Hey, there fellow dessert lovers! If you’re a fan of sweet and juicy cherries, then get ready to indulge in some seriously delicious cherry cakes and desserts. Today, we’re talking about the best cherry desserts that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Cherries are versatile fruit that can be used in many dessert recipes, from cakes and pies to tarts and cobblers. As someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen, I’ve tried my fair share of cherry desserts and I’m excited to share my favorites with you.
In this post, I’ll be sharing the 7 best cherry dessert recipes (some cakes too) that are easy to make and guaranteed to impress. From classic cherry pie to rich and decadent chocolate cherry cake, these desserts are perfect for any occasion.
So, get ready to indulge in some seriously sweet and juicy cherry desserts that will have you coming back for more. Trust me, once you try these recipes, you’ll fall in love with cherries all over again.
1. Cherry Clafoutis
Clafoutis or Clafouti is a classic baked French dessert of fruit. It is usually made with black cherries covered with a thick flan-like batter. It is creamy and custardy in texture, more of like a cross between flan and cake.
But mind you, this dessert is easier to make than you think. In fact, it is one of the easiest fruit desserts, especially when you have lots of cherries on hand.
The main ingredients for Cherry Clafoutis include cherries, of course, along with sugar, eggs, and flour. It also requires amaretto, which gives this dish the slightest hint of almond flavor. But if you don’t have the liqueur, you are free to use vanilla extract.
INGREDIENTS
Softened butter (for pan)
1 1/2 cups cherries (sweet or tart, halved, and pits removed)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon amaretto
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Powdered sugar (for serving)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and then grease a 9-inch round baking dish with butter.
- Arrange cherries in an even layer in the pan.
- Place eggs and sugar in a blender and blend until frothy.
- Add milk, flour, salt, and amaretto. Blend until combined and then pour batter over cherries.
- Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Traditionally, clafoutis is made with cherries that still have their pits as the pits provide more flavor. However, this makes it a little challenging to eat this dessert. That is why we highly recommend using pitted cherries.
Cherry Clafoutis requires very little flour so don’t be surprised if the result is like a thick custard. The truth is, clafoutis is a very versatile dish. You can use different types of fruits. Aside from cherries, you can also utilize grapes, apricot, berries, pears, apples, and peaches. It gives you a great opportunity to use fruits that are in season.
To those of you who are familiar with ‘Dutch Baby’, yes, clafoutis is quite similar to it. They have almost the same ingredients but the baking method is different. Clafoutis takes longer to bake in the oven, plus it is silkier and more custardy in texture.
Try making Cherry Clafoutis today and see how delicious it is!
2. Cherry Cobbler
When it comes to dessert, I like adding fresh fruits, be it as a topping or filling. You can never go wrong with that, especially when you are using berries or cherries. And speaking of cherries, there are too many things that you can do with them.
You can utilize them to decorate your cake, muffin, cupcake, ice cream, and many more. They also make a good filling for pies. How about cobbler? Have you had a cherry cobbler before?
Imagine a homemade cherry cobbler made with fresh cherries and soft rise-to-the-top topping. It’s heaven! You will surely love every bit of it, more so when you add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or any flavor that your heart desires. It is going to be at the top of your dessert go-to list!
INGREDIENTS
Batter:
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 large egg
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. butter (unsalted, melted)
Filling:
2 lbs. cherries (fresh, pitted, cut in half)
1/2 c. sugar (granulated)
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash and pit the cherries. Slice them in half and place them in a saucepan. Add all the other ingredients for filling. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, but be sure to stir occasionally.
- To make the batter, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, salt, and egg in a bowl until smooth. Melt the butter in the skillet, remove from heat, then pour the batter in.
- Spoon the cherry mixture in an even layer over the batter. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.
A cherry cobbler will last for about 4 to 5 days in the fridge. You have the option to store it either in an airtight container or in the skillet itself so you won’t have to worry about making a huge mess.
3. Homemade Cherry Souffle
Soufflés look fancy. And to some people, they look intimidating. Many think that this elegant-looking dessert can only be ordered in some fancy or upscale restaurants. Little did they know that souffles can easily be made at home.
