit Syrup

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