50 cherry recipes to catch your interest (cheese plates & pies to salads & steak)

Cherry season is very short - they ripen on trees all at once over two weeks. If you're lucky enough to buy them fresh from the farmers market or have your own tree, you might be looking for some creative cherry recipes.

My own backyard tree produced 50 pounds of cherries several years in a row, so I feel like an expert in ways to use them up. Recipes that use a lot of cherries will be time consuming, since you have to pit them (and sometimes chop them up).

Jump to:

• Breakfast
• Appetizers
• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Savory pizza
• Meat & cherry recipes
• Desserts
• Other desserts
• Do it yourself
• Drinks & cocktails
• Sour cherry recipes
• Your favorite uses

Breakfast

I really enjoy adding cherries to breakfasts, especially ones I can make ahead. Otherwise, I am pitting and chopping in the morning (which takes time and makes a mess with red juice everywhere, potentially splattering onto your clothes).

Cherry muffins

Sweet cherries are typically used in muffins, but sour cherries work as well. They'll add extra tartness without needing more sugar (think tart like cranberry muffins). Both are interchangeable in muffin recipes.

Almonds are the most popular nut to pair with cherries, probably because of the flavor overlap and almond extract is commonly used in place of (or in addition to) vanilla extract. Almond extract is often made from cherry, peach, and apricot pits because they contain the same compound that gives almonds their distinct flavor.

Overnight oats

Overnight oats are made by soaking rolled oats in liquid (like milk) overnight, along with other ingredients. The oats turn into a creamy consistency and are ready to eat in the morning. They're popular for ready-to-eat breakfasts on busy weekdays.

Try some of these recipes that incorporate cherries:

• Dark chocolate cherry overnight oats from Recipe Runner (pictured above)
• Cherry overnight oats (turns pink from leftover frozen cherry juice, which you can get if you freeze your own cherries). From Three Little Chickpeas
• Overnight oats with cherries and greek yogurt, recipe from The Healthy Toast

Other oatmeal recipes

Oats and cherries are a popular pairing, as you might be noticing. The sweet-tart cherries add interest to the oats, while pairing with their nutty flavor and creamy texture.

• Baked cherry oatmeal in a skillet, from Rhubarbarians (pictured above)
• Cherry almond croissant baked oats (inspired by almond croissants), from Fit Foodie Finds
• Dark chocolate cherry baked oatmeal recipe from Sweet Savory and Steph
• Morning oatmeal with pistachios and cherries, recipe from NYTimes Cooking
• Cherry and maple oatmeal from Fork in the Road

Parfaits & yogurt

Cherries and yogurt go so well together, partly because of how their acidity interacts. Cherries contain malic acid which is crisp (think apples), while yogurt has a soft, creamy lactic acid. Together they make the cherries taste juicier and less sour.

The main aroma compounds in cherries are also fat-soluble, so a full-fat yogurt will have the greatest effect on increasing the aromas and flavors.

• Yogurt parfait with cherries, recipe from Jessica Gavin
• Chocolate cherry parfaits recipe from HyVee
• Roasted cherry yogurt bowl from Real + Vibrant (this looks sooo good!)

Cherry coffee cake

Another breakfast staple, the guest-worthy coffee cake, gets a seasonal twist with fresh cherries. The recipe from The Forked Spoon tops the batter with fresh halved-cherries instead of mixing them in - keeping the coffee cake structure from falling apart.

Homemade Pop Tarts

Who doesn't love creating a homemade version of a childhood favorite? This recipe from Kitchen Confidante makes a homemade cherry jam filling and a pastry crust. Don't forget the sprinkles!

Pitting cherries

You'll notice that almost all recipes need the cherries pitted. I've tried every type of cherry pitter (that isn't meant for industrial operations and cost hundreds of dollars). I've tried the single ones, the multi-pitters, and the funnel style pitters.

Sadly, the funnel ones didn't work well at all, but the one from OXO that pits 4 at a time works really well. Maybe 1 in 20 cherries still have a pit, so be sure to check. Once the cherries are de-stemmed, I can pit 2 pounds (4 cups) in about 3-5 minutes.

Appetizers

Adding cherries to appetizers provides a fresh take on old classics (brie, bruschetta, and even quesadillas). It's fun to share these with guests during the elusive & short cherry season.

Summer cheese boards

Bruschetta and crostini

Bruschetta and crostini are used pretty interchangeably these days. If you want to get technical, bruschetta bread typically remains chewy while crostini is very crisp throughout. Here are some recipes to try that incorporate cherries.

• Cherry bruschetta with ricotta and mint from Kevin is Cooking (pictured above)
• Bruschetta with fresh cherries, ham, and mascarpone from Alice Zaslavsky
• Grilled crostini with roasted cherries, ricotta, and basil, recipe from Ambitious Kitchen
• Balsamic roasted cherry & goat cheese crostini from Olive & Mango
• Cherry mascarpone breakfast toasts from Aberdeen's Kitchen

Cherry salsas & chutneys

While it might seem like an odd ingredient for salsa or chutney, cherries actually add acidity and sweetness that just works. Here are some recipes to try:

• Grilled cherry salsa recipe by How Sweet Eats (pictured above)
• Fresh cherry salsa (no cooking) - from Eat Love Eat
• Spiced cherry chutney with ginger, cardamom, and allspice, from Taste of Home
• Cherry chutney recipe for canning from Food in Jars

Salads

I try to save the best tasting cherries for two purposes: fresh snacking and salads. Bland cherries are too disappointing for either of those uses.

Leafy green salads

Cherries are juicy and heavy, so they pair well with sturdy greens, like kale, romaine, and spinach. Their flavor also works with arugula, balancing out the spicier notes with its sweetness. Try some of these cherry salad recipes below, or this cherry Waldorf salad that replaces grapes with cherries.

Grain salads

A lot of grains have a slight nutty flavor that pairs well with the almond-notes in cherries. My favorite pairing is definitely farro, but most grains work pretty well.

Sandwiches

These recipes are definitely creative and delicious. Some of the sandwiches take advantage of the synergy cherries have with cheese, while others swap cherries in place of other tart fruit.

Savory pizza

This might sound odd, but stick with me. Have you ever had a BBQ chicken pizza? It's good because the BBQ sauce is a little sweet, contrasting with the salty meats and fatty cheese. Cherries will act similarly - here are some recipes to try:

• Grilled pizza with cherries, goat cheese, and arugula from Recipe Runner (pictured above)
• Sour cherry & bacon pizza with pickled jalapenos from Bon Appetit
• Cherry and caramelized onion pizza with brie and gorgonzola, recipe from Floating Kitchen

Meat & cherry recipes

Cherries pair well with meat, although it's not common to come across (which is also why I enjoy it - it's something new!). The malic acid cuts through rich meat dishes like vinegar would, but without the vinegar flavor.

Chicken & cherries

Fatty chicken pieces, like legs, thighs, and wings get the most out of a cherry pairing, as that acidity and sweetness cuts (and complements) the fat. The dish will taste richer without being dessert-like.

• Rosemary, cherry, and balsamic roasted chicken from Heather Christo
• Roasted chicken thighs with cherries, honey, and pomegranate molasses, recipe from Eat Love Eat
• Chicken with cherry-wine pan sauce from Iowa Girl Eats
• Chicken & pork cocktail meatballs with cherry-jalapeno glaze from Georgie B.

Pork & cherries

Out of all of the meats, pork probably pairs the best with fruit. I look forward to these pork chops with peaches every summer. Try cherries with pork chops or pork tenderloin instead.

• Grilled pork tenderloin with peach & cherry salsa from Floating Kitchen (pictured above)
• Quick pork chops with a cherry-wine sauce from Platings + Pairings
• Pork chops with cherries and bourbon from Zen Belly
• Goat cheese stuffed pork tenderloin with cherry balsamic sauce from Closet Cooking
• Roasted pork tenderloin with 2 sauces: a roasted brown-sugar cherry compote and a blended green arugula sauce from Serious Eats

Beef

This is another pairing that seems odd at first, but really works. Cherries will act similarly to wine-based sauces when paired with beef, adding similar acidity, fruity notes, and richness. Roasting cherries enhances this combo.

• Smoked ancho chile steaks with burst cherries and burrata from Half Baked Harvest (pictured above)
• Pot roast with tart cherry & black pepper sauce and gorgonzola from The Modern Proper (it calls for frozen cherries, but fresh would work as well but might need a longer cooking time at the end to fully soften)
• Short rib bolognese with a sauce made from cherries, tomatoes, and red wine, from Olive & Artisan
• Cherry braised beef brisket from Use Your Noodles

Fish

This is another meat where fattier types of fish will benefit more from the cherry pairing, like Salmon or most freshwater fish. The acidity cuts the oiliness, similar to citrus but not as tart. For a light-tasting recipe, use fresh cherries (instead of roasted or grilled).

• Grilled salmon with a cherry-maple glaze from Kevin is Cooking (pictured above)
• Grilled rainbow trout fillets with cherry-jalapeno salsa from Riverence
• Fried trout with cherry-pecan salsa from Midwest Living
• Cod tacos with cherry salsa from We are not Martha

Desserts

There are so many cherry dessert recipes that I've divided them into categories, like cherry cobblers, pies, ice cream, and cherry recipes with chocolate. So let's dive right in.

