30 Cherry Dessert Recipes to Try, from Classic Pie to Decadent Cheesecake Brownies
What’s juicy, tart, sweet and pairs equally well with chocolate and vanilla? If you guessed cherries, we like the way you think. The stone fruit might be in season in summer, but we dream of cherry pie, cheesecake and cookies year-round. Whether you’re a sour cherry stan or a Bing BFF, here are 30 cherry desserts—like chocolate cherry cookies and bourbon cherry crisp—you should add to your to-bake list.
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1. Cherry Slab Pie
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser
While a lattice pie might get oohs and ahhs, we’re all about this sheet pan version. It’s simple to slice into and serves a crowd with ease, plus the crust-to-filling ratio is *chef’s kiss.*
2. Easy Cherry Skillet Cake
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, one pan
In the summertime, hit the farmers market for the juiciest, sweetest cherries. For all other seasons, go ahead and use frozen fruit—your secret is safe with us.
3. Cherry Clafoutis
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, one bowl, one pan
A clafoutis is like a French baked custard, dappled with fruit and garnished with confectioners’ sugar. It sounds really fancy, but it’s surprisingly easy to make (even for beginners).
4. Grilled Pineapple Split Sundaes with Cherry Sauce
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, <10 ingredients
As if the grilled pineapple wasn’t enticing enough, a homemade cherry sauce sweetens the deal. It requires just three ingredients and takes less than 15 minutes to make, too.
5. Slow Cooker Cherry Cobbler
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, slow cooker recipe, one bowl
As it turns out, your trusty slow cooker is good for more than just pulled pork and stew. This classic dessert requires just 20 minutes of hands-on time, and the results taste like you were baking all day.
6. Vegan Black Forest Cherry Cake
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Vegan, dairy free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
It’s so sinfully rich and decadent, you’ll have a hard time believing it’s plant based. (Yep, even if you baked it.)
7. Ginger Cherry Pie
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Save this recipe for a rainy day and take your time. Your attention to detail with the woven lattice top will blow everyone away.
8. Cherry Pie Bars
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser, one bowl
We know they’re called pie bars, but these sweet treats are closer to a pound cake layered with sweet cherry filling. Trust us, they’re just as tasty as a pie (with much less effort).
9. Cherry Semifreddo with an Orange Cherry Compote
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, no bake, under 500 calories, special occasion–worthy
What’s semifreddo, you’re wondering? Think of it like a frozen mousse or ice cream’s cool Italian cousin that doesn’t require a machine to make. (The word means “half frozen” in Italian.)
10. Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories, make ahead
The sprinkle of flaky salt on top is optional, but it really puts these guys over the top. (Psst: Take a page out of Gaby Dalkin’s book and freeze some dough for future cookie emergencies.)
11. Sour Cherry Galette
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, under 500 calories
The window for fresh sour cherries is short, but frozen will work just as well in this beyond-flaky freeform pie. As an added bonus, you probably won’t have to pit them.
12. Bourbon Cherry Crisp
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Cherry crisp? We wouldn’t say no, but let’s kick things up a notch…with booze. Even a small splash will take this dessert from “good” to “so delish you’re not sharing.”
13. Tart Cherry Eton Mess with Poppyseed Almond Meringues
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Gluten free, special occasion-worthy, make ahead, under 500 calories
Tart cherry compote, tangy whipped yogurt and crisp meringue dressed up with toasted nuts and seeds makes this a dessert for the books. Plus, it’s naturally gluten free, so everyone can enjoy.
14. Vegan Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: Vegan, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, under 500 calories
The trick to make dairy-free ice cream that’s just as decadent as the real deal is all in a can of coconut milk. Cherry Garcia has officially met its match.
15. Tart Cherry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Gluten free, vegan, crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories
Would you believe us if we told you these chewy bars were plant based and gluten free? Serve them with vanilla ice cream after dinner, then save the leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast.
16. Skillet Cherry Pie
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one pan, under 500 calories
There’s just something about a cherry dessert in a skillet that makes us want to take our plates out to the patio and eat under the stars. (This one can even be made on the grill if you want.)
17. Cherry Cupcakes
Time Commitment: 42 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
These cuties are like a handheld version of cherry cobbler. You’ll add cherries to the batter halfway through the baking time—the secret to preventing the fruit from sinking to the bottom.
18. Tart Cherry Chocolate-Covered Vegan Cookie Dough Bites
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Ready in <30 minutes, vegan, no bake, gluten free, <10 ingredients
These no-bake bites are like a cross between a cookie, a granola bar and a chocolate-covered cherry. Need we say more?
19. Simple Cherry Pastry Pies
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Wanna know a secret? These handheld pies start with store-bought puff pastry, which is—dare we say?—even flakier than homemade crust. (Not to mention it’s a huge time-saver.)
20. Black Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Considering the one-to-one ratio of each dessert, we’d say this dessert is bound to please brownie- and cheesecake-lovers alike.
21. Chocolate Cherry Milkshake
Time Commitment: 8 minutes
Why We Love It: No bake, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Looking for an excuse to put your blender to work? We have just the recipe. It’s like a black forest cake you can sip with a straw, and yes, even the whipped cream is cherry flavored.
22. Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories
We’re suckers for a double-chocolate delight, but when you add a little fruit to cut through the richness? It doesn’t get better.
23. Vegan Sweet Cherry Upside-Down Cake
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, vegan, one bowl, under 500 calories, low sugar
The sweet cherry topping doesn’t just flavor the tender cake, it also does double-duty as the decoration. Take that, rainbow sprinkles.
24. Fresh Cherry Cake
Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
When you’re committed to going all out on dessert, this pretty layer cake will do the trick. The cherry filling comes together with just five ingredients, and the American-style buttercream frosting couldn’t be easier to make.
25. Triple Chocolate Cherry Cake
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories, special occasion-worthy
You had us at “triple chocolate.” This cake starts with a boxed mixed and pie filling, but it’s so moist and rich that everyone will think it’s from scratch.
26. Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Time Commitment: 52 minutes
Why We Love It: Gluten free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, under 500 calories
The pink frosting! The cherry on top! These cupcakes are almost too cute to eat…but we’re having two, they’re that good.
27. Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, under 500 calories
With your Instant Pot at the ready, this dump-and-go cake will be ready to eat in about 25 minutes. It’s a lot like magic, no?
28. Black Forest Cake
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
The drippy chocolate and lush cherry topping make this one a showstopper, but rest assured, it tastes as good as it looks.
29. Tart Cherry Pie
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Get this: You can assemble and bake the entire pie ahead of time and store it in the freezer for up to three months. How’s that for a make-ahead dessert?
30. White Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Crowd-pleaser, under 500 calories
White chocolate chips, a touch of nutmeg and plenty of brown sugar will make these chewy cookies your new favorites. Raisins could never.
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