19 Fresh Cherry Recipes That Strike the Balance of Tart and Sweet (2024)

How to Store Cherries to Keep Them Sweet and Fresh

Martha's Sour Cherry Pie

We'd argue that summer isn't complete until you make this sour cherry pie, which is one of Martha's personal favorites. The tang of fresh sour cherries combined with a sweet filling and a buttery pate brisee crust makes each bite delightful.

Pear and Sour Cherry Flat Pie

Bursts of cherry, pear, and spices come together in this cherry recipe that's perfect for summer get-togethers. It uses store-bought puff pastry to cut down on prep time and incorporates fresh lemon juice for a nice zing. This recipe technically calls for dried cherries, but you can substitute fresh cherries when they're in season.

Cherry-Raspberry Semifreddo

Chill out with this frozen dessert made with a combination of sweet cherries and frozen raspberries, as well as elderflower liqueur, which lends a light floral flavor.

Roasted Cherries With Tofu "Panna Cotta"

Panna cotta is a traditional gelatin-based Italian dessert, but this vegan version gets its body from silken tofu. We dress the protein-packed ingredient up with a luscious fruit topping made from roasted cherries and fresh raspberries tossed in a combination of honey and lemon juice.

Rustic Three-Cherry Tart

Looking for a more casual dessert that's just as delicious and appealing as a fruit pie? Try this galette, which is filled with a combination of three different fresh cherries. Truly, a symphony of flavors and textures.

Sour Cherry Cobbler

Our recipe blends bright, tangysour cherrieswith a warm, buttery cake—a perfection on every bite. Top it off with ice cream, for the ultimate summer treat.

Cherry Gelee

You'll the unique texture a gelee offers—this one in particular has rivulets of vanilla cream, balancing the tartness of sour cherries while creating an elegant pattern before the dessert is completely set.

Baked Cherry Crisp

Think of this as an on-the-go cherry pie—comforting flavors baked in this simple but scrumptious dessert that's perfect for breakfasts, snacks, and when you're craving something sweet midday.

Garden Salad With Herbs and Sour-Cherry Dressing

Here, sour cherries are quickly marinated in a simple sherry vinaigrette and then mixed with leafy greens for an easy yet flavorful summer salad.

Cherry-Cheese Strudel Pie

This crowd-pleasing fresh cherry recipe showcases a custard-like combination of cream cheese, ricotta, and egg marbled with a homemade tart cherry sauce. The blind baking technique and strategic scoring make for a feather-light puff pastry crust.

Cherry-Vanilla Milk Shake With Root Beer Granita

A unique reinvention of the classic root beer float. Vanilla ice cream is whirled with sour cherries until frothy before it's topped off with shavings of frozen soda—the summer treat you didn't know you needed.

Cherry Bounce co*cktail

Fresh sour cherries are infused with white rum (other versions are made with vodka, bourbon, or dark rum as well) anywhere from a week to a month, turning this spirit. into a refreshing—and full of history—summer co*cktail.

Sour Cherry Charlotte

Don't be intimidated by this royal dessert. Though traditional charlottes use ladyfingers, our version calls for thin-sliced bread tucked into a muffin tin. Serve with extra sour cherry compote to truly savor one of the summer's favorite fruits.

Rustic Cherry Tart With Ricotta and Almonds

A crisp almond pastry crust is spread with creamy ricotta and topped with macerated cherries in this sensational summer dessert.

Whole-Grain Strawberry-Cherry Crisp

Two of our favorite summer fruits come together under a crunchy oat-and-coconut topping in this better-for-you crisp.

Sour-Cherry and Lemon-Verbena Sherbet

Simplicity is king in this summer sherbet. Lemon verbena makes a lovely partner for tart cherries, perfect to cool yourself off after a cookout. The best part? It's light and delicately sweet—a combo hard to resist if you're not into heavy, elaborated desserts.

Sweet Cherry Pie

Bing cherries need little more than a homemade crust to shine in this summer pie—just add a touch of sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice.

No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake

Balsamic vinegar and cinnamon add a tangy, spicy depth to the fresh cherry topping for this cheesecake.

Grilled Tilapia With Cherry Salsa

Firm, meaty tilapia is a great choice for the grill. This sweet-and-spicy salsa made with Bing cherries, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice takes the flame-kissed fillets to the next level.