If your first thought is that these beauties are hard to make, this recipe will certainly change that impression. The truth is, you only need a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. You also don’t have to follow any complicated cooking or baking steps. Just relax! 🙂
So first, what is a soufflé? Simply put, it is a baked egg-based dish. It is believed that it originated in France in the 18th century. In fact, it can be served as a savory main dish along with some ingredients. But in general, it is considered a dessert. Its name came from the verb ‘souffler’, which means to blow, to inflate, or to puff.
INGREDIENTS
soft butter and sugar (for the ramekins)
10 ounces of cherries
2 tbsp cherry liqueur (kirsch)
2 tbsp powdered sugar
4 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
5 ounces sour cream
1/2 tsp organic orange zest
2 tbsp pastry flour
powdered sugar (for dusting)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Grease 4 souffle ramekins using butter. Sprinkle with sugar.
- Mix the cherries (rinsed and pitted) with liqueur and powdered sugar. Divide into ramekins.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Separate eggs. Beat the yolks with about 1 3/4 ounces of sugar until white and creamy. Combine sour cream and orange zest and then add into the egg yolk mixture.
- Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and sprinkle the remaining sugar.
- Pour 1/3 of the egg whites onto the egg yolk mixture while sifting flour over top and fold together.
- Carefully fold remaining egg whites into the batter.
- Pour batter into ramekins on top of the cherries.
- Bake souffles for about 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven, dust with powdered sugar, and serve immediately.
From an everyday meal to a special occasion, Cherry Soufflés are an excellent dessert. And as you can see, it is quite easy to make them. So even if you are serving a huge crowd, you can certainly prepare the dessert without any hassle.
Like what we have said earlier, after dusting the soufflés, you are free to top them with dried cherries or plump berries. That would make your soufflés look more spectacular. Everybody would love them!
4. Cherry Custard Pie
Everybody in your home will surely love this recipe. With its sweet and creamy taste, a custard cherry pie for dessert at dinner can be an excellent way to cap the day. Indeed, it can be the best reward for yourself and your family after going through the rigors of daily life.
Sweet cherries come abundantly from May to August. If you have cherry shrubs in your backyard, making this recipe can be the best way to save the fruits from rotting.
If you don’t have, cherries come in cheap during the summertime. You can even ask for free from friends and family. And during the off-season, a lot of canned sweet cherry brands are available in the grocery stores.
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon of canola oil
3 large eggs
1 cup 2% milk
1/3 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
14.5 ounces of red tart cherries, drained and pitted
1 pie crust, 9 inches
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Blend together all the ingredients (except the cherries and pie crust) for about 30 seconds using a blender or a food processor until a smooth custard mixture is obtained.
- Let the thin mixture rest for about 20 minutes.
- Place the cherries into the pie crust.
- Pour in the custard mixture.
- Bake the pie for 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven until the custard is set in the center.
- Let cool on a rack before serving
5. Easy Cherry Strudel
Strudel is part of Austrian cuisine, but it is also common in Central European cuisines. In a nutshell, this treat is a type of layered pastry that comes with a sweet filling made with apples, cherries, raisins, and many more.
I was surprised to learn that the history of strudel dates back to hundreds of years ago. At the time, this dish (made with apples) served as a simple yet satisfying meal for those who cannot afford expensive ingredients. But as years passed by, people started making strudels with different fillings.
The apple strudel became the national dish of Austria as well as the official state pastry of Texas. It was the Viennese, though, who made this dessert very famous with their thin layers of dough and sweet filling.
INGREDIENTS
14 ounces pitted tart cherries
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp butter
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 large egg (lightly beaten)
1 package frozen puff pastry (thawed, about 17.3 ounces)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Drain cherries and reserve about 1/3 cup of its juice.
- Combine the sugar, cherries, cranberries, and butter in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat.
- Combine cornstarch and reserved 1/3 cup of cherry juice and then add to the pan. Bring to a boil and cook for about 2 minutes or until thickened.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in walnuts.
- Unfold one pastry sheet, cut in half, and mound the cherry mixture to within 1/2 inches of edges. Top with the other half of the pastry sheet and pinch edges to seal. Repeat steps with the remaining pastry and filling.
