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This cold-processed Cherry Shrub is a simple sweet-tart syrup made with ripe cherries, sugar, and vinegar. Stir it into sparkling water to make a fruity soda, or add it to or your favorite spirits for a more complex cocktail.
Serve your shrub with these thick and chewy Cherry Blondies.
This Isn’t A Shrub Plant, It’s A Shrub Drink!
When I say shrub most people think I’m talking about a small tree, but this is actually a super yummy drink. They’re made with fresh fruit (sweet cherries in this case), sugar, and vinegar. Some refer to them as drinking vinegars.
The mixture is cold-processed in the refrigerator for at least a week and during this time the sweet cherries and sugar macerates together while the vinegar’s acidity works to preserves it. What you get is a sweet and tangy, fruit-forward syrupy shrub that lasts for months.
For more cherry recipes try my Cherry BBQ Sauce on grilled chicken, or this Cherry Bomb Mocktail with non alcoholic bourbon whiskey.
Cherry Shrub Ingredients
Below is everything you will need to make not only the shrub, but a drink as well. Keep reading because I do have a few important notes.
- Sweet Cherries: Make sure you’re working with high quality, fresh, sweet cherries that are both ripe and juicy. You’ll also want to wash your cherries and discard ones that are moldy or have soft spoiled spots. They should also be cut in half or in 4’s.
- Sugar: Feel free to use granulated sugar or raw cane sugar. Honey can also be used.
- Vinegar: We will use both apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar. Although it’s mostly apple cider vinegar, a splash of the balsamic vinegar really boosts the cherry flavor.
- For A Drink: Once your shrub is finished, you will need 100% tart cherry juice and some plain sparkling water.
How to Make a Cherry Shrub
1. Mix and Refrigerate. In a large jar, add the chopped sweet cherries, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and balsamic vinegar. Give it a stir and seal with a clean lid and ring. Refrigerate for 7 to 14 days, stirring gently once a day.
2. Strain and Store. After the time has passed, strain the cherry shrub away from the chopped cherries. Place the shrub in another jar or airtight bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to three months.
3. Pour Yourself a Drink! Combine the shrub with 100% cherry juice and sparkling water. Lightly stir and sip!
Find the complete recipe instructions with measurements below.
Make It Your Own
Swap out the sparkling water. It’s amazing how mixers can change the flavor profile of this shrub so much. If you’re looking for other non alcoholic mixers, try Hop water (my favorite), tonic water, or club soda. You can also add a splash of shrub to your champagne, vodka, or gin.
Add spices to your shrub. Create another layer of flavor with a few sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh sage. You can also add a cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, or even a cracked black peppercorn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
More Shrub Recipes You Might Enjoy
Cherry Shrub
EQUIPMENT
- jar - 24 ounce
- fine mesh strainer
- storage bottle - 16 ounce, or jar
INGREDIENTS
Cherry Shrub
- 2 cups sweet cherries - pitted, cut in half or fours
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Cherry Shrub Drink (makes 1)
- 3 tablespoons cherry shrub
- 1 ounce 100% tart cherry juice
- 4 ounces plain sparkling water - *
- garnish - fresh cherry, herbs, and edible flowers
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large jar, combine the halved cherries, granulated sugar, apple cider vinegar, and balsamic vinegar. Seal the jar with a clean ring and lid, place in the refrigerator for 7-14 days. Gently stir once a day to help the sugar dissolve and flavors to meld together.
- After a minimum of 7 days, use a fine-mesh strainer to separate the shrub from the solids. Transfer the shrub into a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
- When making a drink, combine cherry shrub and 100% tart cherry juice with 4 ounces of plain sparkling water. Garnish with a fresh sweet cherry, gently stir and serve.
RECIPE NOTES
- Swap out the sparkling water for tonic water, club soda, hop water, or alcoholic spirits like champagne, vodka, or gin.
- Frozen cherries can be used in place of fresh. I do recommend thawing and roughly chopping them so they can properly macerate with the sugar.
STORING INFORMATION
- Refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to 1 month.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
