Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 14 Cherry Recipes To Whip Up With Fresh Cherries, Frozen Cherries, and More Who doesn’t love cherry season? By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 23, 2024 Close Photo: Greg DuPree Cherry season is upon us! While the small red fruits can now be found year-round throughout much of the country, cherry season generally runs from the middle of May through the beginning of August, depending on where you live. If you’re a cherry fan, it’s likely hard to resist buying a carton or two of cherries during your summer trips to the grocery store or farmer’s market, and while cherries can be enjoyed solo, they’re also a stellar ingredient to cook with.With your fresh summer cherry haul in mind, we’ve come up with a list of more than a dozen cherry recipes that will put the delicious fruit to good use. These cherry recipes work for breakfast through dessert, and include dishes such as Cherry Berry Breakfast Custard and Cherry-Vanilla Bundt Cake. Ready to cook with cherries? Keep reading for some of our favorite cherry-filled dishes! 17 Delicious Strawberry Recipes That Call For Fresh-Picked Fruit 01 of 14 Cherry-Vanilla Bundt Cake Antonis Achilleos While this might look like a classic bundt cake from the outside, this treat has a major wow factor—a cascade of cherries hidden inside the sweet, tender crumb. To create this showstopper, you’ll add a cake batter enhanced with yogurt to the pan in two batches, with a store-bought cherry pie filling sandwiched between. If you need a make-ahead dessert, prepare this cake a day in advance and dust with confectioners’ sugar just before putting it on the table. Serve each slice with some fresh cherries for even more fruit. get the recipe 02 of 14 No-Churn Chocolate-Cherry Ice Cream Fred Hardy No ice cream maker? No problem! All you need to make this silky, creamy ice cream is a saucepan to make a cherry jam, an electric mixer to blend cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream, and a freezer. Eliminate a step by using store-bought cherry jam if you don’t have cherries, but allow at least four hours of freezer time. get the recipe 03 of 14 Skillet Chicken Thighs With Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Cherry Salsa Greg DuPree Ready in just 45 minutes, this flavorful chicken recipe is one for the books. Here, chicken thighs are roasted in a hot oven, yielding juicy meat with a wonderfully crispy skin. While the chicken cooks, you’ll make a quick, buttery balsamic glaze that balances the chicken and a tart cherry salsa. That fruity salsa, meanwhile, is made with fresh cherries, shallots, lemon juice, and more. get the recipe 04 of 14 Cherry Americano Greg DuPree This Shirley Temple lookalike is actually a boozy, bittersweet spritz made with Campari. Though this cherry Americano is a tad sweeter than some other cocktails, it still has less sugar than a peach. The sweetness comes from maraschino cherry juice and sweet vermouth, but it’s balanced by the Campari. For a garnish, go for an orange slice and a fresh cherry. get the recipe 05 of 14 Cherry-Bourbon Chicken Wings Victor Protasio Make watching any sporting event at home special with this irresistible chicken wings recipe, which includes pitted sour cherries, bourbon, light brown sugar, and more. These wings are saucy, sweet, and sour, for a near-complete flavor palette in every bite. If you cook them on the grill, they'll even get a crispy, caramelized finish that will keep everyone coming back for more. get the recipe 06 of 14 Amaretto Sour Popsicles Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner For a vegan warm weather dessert that doesn’t disappoint, give these amaretto sour pops a whirl. They taste like a frozen version of the popular cocktail, and look like a stunning summer sunset. Serve 'em with fresh orange slices and cherries for optimal refreshment. get the recipe 11 Tart Cherry Benefits That Can Boost Your Health 07 of 14 Cherries Jubilee Joseph De Leo Cherries Jubilee is an oldie but goody that's been around since the late 1800s (Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, to be exact). Simmer the cherries with Kirsch or brandy until its liquid is slightly thickened (and the alcohol burns off), pour it over vanilla ice cream, and enjoy! get the recipe 08 of 14 Cherry Berry Breakfast Custard Greg DuPree Cherries for breakfast? Yes, please! This berry breakfast treat boasts a custardy base that’s studded with frozen mixed berries and frozen dark sweet cherries. If you’ve got a fresh cherry haul, however, you can use those instead. get the recipe 09 of 14 Cherry Coconut Dump Cake Caitlin Bensel When you see "dump cake" in the title, you know the dish is going to be a breeze to make. This cherry coconut dump cake is no exception. Mostly pantry staple ingredients are mixed together and then placed into the pan to bake. It doesn't get much easier than that. get the recipe 10 of 14 Cherry Gin Rickey Victor Protasio This refreshing cherry gin cocktail is equal parts cool and tart, making it perfect for poolside or beachfront evenings. Since the recipe is relatively simple, it’s also easy to transform this drink into a non-alcoholic beverage for those who are looking to cut back on their alcohol consumption. To do so, just skip the gin. Even without the spirit, this drink is still scrumptious and refreshing. get the recipe 11 of 14 Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake José Picayo The gingersnap crust is the star here, and sets this cheesecake recipe apart from others. The flavorful crust is perfectly balanced with the mild, creamy filling and the sweet cherry preserves. While you can use store-bought preserves, you can also make your own if you’ve got a bunch of fresh cherries that you need to use. get the recipe 12 of 14 Pork Chops With Cherry Sauce Christopher Baker Pork chops and applesauce are a well-known pair, and if you’re a fan of that duo, we have a feeling you’ll enjoy pork chops with cherry sauce. The fruity sauce in this recipe is made with a pound of pitted and chopped cherries, as well as shallots, olive oil, chicken broth, orange marmalade, and balsamic vinegar. get the recipe 13 of 14 Cherry Manhattan J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler This twist on a classic Manhattan calls for the typical trio of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters, as well as tart cherry juice. The fruit juice elevates the sweet-and-sour fruit flavor of the drink, and gives it a bold, deep red hue. For the best results, garnish this drink with real Maraschino cherries, like those from Luxardo. get the recipe 14 of 14 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin With Cherries Jonny Valiant This pork recipe has it all—the meat is rich and juicy, the bacon is crispy and salty, and the cherry layer is sweet and tender. When the dish is done, you’re left with perfectly cooked, moist pork wrapped in crispy bacon, with a sweet-and-salty layer of dried cherries, parsley, and mustard in between. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes for a complete, comforting meal. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit