If you want to taste summer, just bite into a Northwest-grown sweet cherry. The juicy superfruit — rich in flavor and antioxidants alike — makes for the ultimate seasonal snack. And if you’re after the very best out there, seek out Northwest sweet cherries, which won a 2023 Good Housekeeping Snack Award. They aren’t just pretty to look at; they’re packed with vitamins and minerals that’ll keep you glowing from the inside out.
Cherries are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, compounds that have been shown to combat stress and reduce inflammation. They also contain vitamin C, a nutrient that plays a role in supporting the immune system; potassium, a mineral that has been associated with promoting heart health; and melatonin, a crucial hormone that helps regulate sleep — to name just a few of the benefits. Studies have also shown that cherries might be helpful as natural defenses against diseases like diabetes and forms of dementia.
Although Northwest sweet cherries are fantastic all by themselves, it’s more fun to get a little creative. After all, they add a juicy tang to everything from salads to steak dinners. Here are our favorite ways to incorporate them into your daily routine.
Go Bold for Breakfast
To kick your morning off on a protein-rich foot, try a yogurt parfait full of cherries. First, scoop a few spoonfuls of your yogurt of choice into a bowl. Top with your favorite granola, then add in a handful of sliced sweet cherries. From there, it’s up to you: Sprinkle with cinnamon for an extra kick, top with peanut butter for even more protein or add a pinch of flaky salt for a just-right balance of savory and sweet.
Say Goodbye to Sad Desk Lunches
One of the easiest ways to incorporate sweet cherries into your lunchtime routine is to toss halved ones into a salad. They add pops of bright flavor to hearty greens like kale and arugula, balance the richness of cheeses like parmesan and feta, and offer a nice textural contrast to crunchy toppings like nuts and seeds. Plus, the acidity of a dressing like balsamic vinaigrette plays beautifully off the sweetness of cherries, resulting in a salad that has it all.
At Snack Time, Play a Match Game
Cherries are the ultimate addition to any cheese plate, whether it’s an elaborate dinner-party spread with wheels of brie and fresh focaccia, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up-for-one, complete with cheddar from the fridge and a few saltines. Especially with salty cheeses and crunchy crackers, they bring an explosive sweetness that’s both satisfying and refreshing.
Pair Sweet and Savory for Dinner
Although sweet cherries are most often eaten raw, they’re just as delicious cooked. In the summer, when you fire up your grill to barbecue steaks or vegetables, throw some cherries on as well for a smoky side dish. For an alternate approach that’s a little less messy but just as tasty, make cherry shish kebabs on wooden or metal skewers, grilling the fruit until it’s soft and charred. In colder seasons, opt for your oven. Put halved sweet cherries on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper, then drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast until the cherries are fork-tender. Add any spices or seasonings you’d like, from brown sugar for a sweet take to garlic for something more unusual.
For Dessert, Think Beyond Pie
There’s a whole world out there of cherry desserts. While you really can’t go wrong with any of them, some are far more time-consuming than others. If you’re looking for one that’s easy enough to make every day, go recipe-free with chocolate-covered cherries. Simply melt some chocolate, dip the sweet cherries into it, freeze them for at least an hour and eat. If you’d prefer, you can also pit the cherries in advance, cut them into halves, dip the halves in the chocolate, freeze and voilà — a perfectly poppable cherry dessert.
