When cherries are in season, there’s no shortage of ways to use them. These cherry dessert recipes bring out their best—juicy, sweet, and just a little tart.
Whether you’re baking into cakes and bars, layering into puddings, or freezing into ice cream, cherries add bold flavor and color without much effort.
Some of these recipes are great for sharing, others for snacking, but all of them are made with simple ingredients and a down-to-earth approach.
If you’ve got fresh cherries on hand, these are easy ways to turn them into something good.
1. Fresh Cherry Almond Cake with Olive Oil
This rustic loaf is moist and rich, thanks to olive oil and almond flour. Fresh cherries dot the top and bake into the batter, while sliced almonds add crunch. It’s simple but full of flavor and works well for breakfast or dessert.
Try this cherry almond olive oil cake right here.
2. Cherry Chocolate Chip Blondies
These blondies are soft, chewy, and packed with melty chocolate chunks and juicy fresh cherries. The fruit adds a little brightness to the rich, buttery bars, making them feel lighter without losing that cookie-like comfort.
Make these cherry chocolate blondies with this recipe.
3. Crispy Cherry Phyllo Cups with Lemon Cream
Crunchy phyllo shells are filled with a whipped lemon cream and topped with a spoonful of cherry compote. Each bite is crisp, creamy, and just the right mix of tart and sweet.
Get the full recipe for these lemon cherry phyllo bites right here.
4. Cherry Vanilla Skillet Cobbler
This cobbler bakes right in a skillet with bubbling cherries on the bottom and soft vanilla biscuits on top. It’s warm and cozy, best eaten with a spoon and maybe a scoop of ice cream.
Try this cherry vanilla cobbler at this link.
5. Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream (No Churn)
A creamy, no-churn base gets swirled with cherry sauce and graham cracker pieces for a frozen take on cheesecake. It’s smooth and sweet, with just the right amount of tart cherry flavor.
Make this no-churn cherry cheesecake ice cream right here.
6. Cherry Crumb Coffee Cake
This soft sour cream cake is layered with sweet cherries and topped with a thick cinnamon crumb. It’s tender in the center, crunchy on top, and a great choice for mornings or slow afternoons.
Bake your own cherry coffee cake with crumble using this recipe.
7. Cherry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
These muffins are bright and fluffy with lemon zest, fresh cherries, and poppy seeds for a bit of crunch. They’re easy to make and easy to take on the go.
Try these lemon poppy seed muffins with cherries at this page.
8. Brown Butter Cherry Crumble Bars
A rich brown butter crust and crumble top sandwich a gooey layer of cherry filling. These bars are soft, a little crisp on the edges, and easy to slice and serve.
Make these cherry crumble bars with brown butter right here.
9. Fresh Cherry Chocolate Lava Cakes
Mini lava cakes filled with melty chocolate and chopped cherries hidden inside. The centers stay soft and warm, and the fruit adds a juicy surprise.
Bake a batch of these cherry chocolate lava cakes with this recipe.
10. Cherry Coconut Pudding Cups
Layers of creamy coconut pudding, fresh cherries, and toasted coconut flakes make up these simple cups. They’re chilled, lightly sweet, and easy to prep ahead.
Try this coconut cherry pudding recipe at this link.
11. Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Bars
These soft-baked bars are full of oats, cherries, and white chocolate chips. They’re hearty enough for snacking but sweet enough to count as dessert.
Get the recipe for these cherry oatmeal cookie bars right here.
12. Cherry Chocolate Bark
Dark chocolate gets topped with halved cherries and a pinch of sea salt before setting. It’s quick to make, easy to store, and full of rich, fruity flavor.
Make this cherry dark chocolate bark with this guide.
13. Cherry Cornmeal Crisp
A juicy cherry base is baked under a golden cornmeal topping that’s crunchy and just slightly sweet. The texture is rustic and warm—perfect with a scoop of ice cream.
Try this cherry crisp with cornmeal topping right here.
Final Thoughts
Cherries are easy to work with and always add something special to desserts—whether it’s a bright bite, bold color, or soft texture. These recipes cover a little bit of everything, from quick bars to rich bakes and chilled treats. They’re grounded in simple ingredients and easy steps.
Pick the one that fits your day and make the most of cherry season.
