Cherry season is unfortunately short-lived for such a delicious fruit. If you’re looking for something beyond snacking, these cherry recipes offer some great options. You can enjoy these summer gems in everything from breakfast to dinner to dessert.
Cherry Almond Vanilla Smoothie
This smoothie has the flavor of a cherry ice cream without the effort. It blends in minutes and holds up well in the fridge for a little while if you’re making ahead. It’s great on a hot afternoon when you need something quick and cold that doesn’t feel like a throwaway snack.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Almond Vanilla Smoothie
Cherry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt
This frozen yogurt gets its flavor from roasted cherries and doesn’t need an ice cream maker to turn out smooth. You can freeze it in a loaf pan and scoop as needed. The chocolate chips add crunch and balance out the tangy base.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt
Cherry Lemon Granita
This granita takes just a few minutes to prep and freezes into a flaky, icy dessert with big cherry and lemon flavor. You don’t need any fancy tools—just a fork and some patience. It’s a great option for hot nights when you want something frozen but not heavy.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Lemon Granita
Chilled Cherry Fennel Soup
This cold soup mixes cherries with fennel and dill for a light but flavorful combo. Serve it in small bowls as a starter or keep it on hand for a simple lunch. It’s not your usual summer recipe, but it earns a spot for being refreshing and easy.
Get the Recipe: Chilled Cherry Fennel Soup
Cherry Corn Muffins
These muffins combine fresh cherries with cornmeal for a baked good that hits sweet and savory at once. They hold up well at room temp and pair nicely with butter or cheese. Bake a batch for brunch or use them to round out a summer dinner spread.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Corn Muffins
Maraschino Cherry Cookies
These soft sugar cookies are packed with chopped maraschino cherries for a bold pop of flavor and color. If you prefer something less sweet or want to use what you already have, fresh cherries work just as well with a quick chop. The dough comes together in one bowl and bakes fast, making these a great pick for last-minute summer get-togethers or just something fun to fill the cookie jar.
Get the Recipe: Maraschino Cherry Cookies
Cherry Crumb Pie
This pie layers juicy cherries under a thick, crunchy topping that bakes up golden and crisp. It works with either fresh or frozen cherries, so you don’t have to stress about peak season timing. Serve it at room temperature or chilled, and it holds up well if you’re making it ahead. This is the kind of dessert that shows up on every summer table for a reason.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Crumb Pie
Creamy Cherry Vanilla Popsicles
These popsicles come together with a few pantry basics and freeze into a creamy treat that actually holds its shape. The vanilla gives them a rounder flavor and the cherries do the rest. Fresh cherries can be used instead of frozen or canned—just pit and blend. Keep a batch in the freezer for the kind of heat where turning on the oven isn’t happening.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cherry Vanilla Popsicles
Cherry Vanilla Cream Cheese Spread
This spread takes just a few minutes to stir together and makes breakfast or snack time a little more interesting. It works on toast, bagels, or anything else that needs a creamy, fruity boost. Use chopped fresh cherries if you’ve got them or stick with jarred—either way, it holds well in the fridge and keeps things easy during busy summer mornings.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Vanilla Cream Cheese Spread
Cherry Sauce
With just three ingredients and a short simmer time, this sauce comes together fast and works over everything from ice cream to pancakes. Fresh cherries give it the best texture, but frozen will do the job too. You can make it ahead and stash it in the fridge for whenever you want to add something sweet without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Sauce
Chocolate Cherry Muffins
These double chocolate muffins are filled with bits of cherry that hold their shape through baking. They’re simple enough for weekday breakfasts and sweet enough to pass as dessert. Use fresh cherries for a juicier bite or maraschino for more punch. Either way, this is a great recipe to use up cherries that are starting to soften.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Muffins
French Cherry Dessert
This classic French clafoutis bakes cherries into a lightly sweet, custard-style batter. It comes together in one bowl, bakes in under an hour, and works for dessert or brunch. You don’t need any special equipment, and fresh cherries hold up perfectly in the oven. It’s one of those recipes that feels fancy but couldn’t be simpler.
