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Summertime means warm days, trips to the beach , and an abundance of in-season produce. There are plenty of seasonal produce to choose from: including fresh, tart cherries.
The beautiful fruit leads us to pick up more than we can possibly eat. The good news is that there are an abundance of recipes, whether it be savory or sweet, for the sweet fruit.
When choosing sweet cherries you want to look for deep red and shiny cherries that are firm and unbruised.
Easy Cherry Recipes
A solid cherry recipe is always good to have in your back pocket when cherries hit their peak. Be sure to save some fresh cherries for sauces, summer cocktails and salads.
You can also serve cherries over grilled proteins, which provides a much needed pop of color and a burst of sweetness.
Scroll below for easy cherry recipes to make before the season is up.
Cherry Dutch Pancake
This is an easy, yet impressive breakfast to make for your family.
Fresh or frozen cherries add a pop of flavor to this easy breakfast dish. If you are using fresh, be sure to take out the cherry pits first.
Pancakes with Cherry Syrup
The sweet cherry syrup balances the nutty flavor of the almonds and the crunch of the poppy seeds.
These pancakes offer a fun, tasty twist on a trusted breakfast classic.
Cherry Crumble
A crumbly, crisp almond topping is a perfect match to those dark sweet cherries.
If you are making a crumble with frozen cherries, be sure to defrost them completely or the crumble will need to bake a little longer.
Cherry Crisp
Loaded with your choice of Rainer or Bing cherries and topped with buttery, brown-sugary oatmeal, this quick and easy recipe is the perfect dessert to celebrate cherry season.
Be sure to add a scoop of ice cream to top off the crisp.
Cherry Cobbler
With just a few simple ingredients and beautiful fresh cherries, this dessert should be on rotation for the summer months.
Bing cherries, because of their sweetness, would work better for this warm fruit dessert.
Since its summer, add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to this fresh cherry cobbler.
Cherry Bread
Cherries and dark chocolate create a natural affinity.
This cherry loaf is topped with a simple vanilla glaze, and is soft from using buttermilk in the batter.
Cherry Bread Pudding
An indulgent dessert that uses in-season, juicy cherries.
This dessert can be made with any type of bread, but brioche is the perfect bread to use.
Cherry Pie Bars
Featuring a cherry pie filling without the tedious pie dough.
Cherry pie bars are the perfect way to enjoy the delicious cherry filling without the work.
Chocolate Cherry Snack Bars
Flavors of almond & cherry pair so well with these wholesome bars.
Dried cherries, chocolate chips and vanilla add a depth of flavor to these delicious cherry bars.
Yogurt Parfait with Cherry
Fresh cherry compote layered with creamy yogurt and crunchy granola make for an easy breakfast for those hot days.
The compote between each creamy yogurt layer is easy to make, and is also easier with a cherry pitter.
Cherry Pie
Who doesn’t love a homemade pie?
Impress guests with slices of delicious fruit filling baked inside a flaky, buttery crust. Prepare the pie crust in advance to save time.
Rustic Cherry Galette
A galette is a simplified pie, perfect for those short on time, but still want maximum impact.
The galette mixture couldn’t be easier to make. Fresh pitted cherries are mixed with brown sugar, flour, and lemon juice for a delicious filling.
Cherry Cake
Turn all those cups of cherries into a cake.
Vanilla cake is filled with sweet vanilla filling and topped with a sweet buttercream. What a delicious way to celebrate this summer fruit.
Cherry Clafoutis
Don’t be fooled by the fancy sounding name; it’s incredibly simple to make with basic pantry ingredients and fresh or canned cherries.
The creamy, custard-like texture is smooth and will soon be one of your favorite desserts.
Cherry Mousse Pie
A no-bake pie is what you need in your repertoire, so you don’t end up standing in a balmy kitchen.
The rich filling is a delightful mixture of chopped maraschino cherries, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, almond extract, and whipped cream.
Amaretto Cherry & Chocolate Ice Cream
Almond and cherry are an amazing combination, but add amaretto to the mix, and that is the ultimate summer combination.
It adds such a luxurious flavor to the ice cream!
Cherry Cheesecake
Not all cheesecakes are created equally.
What separates this recipe from the others, is the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors from the cherry topping. A mix of sweet and sour cherries are welcome for the topping.
Black Forest Cheesecake
A cheesecake that is perfect for chocolate lovers.
An ultra-rich chocolate cheesecake with a a crisp Oreo crust, and a ripple of kirsch cherry sauce in the center, is what summer dreams are made of.
Cherry Compote
This easy sauce comes together in a few minutes and is the perfect topping to almost anything.
From ice cream to pancakes, this versatile sauce will add summer flavor to your favorite dishes.
Steaks with Cherry Sauce
Celebrate cherry season with recipes that are also savory.
Rich steaks served with an insanely fresh cherry sauce flavored with fresh herbs will be a crowd-pleaser.
Chicken Thighs with Cherries
A one-pan dinner that is easy to make with lots of flavor.
You’ll need lots of crusty bread to mop up the rich sauce.
Cherry Chicken Salad
A chicken salad that has the perfect balance of flavors.
The crunch from the fruit, the creaminess of the mayo, and the savory chicken, come together for an easy and satisfying dish.
Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce
The sweet cherry sauce brings out the flavor of this juicy pork tenderloin.
A decadent dish that would be lovely for guests.
Sweet Cherry Grilled Brie
Is there anything better in life than melted brie?
How about one that has pan roasted cherries, thyme and honey? This is the appetizer of your dreams.
Ricotta Cream with Cherry
A delicious and refreshing dessert that comes together in minutes.
The perfect summer dessert that has a true balance of sweetness and saltiness.
Cherry Couscous & Arugula Salad
A delightful summer salad for those hot, humid days.
Featuring fresh cherries, arugula, pistachios and goat cheese, this will be your go-to summer salad.
Kale Cherry Salad
Any salad is especially good in the summer, but adding cherries in their peak season, is a no brainer.
Kale holds up better than other leafy vegetables, so it’s possible to make this before you plan on serving it.
Bourbon Cherry Old Fashioned
Bourbon just has the ability to warm you right up inside, and the bright colors are perfect for a summer night on the porch.
Cherry Whiskey Sour
Lime and sweet cherries add much needed sweetness to the whiskey.
Cherry Lime Mojito
There are plenty of different variations of mojitos, and while they are all good, this cherry mojito is a must.
If you ask me, there’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day.
Cherry Margarita
Summer cocktails are not complete without a margarita.
Muddle together cherries and lime juice until the fruit breaks down. Add tequila, liqueur, and syrup to make a drink that will certainly be a crowd favorite.