- Arrange the strudels on a greased baking sheet lined with foil.
- Cut diagonal slits into tops of strudels using a sharp knife and then brush with egg.
- Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
A Cherry Strudel is perfect all alone. Just dust it generously with powdered sugar. You can also serve it with fresh cherries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. It would be good with whipped cream, too.
6. Berry And Cherry Pavlova
Pavlova is a graceful and romantic dessert, perfect for Valentines’ day, dinner party, or even an easy night. In a nutshell, it is meringue-based with a crisp crust but is light and soft on the inside, usually topped with whipped cream and fruits.
This treat was actually named after a popular Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. It was created for her during her tours in Australia as well as in New Zealand back in the 1920s. Although the two countries have argued about the real nationality of the creator, Pavlova became a significant part of their national cuisine.
Since Pavlova is very simple to make, it is usually served during celebratory and holiday meals.
It’s also a good dessert even on an ordinary day. It may be popular during the summertime as well as Christmas time, but this is something that one can actually make all year round since the ingredients are very basic. Plus, the fruit toppings can be altered according to what is available or in season.
INGREDIENTS
4 large egg whites
1 1/4 c. white sugar
1 tsp. each vanilla extract and lemon juice
2 tsp. cornstarch
1-pint heavy cream
berries and cherries (for topping)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a circle on the paper (9 inches in diameter)
- Beat egg whites in a large bowl. Slowly add in sugar and beat every after an addition. Beat until thick and glossy and then add cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
- Spoon mixture onto the circle drawn on the paper. Spread toward the outside edge, while building the edge a little bit.
- Bake for about an hour and let cool.
- Beat heavy cream in a small bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Remove the parchment paper and transfer meringue into a flat serving plate. Fill the center with whipped cream and top with berries and cherries.
- Serve.
If you wish the whipped cream to be a bit sweeter, you are free to add sugar. As for the fruit toppings, in case you don’t have berries and cherries, you also have the option to utilize other types of fruits, such as kiwi, mango, pineapple, and many more. And take note, you can utilize a mixture of fruits if desired.
Berry and Cherry Pavlova looks very elegant, but it is really simple to make. And like what I said, you can make it a lot prettier by adding more fruits. Plus, doing this will definitely increase the nutritional value.
7. Chocolate & Cherry Brownies
Looking for a simple yet delicious dessert recipe to feed a crowd? Well, I’ve got one for you today – Chocolate & Cherry Brownies!
Brownies are one of the world’s most favorite desserts and snacks. I know the chocolate ones are good. But if you want your dessert to come with more flavor and texture, why not stud it with cherries? It’s never that hard to find cherries anyway. It’s the best way to consume them, especially if you have some growing in your backyard.
Sure, there are many dessert recipes where you can incorporate cherries into, but this Chocolate & Cherry Brownie recipe is probably the simplest one. But when it comes to the taste, it’s impeccable!
If you take a look at cookbooks or perhaps recipe sites, you will surely find all sorts of brownie recipes. But you know what? In order for you to end up with excellent brownies, you should have the perfect ratio of flour to sugar to fat.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup dried cherries (or about 80 grams)
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
2 tablespoons Cherry Heering
2 tbsp water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup unsalted butter (or about 80 grams)
3/4 cup dark chocolate (or about 80 grams)
1 cup evaporated cane sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8X8 inch pan with parchment paper. Move the oven rack to the center.
- Place the dried cherries, cherry liqueur, and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. The cherries should be submerged. Continue boiling until the alcohol smell is gone. Turn the heat off and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- In a bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Whisk them together until evenly combined.
- Put the butter and dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 60 to 90 seconds or until the butter is fully melted and the chocolate has melted partially. Whisk them together until the chocolate melts.
- Add the eggs to the chocolate mixture. Mix well.
- Add the sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the chocolate mixture to the flour mixture plus the cherries and the liquid in the pot. Fold the mixture until uniform.
- Put the batter into the prepared pan. Level off the top and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Once baked, put the pan on the cooling rack. Remove the brownies using parchment paper. Let them cool completely before slicing.
