It's hard to beat dark red, peak-season sweet cherries! I enjoy them by the fistful AND add them to all my favorite desserts. These cherry dessert recipes use fresh sweet cherries and taste incredible!
Cherry Season:
I live for fresh cherries! They're deep red hue and nectarously sweet flavor are pure magic.
Unfortunately, sweet cherries are only in season for a short time. They typically pop up on grocery store shelves in May or June and last through the end of July. Although this varies some by state/location!
Types of Cherries:
If you hear someone refer to sweet cherries, they're most likely referring to Bing cherries.
Bing cherries are the most popular type of cherry in the U.S. and for good reason! They boast a deep red hue and sweet, juicy flesh!
However, you can find other varieties during cherry season. Here's a few other types you might see:
- Rainier cherries - My absolute favorite!! Firm, sweet, and tart, these golden beauties are delicious. I love them for snacking and salads.
- Black cherries - Black or Chelan cherries are slightly larger and rounder than Bings with a darker color.
- Sour cherries - Sour or Montmorency cherries are grown in Michigan. They're extremely tart which makes them ideal for pies and jam, but not for snacking. They're very difficult to find fresh in southern states, but you can find them frozen or canned.
Peak-Season Cherry Recipes:
All of these drool-worthy desserts use fresh cherries! If you're looking for desserts that use frozen cherries, click here.
1. Cherry Coffee Cake Recipe
I love the breakfast dessert trend. The one where you throw the word breakfast in front of any treat and it instantly becomes a breakfast food. lol
And this cherry coffee cake is SO good, you won't be able to wait until after dinner to eat it.
It's moist and buttery with fresh Bing cherries and a crumbly streusel topping!
2. Chocolate Cherry Brownies
Is there anything more indulgent than a gooey, fudgy, intensely dark chocolate brownie?!
These cherry brownies take the classic fudge brownie and make it better with fresh cherries and a sweet cherry glaze!
These beauties are ideal for holidays like Christmas and Valentine's day, when you want something a little bit extra!
3. Chocolate Cherry Scones
Scones light me up inside. Maybe it's because they taste SO good with my other love, coffee!
These chocolate cherry scones boast a buttery, flaky texture with a burst of sweet cherries in each bite. These are a must-try this summer!
4. Pineapple Cherry Popsicles
My kids love helping me make popsicles! I highly recommend a silicone mold, which makes it easy to pop them out.
These pineapple cherry pops are SO dang easy and refreshing! First a layer of fresh cherry juice, then a layer of tangy pineapple.
5. Cherry Muffins with Almond Extract
These muffins are light and fluffy in texture with a touch of almond extract and lots of sweet cherries!
If you're a muffin fan, you need to make these lovely muffins!
6. Sweet Cherry Galette
7. Sweet Cherry Pie Recipe
This jammy cherry pie highlights sweet Bing cherries for a blissful summer treat.
Sweet cherry pie is a must-try before summer escapes us! It’s fabulous for picnics, potlucks, and get-togethers.
8. Cherry Cheesecake Cupcake Recipes
Cherry cheesecake cupcakes! They're as good as they look.
These sweet vanilla cupcakes feature a graham cracker bottom, fresh cherry filling, and silky smooth, cream cheese buttercream.
They’re like little cherry cheesecakes in cupcake form!
9. Cherry Oat Bars
This recipe calls for frozen cherries, but since it's a jammy filling - it works great with fresh ones too. Just be sure to pit and de-stem them first.
These delicious bars feature a buttery crust with fresh cherry filling and oat crumble on top!
10. Cherry Cobbler
This is the best cherry cobbler recipe! Hot, bubbly, and perfect with vanilla ice cream.
This old fashioned cherry cobbler is made with fresh cherries, lightly sweetened, and topped with a homemade sweet and buttery cobbler crust.
11. Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats
Technically, these chocolatey oats belong in the breakfast category. But they taste SO decadent and sweet, I included them anyway!
The oats are slightly chewy, yet rich and sweet. Don't forget to add chocolate shavings and extra cherries on top. SO good.
12. Cherry Yogurt Popsicles
These cherry yogurt pops are SO simple yet satisfying. You only need four ingredients - Greek yogurt, maple syrup, cherries, and granola.
I love the creamy texture of the frozen yogurt against the crunchy granola and sweet cherries! Kiddos can help make these too.
13. Homemade Cherry Jam
Homemade cherry jam tastes amazing on vanilla pound cake or angel food cake!
This cherry jam is just three ingredients and you don't need pectin. It's a great way to use up all those slightly overripe cherries before they go bad!
14. Homemade Cherry Cheesecake
This cherry topped cheesecake is so simple yet stunning! It features a buttery crust, a creamy vanilla filling, and fresh cherries in a homemade cherry syrup.
You just can't go wrong with this one!
15. Cherry Crisp
I adore a good fruit crisp! This one highlights fresh sweet cherries with a homemade filling and an oat brown sugar crumble.
It's simple, delicious, and easy. I highly recommend a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
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