Cherry Recipes: Cakes, Preserves, Desserts and More

Many of the cherry recipes on this blog come from one very special tree in our garden. It's a huge old cherry tree, probably older than me, planted by my husband's Oma and Opa many years ago. The tree is taller than our very large house and produces the best cherries I've ever eaten.

In Germany, they are called Herzkirschen (heart cherries) - large, sweet cherries that turn almost black just before they become overripe. That's when they are at their sweetest and most flavorful. Every July, we pick kilos and kilos of cherries, and even then, we never manage to harvest them all. The bees, wasps, and birds happily take the rest.

One thing I've learned over the years is that processing such a large cherry harvest without a cherry pitter is almost impossible. Mine gets a serious workout every summer and saves me hours of work.

That's also why there are so many cherry recipes on Where Is My Spoon. Over the years, I've baked countless cakes, preserved cherries in jars, made fruit spreads and syrups, churned ice cream, and even cooked a few savory dishes. This collection brings all of those recipes together in one place.

If I had to choose one recipe to start with, it would probably be my Cherry Loaf Cake. It has been one of the most popular cherry recipes on the blog for years and is still my favorite way to use a large bowl of freshly picked cherries.

What to Do with Lots of Cherries?

When the tree is full, these are usually the recipes I make first:

• Cherry Loaf Cake
• Candied Cherries - my absolute favorites!!!
• Cherries in Kirsch
• Amaretto Cherries
• Cherry Butter

They are all excellent ways to use a large amount of cherries and have become reader favorites over the years.

Preserving Cherries

When the harvest is larger than we can eat fresh, preserving cherries is the best way to enjoy them throughout the year.

Cherries in Kirsch: So German! This is one of the most popular preserving recipes on the blog. Sweet cherries preserved in kirsch are delicious with ice cream, cheesecake, waffles, and pancakes.

Amaretto Cherries: Whole cherries preserved in amaretto. They make a wonderful homemade gift and are perfect spooned over desserts.

Candied Cherries: This has been my number 1 cherry recipe during the last few years. I make countless jars of these candied cherries, and we have them with yogurt or quark. I use them to make other desserts, ice cream, or add them to loaf cakes.

Cherries in Syrup: An easy way to preserve cherries for baking, desserts, and everyday use.

Preserved Cherries: Classic preserved cherries that can be enjoyed long after cherry season has ended.

Red Wine Cherries: A slightly more sophisticated preserve that pairs beautifully with ice cream and festive desserts.

Cherry Syrup: Homemade cherry syrup for drinks, cocktails, pancakes, waffles, and desserts.

Cherry Vinegar: A fruity vinegar that adds a lovely sweet-tart flavor to salad dressings and marinades.

Cherry Cakes and Bakes

Cherry cakes are probably what I bake most often during summer. From simple loaf cakes to traditional European bakes, cherries work beautifully in all kinds of cakes and pastries.

Cherry Loaf Cake: The most popular cherry cake on the blog. This easy cake is packed with fruit and perfect for everyday baking.

Cherry Bundt Cake: A simple and beautiful cake that's ideal for family gatherings and summer coffee breaks.

Cherry Chocolate Bundt Cake is the perfect combination of sweet cherry flavor and rich chocolate goodness, and each bite is moist and tender.

Cherry Bread: A lightly sweet quick bread filled with juicy cherries.

Cherry Chocolate Muffins: Soft muffins packed with cherries and chocolate, a combination that never disappoints.

Cherry Almond Cake: This is an easy recipe for a delicious cake that is moist, tender, and full of flavor.

Cherry Scones: Tender scones that are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon coffee.

Cherry Tart: A simple tart highlighting the flavor of fresh cherries.

Swiss Cherry Pie (Kirschwähe): A traditional Swiss cherry tart with a creamy filling.

Cherry Crumb Pie: Sweet cherries topped with a buttery crumb topping.

Bakewell Cherry Cake: A cherry version of the classic almond-flavored Bakewell cake.

Cherry Coconut Cake: A moist cake combining sweet cherries and coconut.

Cherry Chocolate Cake: A rich chocolate cake filled with juicy cherries.

Cherry Chocolate Brownies: Fudgy brownies loaded with cherries and chocolate.

Banana Hazelnut Cherry Cake: A moist fruit cake combining bananas, hazelnuts, and cherries.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte: The famous German Black Forest Cake made with cherries, chocolate, and whipped cream. This recipe is actually always made with preserved cherries.

Quark Muffins with Cherries: Light and fluffy muffins made with quark and fresh or preserved cherries.

Kirschmichel: A traditional German cherry bread pudding that is especially popular in southern Germany.

Cherry Turnovers: Puff pastry pockets filled with cherries, drizzled with lemon glaze and crunchy nuts.

Cherry Sauces, Spreads, and Frozen Desserts

Not every cherry recipe has to be a cake. These recipes are perfect when you want something a little different.

Cherry Butter: A rich fruit spread with an intense cherry flavor. One of the easiest and most delicious ways to preserve a large cherry harvest.

Cherry Sauce: Perfect for cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, and many other desserts.

Roasted Cherries: Roasting cherries concentrates their flavor and creates a wonderful topping for yogurt, cakes, and ice cream.

Cherry Popsicles: A refreshing frozen treat for hot summer days.

Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream: Creamy homemade ice cream flavored with cherries and amaretto.

Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream: A classic homemade cherry ice cream flavored with vanilla.

Savory Cherry Recipes

Cherries are not just for desserts. Their sweet-tart flavor works surprisingly well in savory dishes, too.

Cherry Meatballs: One of the most unusual recipes on the blog. Juicy meatballs served with a flavorful cherry sauce.

Chicken with Cherries: An easy chicken dish showing how well cherries pair with poultry. I love this recipe so much!

More Summer Fruit Recipes

If you enjoy baking and cooking with seasonal fruit, be sure to check out my other recipes featuring berries, plums, apricots, peaches, and other summer favorites.