Grilled Cherry-Glazed Chicken Wings

July 2026. Thirty-nine years old. The birthday was at the land—it's the place for it now, has been for a few years. Hannah and Thomas were there, and it meant something different having them together as an engaged couple with a wedding coming in October. Caleb and River, who at four and a half had become a verbal presence at every gathering—a running commentary on everything he observed, delivered with no particular social editing. He told Hannah her hair looked different. He told Thomas he had a good truck. He told me I had too many trees. I said you'll thank me for the trees. He considered this and said maybe.

Lily and Ben drove up from Norman. Ben had started a small practice in Norman—he's a physical therapist—and they were settled and clearly glad to be back in Oklahoma after the Albuquerque years. Lily looked like herself in the way that means the work is going well. Her third paper was in progress and she was starting to talk about the eventual book with more specificity. She said my food journal was the spine of chapter four. I said I hoped chapter four was good. She said it would be.

The birthday cake was the peach cake again—Hannah had driven to the Pryor stand specifically for the right variety, the same stand she'd been going to for years. The ritual of it is part of the meaning. It would feel wrong now to have a different birthday cake. Some things should never change.

Thirty-nine. The land three years mine, the food forest growing, the family well, the work making something. A good year to start with.

The peach cake is Hannah’s territory and always will be, but every good birthday spread needs something savory coming off the grill while the cake waits on the table—something people can reach for while River delivers his commentary and Ben catches you up on the practice and the conversation finds its own shape. These cherry-glazed wings have that quality: fruity enough to feel festive, smoky enough to feel like a real cookout, and easy enough that you’re not chained to the grill when you’d rather be standing in the shade with your people. Thirty-nine felt like a year that deserved both.

Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Total Time: 50 min | Servings: 6

Ingredients

3 lbs chicken wings, split at joints, tips discarded
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cherry preserves
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

Prepare the grill. Heat an outdoor grill to medium-high (about 400°F). Clean and oil the grates well to prevent sticking.
Season the wings. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Toss with olive oil, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
Make the cherry glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cherry preserves, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, and cayenne. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook 5—7 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Set aside half the glaze for serving.
Grill the wings. Place wings on the grill in a single layer. Cook 10—12 minutes per side, turning once, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Glaze and finish. In the final 5 minutes of grilling, brush wings generously with the cherry glaze, turning once to caramelize both sides. Watch carefully—the sugars in the preserves can catch quickly over high heat.
Rest and serve. Transfer wings to a platter and let rest 3—4 minutes. Drizzle with reserved glaze and serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Grilled Cherry-Glazed Chicken Wings — The Cookout That Belongs to July