These cherry recipes highlight the best ideas for using dried, canned or fresh cherries! They’re perfect in desserts, breakfasts and snacks.
Got cherries? Cherries are one of the most versatile fruits to use in your cooking, as you can find them dried, fresh or canned! They also work in recipes of all kinds: they’re not just for desserts! Cherries are the perfect addition to breakfasts and snacks, too. Over here, our very favorite way to eat cherries is dried tart cherries by the handful!
Here are all the best cherry recipes to use this versatile ingredient: whether it’s dried, fresh, frozen or canned! Try our favorite baked oatmeal for breakfast, energy bars for snacks, and of course a chocolate cherry tart for dessert (because who can’t resist that winning combination?). Ready to get cooking?
And now…10 great cherry recipes to try!
Here's a fantastic cherry recipe: use cherries in your oatmeal! This tasty baked oatmeal almost tastes like a cherry crisp! It features dried cherries and cardamom for a seriously cozy breakfast: though you could also substitute fresh or canned cherries. It takes 45 minutes to bake—but only 10 minutes to whip together, and it's easy to store for breakfasts throughout the week!
Features: Dried cherries, but can substitute fresh or canned (drained)
Chocolate and cherries are the perfect combination, no? Here's a great way to eat them: as a rustic cherry tart! Otherwise known as a galette, it's a rustic pie: “rustic” meaning no pie plates or crimping needed. Instead, simply roll out the dough, spread on the filling, fold over the crust, and bake. The cherry maple filling has a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, it's perfection with a flaky crust and a dark chocolate drizzle.
Features: Frozen cherries, but can substitute fresh or canned (drained & rinsed)
Here's an easy cherry recipe for entertaining: cherry crostini! This simple appetizer features a sweet and savory combo made in heaven: tart cherries and cheese. Cook dried cherries with a little balsamic vinegar to make a sweet-tart compote, then pour it over goat cheese crostini topped with a few slivers of fresh sage.
Features: Dried cherries, but can substitute fresh or canned (drained & rinsed)
Cherry recipes don't have to be sweet! This tasty salad features farro, apple, arugula and tart cherries for a delicious mix of sweet and savory! Sprinkle a bit of feta cheese for a savory saltiness, and then cover the entire farro salad in a tart cherry vinaigrette. With the red and the green, it’s visually stunning, and it tastes incredible: tangy, tart, sweet, and savory all at once.
Features: Canned cherries, but can substitute fresh or dried
What's a list of cherry recipes without cherry cheesecake? This one is ultra creamy, with a secret healthier spin! It tastes decadent, but it uses Greek yogurt to add creaminess instead of the traditional cream or condensed milk. It's also crustless! That means fewer overall calories — you don’t even miss it because the filling is that creamy! Top it off with your favorite fruit: here canned cherries bring a fresh bright flavor and the perfect decoration.
Features: Canned cherries
Chocolate bark is perfect with a handful of dried cherries! This combination is top-notch: dark chocolate with dried tart cherries, salty pumpkin seeds, and roasted quinoa for some added crunch. When something can combine both fantastic flavor and nutrients, it’s a favorite in our house. It's the best healthy treat!
Features: Dried cherries
Dried cherries are perfect for energy bar recipes! These cherry energy bars are similar to homemade Larabar, but with slightly more texture. They’re gluten-free and vegan, made mainly of dried fruit and nuts. This version uses hazelnuts for a complex flavor, and dried cherries for a tart note that compliments the sweet. Perfect for snacks!
Features: Dried cherries
Cherries are perfect for jams and jellies! And this cherry jam recipe is even easier and more fun than most recipes: it's a chia jam! It's thickened using chia seeds, which provide a natural gel-like consistency. Chai spices gently add a cozy flavor to the cherries, which are sweetened with just the right amount of maple syrup. Slather it on a thick piece of toast and it’s absolutely divine.
Features: Frozen cherries, but can substitute canned (drained)
Here’s a fresh spin on a classic drink: cherry limeade! Cherry and lime go hand in hand, and they are the absolute perfect combination for summer drinks to beat the heat. We’ve got two versions of this drink to fit all palates. The base version of this recipe is a grown-up spin on the classic from Sonic, bubbly and just sweet tart enough. But want the more classic version? Double the cherry and make it with Sprite. Either way, it’s the most festive drink around.
Features: Maraschino cherries
These chocolate cherry dessert bites are a rich and chocolatey dessert using natural sweeteners and just a few whole food ingredients! The chocolate filling is made of just three ingredients: coconut oil, maple syrup and cocoa powder. They come together into the creamiest liquid chocolate mousse! Add to that a crust of almonds and oats and a topping of sweet cherries, and it’s truly heavenly.
Features: Frozen cherries, but can substitute canned (drained)
This chocolate cherry milkshake is frosty, sweet tart and delicious! Instead of ice cream, we’ve used frozen Montmorency cherries and milk. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, there’s a hint of cocoa powder and vanilla. In a frosted milkshake glass with a fancy red-and-white straw, this cherry milkshake is just as good as the real thing.
Features: Frozen cherries, but can substitute canned that are drained and frozen
Last up in our cherry recipes: a cherry & yogurt protein bowl! Dried cherries are perfect for tossing into yogurt bowls, or your daily oatmeal for that matter! Here we paired them with Greek yogurt, cashews, pepitas and apricots to great a filling breakfast that also works as a post-workout snack.
Features: Dried cherries
Cherries nutrition benefits
Why add cherries to your life? This fruit packs lots of good stuff. Of course, if you’re using them in a dessert you’re offsetting the benefits with sugar and carbs! So make sure to use healthful preparations for cherries on a regular basis, and keep desserts for occasional treats. Here are some benefits of cherries (source):
- Cherries are rich in anti-oxidants and can help reduce inflammation, which promotes overall health.
- Cherries may help in exercise recovery. Research may suggest that cherry juice can help with muscle recovery and soreness (source).
Cherry Baked Oatmeal (& More Recipes!)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This cherry baked oatmeal is one of our best loved cherry recipes! It’s delicious, easy and tastes like cherry crisp. Use dried or fresh cherries!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried tart cherries (or substitute fresh cherries or drained canned cherries)
- ½ cup pecan pieces (or chopped pecans)
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom (or substitute more cinnamon)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg, beaten (omit for vegan)
- 2 cups milk (or 2 ½ cups almond milk)*
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- If desired, roughly chop the dried cherries. In a large bowl, mix the cherries, pecans, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and kosher salt.
- Grease an 8- or 9-inch square pan and pour in the oat and cherry mixture.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg (if using). Mix in the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla. Slowly drizzle the milk mixture over the oats, and mix to combine if necessary.
- Over the top of the oats, drizzle the melted butter or coconut oil. (If desired, add a few more cherries to the top for presentation.)
- Bake 35 to 45 minutes until the top is nicely golden and the oat mixture has set. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.
- To serve, cut into pieces. If desired, top with a drizzle of milk and extra maple syrup. Store leftovers refrigerated.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Breakfast
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Cherry recipes