Get the Recipe: French Cherry Dessert
Fresh Cherry Crisp
This crisp is loaded with juicy cherries and topped with a crunchy oat and almond topping. It bakes quickly and holds up well if made ahead. Serve it as-is or with a scoop of ice cream for a no-fuss summer dessert that works for a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Cherry Crisp
Cherry Mocha Latte
This at-home coffee shop drink uses bold espresso, sweet cherries, and a touch of chocolate to pull it all together. It only takes five minutes and a few ingredients. Use fresh or jarred cherries, depending on what you’ve got. It’s a quick way to make your morning coffee feel less routine.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Mocha Latte
Instant Pot Cherry Chocolate Steel Cut Oats
These oats cook up creamy in the Instant Pot in under 20 minutes and get a boost from dark chocolate and chopped cherries. You can use frozen or fresh fruit, and the leftovers reheat well all week. It’s a great make-ahead breakfast that feels like dessert.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cherry Chocolate Steel Cut Oats
Cherry Lemonade
This cherry lemonade skips the blender and gets right to the point with simple syrup and fresh fruit. You can use sparkling or still water, depending on your mood. It’s a fast, refreshing drink to keep on repeat when the temperature climbs.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Lemonade
Dark Chocolate Cherry Yogurt Clusters
These clusters are made with Greek yogurt, chopped cherries, and a quick dip in dark chocolate. Freeze them into bite-sized snacks that hit the sweet spot without a lot of effort. They store well in the freezer, making them a perfect make-ahead summer treat.
Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Cherry Yogurt Clusters
Air Fryer Cherry Cottage Cheese Toast
This recipe turns a piece of toast into something way more interesting. It starts with creamy cottage cheese, gets topped with fresh cherries and hot honey, and crisps up in the air fryer in just minutes. It’s a high-protein option for breakfast or a fast afternoon snack.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cherry Cottage Cheese Toast
High Protein Cherry Chia Pudding
This chia pudding mixes together in five minutes and sets up in the fridge while you move on with your day. The cherries add a natural sweetness and a little texture, and the whole thing works for breakfast or a snack. It’s one of those grab-and-go recipes that keeps things simple without being boring.
Get the Recipe: High Protein Cherry Chia Pudding
Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Bars
These bars bake in one pan and cut cleanly once cooled, making them easy to stash for the week. The mix of oats, cherries, and chocolate chips keeps things balanced without being too sweet. They’re great as a midday snack or packed into lunches.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Bars
Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Crunch Bars
These frozen bars are layered with ice cream, cherry filling, and chocolate, then topped with cookie crumbs and pecans. They hold together well once frozen and slice easily for serving. Use fresh cherries if you want more texture, or frozen for convenience.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Crunch Bars
Salted Chocolate Cherry Yogurt Clusters
These clusters start with a yogurt and cherry base, freeze solid, then get dipped in chocolate and topped with sea salt. They’re ready in about 15 minutes and store well in the freezer. Use whatever cherries you have on hand—they all work here.
Get the Recipe: Salted Chocolate Cherry Yogurt Clusters
Cherry Brownies
These brownies bake up rich and fudgy with pockets of sweet cherries throughout. The batter is straightforward and comes together in one bowl. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, and they cut cleanly once cooled, making them easy to serve.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Brownies
Healthy Cherry Smoothie
This smoothie blends cherries with a few pantry staples into something quick and cold that works for breakfast or a midday boost. The texture is thick and creamy, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to match what you’ve got. It’s one of those recipes that stays in the summer rotation because it’s fast and flexible.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Cherry Smoothie
Fresh Cherry Chocolate Brownies
These brownies are rich and gooey with chunks of fresh cherries baked right in. They come together in one pan and bake in under 40 minutes. The cherry pieces stay juicy and bright, making this a solid summer upgrade to a classic recipe.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Cherry Chocolate Brownies
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
