10 Sweet Cherry Recipes

After finishing a long, lazy summer evening filled with grilling and good company, I found myself craving something sweet, something light, nostalgic, and filled with flavor. I had already been browsing cherry recipes to use up the overflowing bowls from our backyard trees when I remembered a story that tugged at my heartstrings: a daughter on a mission to recreate a lost family tradition.

Her mother had visited the same beloved bakery for over 40 years. Every holiday season, she looked forward to one special item: Cherry Chews. But this year, heartbreak hit twice. The bakery stopped making them… and wouldn’t share the recipe. The loss stung even more deeply after the passing of her daughter’s sister. These cherry treats were one of the few small comforts, left as sweet reminders of family and happier times.

So, whether you’re trying to heal a heart or just treat yourself after some smoky ribs, cherry season has the perfect answer waiting

Desperate to bring back that spark of joy, her daughter turned to the internet with a simple plea: “Please, can someone help me find this recipe?” She described them as tiny rectangular bites, soft like cake, but not sticky. Inside: cherries and pistachios. Dusted with powdered sugar. But every cherry recipe she found online looked more like brownies or cookies with icing.

Nothing matched the texture or the look she remembered. Still, the community rallied. People shared everything from meltaways to financiers. One kind soul even tracked down a paywalled article from a bakery called Jubelt’s, with a recipe that seemed almost perfect.

The solution? A cake-like base made with egg whites, sugar, flour, butter, and shortening, filled with dried sour cherries and chopped nuts. The original used pecans, but pistachios would be an easy swap to recreate the original magic. Powdered sugar on top brought it all together.

Even if you’re not on a mission to recreate a lost recipe, these 10 cherry recipes are perfect after a savory summer meal, comforting, light, and nostalgic.

Why Cherries Are the Star of Summer Baking

Cherries aren’t just beautiful and sweet, they’re incredibly versatile. From pies and cakes to drinks and savory pairings, they bring brightness and flavor that elevate any dish. Their natural tartness balances sugar, while their vibrant color adds visual appeal. Whether using fresh, frozen, or canned, cherries are the ultimate seasonal ingredient.

10. The BEST Cherry Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 pie crusts (store-bought or homemade)
• 5 cups pitted cherries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
• 1 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
• 1 egg + 1 tbsp water (egg wash)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Mix cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract.
3. Pour filling into pie crust, dot with butter.
4. Top with second crust, seal and crimp edges.
5. Brush with egg wash, cut slits to vent.
6. Bake 45–50 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

9. Easy Bundt Cherry Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box of white or yellow cake mix
• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp almond extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a Bundt pan.
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Pour into pan and bake for 40–45 minutes.
4. Cool and glaze or dust with powdered sugar.

8. Homemade Cherry Cola

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cherry juice or syrup
• 2 cups cola (cold)
• Ice
• Fresh cherries for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill the glass with ice.
2. Add cherry juice, top with cola.
3. Stir and garnish with cherries.

7. 3 Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Spread pie filling in the baking dish.
3. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the top.
4. Drizzle with melted butter.
5. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden.

6. Cherry Jam from Frozen Cherries

Ingredients:

• 4 cups frozen cherries, thawed and chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Combine all in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
3. Pour into jars and cool. Refrigerate or water-bath can.

5. Cherry Recipes: Classic Cherry Delight Dessert

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz Cool Whip
• 1 can of cherry pie filling

Directions:

1. Mix crumbs and butter. Press into a 9×9 dish.
2. Beat cream cheese and sugar, fold in Cool Whip. Spread over crust.
3. Top with cherry pie filling.
4. Chill for 4+ hours.

4. Cherry Recipes: Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box of chocolate cake mix
• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings (for topping)

Directions:

1. Prepare and bake the cake as directed.
2. Poke holes in warm cake, spoon cherry pie filling over.
3. Chill, then top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

3. Cherry Recipes: No Bake Cherry Cheesecake with Cool Whip

Ingredients:

• 1 Graham cracker crust
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz Cool Whip
• 1 can of cherry pie filling

Directions:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread into the crust.
3. Top with cherry pie filling. Chill 4 hours.

2. Cherry Recipes: Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 jar maraschino cherries
• Hershey’s Kisses or chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter, sugar, and extract. Add flour.
3. Fold in chopped cherries. Shape into balls.
4. Bake 10–12 minutes.
5. Press a chocolate kiss on each while warm.

1. Cherry Recipes: Cherry Cobbler with Frozen Cherries

Ingredients:

• 4 cups frozen cherries
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Toss cherries with sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Pour into the dish.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, milk, and butter. Spoon over cherries.
4. Bake 40–45 minutes until golden.

FAQs

1. Can I use frozen cherries for all these cherry recipes?

Yes! Just thaw and drain excess juice when necessary.

2. What’s the best substitute for cherry pie filling?

Use homemade filling with fresh or frozen cherries, sugar, and cornstarch.

3. Can cherry recipes be made gluten-free?

Absolutely, substitute with gluten-free flour or mixes.

4. How do I pit cherries quickly?

Use a cherry pitter or poke through with a metal straw.

5. Do I need to refrigerate cherry recipes?

Suppose dairy is involved (like cheesecake), yes. Fruit-only desserts can stay covered at room temp briefly.

6. What’s the best cherry recipes variety for baking?

Tart cherries (like Montmorency) are ideal due to their balance of sweetness and acidity.

Conclusion

Cherries aren’t just for pies, they’re the versatile hero of sweet and savory dishes alike. With these 13 power-packed cherry recipes, you’ll never look at a cherry the same way again. Whether you’re throwing together a dump cake or impressing guests with a Black Forest cake, there’s a cherry recipe for every occasion.