Cherry pies

Cherry pies are without a doubt, the most popular cherry recipe. You can use sweet or tart cherries for pies and they are pretty interchangeable.

I did some tests to find out the best cherries to use for pie, which ends up as a combination of the two. Really tart sour cherries make the flavor pop a lot more than sweet cherries, while the sweet cherries add more depth of flavor.

The homemade cherry pie recipe pictured above is from Love & Lemons, but I have a few other unique ones for you to check out below. Taste of Home has 14 cherry pie recipes to also check out.

If you use sweet cherries (instead of sour cherries), it's worth noting that light or medium-red cherries might turn slightly red-brown instead of a bold or dark red color. That's because the juices haven't turned dark red yet.

Below, you can see the very ripe sweet cherries on the right, which will result in a perfect red-colored filling.

If the cherries aren't red enough, you can fix this by adding in ½ of a peeled plum - it contains a ton of natural dye and won't affect the flavor. Sour cherries will turn the pie red, and of course, you can also use dye.

Cherry cobbler recipes

Cherry cobblers are probably the second most popular cherry recipe and they are even easier to make. Here's my cherry cobbler recipe that takes so little assembly time, you'll be making it all summer long.

Tarts

I find myself making tarts more often than pies because I like the sturdier crust and the cleaner flavor that comes through without the extra crust on top. Here are some cherry tart recipes to try this summer.

• Easy cherry tart from Vintage Kitchen
• Mini cherry tarts from Bake Eat Repeat
• Mini cherry tarts in a muffin tin from Edible Western NY

Cherry crisp recipes

A crisp is a quicker, easier, and lighter version of pie. There's no bottom crust, and the fruit is simply topped with a crumble. My secret: make a double batch of the crumble topping and keep it in your fridge. Then make personal sized crisps in ramekins on-demand. Eat them hot out of the oven!

Here are some cherry crisp recipes to try:

• Classic cherry crisp recipe from House of Nash Eats (pictured above)
• Bourbon cherry crisp from Sally's Baking
• Personal cherry crisps from Good Cheap Eats (calls for frozen cherries, but you can also use fresh)

Chocolate

Chocolate and cherries are another classic pairing, and when brandy is added, it is a black forest dessert in the making. This combo is used for inspiration (often omitting the brandy), as you'll see from some of the recipes below.

Cheesecake

Who doesn't love cheesecake, especially when you can generously drown it in a fruit sauce? Cherries' acidity balances out the rich cream cheese. Try one of these recipes:

• Cherry cheesecake with a pistachio-graham cracker crust from California Grown (pictured above)
• Black forest cheesecake with cherries layered in the middle (and on top) from Blue Bowl Recipes, or a simpler version from The Pioneer Woman
• Cherry cheesecake bars from Butternut Bakery

Frozen desserts

If you're wondering what to do with a lot of cherries, you can always pit and freeze them. Once thawed, they will be softer and release juices (just like frozen strawberries).

They won't be great for salads or recipes that rely on a firm cherry. However, frozen cherries are excellent for sauces, frozen desserts, smoothies, and anything that gets blended.

Other desserts

A few cherry dessert recipes didn't fit into categories but they look too good to pass up.

Do it yourself

Overwhelmed with a big harvest and want to know what to do with your cherries? Try cocktail cherries for probably the quickest way to preserve them.

I've made a lot of cocktail cherries (and canned them). While they need to be pitted, there isn't much else in the ways of prep work and you can use a lot at once. I used tiny 4 ounce jars, which would hold 10-12 whole cherries - it was just the right amount for a cocktail night (or for gift giving). Then I didn't have a half-used jar sitting in my fridge for months.

Cherry jam, sauces, and syrups are also excellent ways to use up a lot of cherries at once, so check out some of those recipes as well.

Drinks & cocktails

Most of these recipes use a handful of fresh cherries at most. While you won't use up a giant harvest, they are a fun way to brighten up a classic drink.

Sour cherry recipes

Sour cherries are very tart - some people enjoy eating them fresh, others really, really don't. But nearly everyone agrees they make the best desserts. Their tart flavor really shines in sweet desserts, especially pies.

However, they are almost never sold in stores since they don't ship well. You have to find them locally (or grow your own). They can be found in pockets throughout the west coast, midwest, and east coast.

Tart cherries can be swapped in for most sweet cherry recipes, but in case you want some recipes designed specifically for sour cherries - here you go:

Your favorite uses

What have been your favorite ways to use cherries? Leave a comment for everyone else to get even more good ideas!