The 31 Best Cherry Recipes for Summertime and Beyond

Though cherries are synonymous with summer, their deeply tart and sweet flavor should be enjoyed all year round. If you freeze a few after your trip to the orchard (just be sure to pit them first!), you’ll have them on hand for everything from refreshing cocktails to savory sides. Fresh, frozen or even dried, you’ll find that they add a pop of flavor to a variety of different dishes. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up all our favorite cherry recipes right here, starting with cherry pie—a quintessential summer fruit dessert. We love that this recipe calls for homemade pie dough and combines tart cherries, balsamic vinegar and ice cream for the perfect balance of savory and sweet. You’ll want to keep this classic top of mind for your next barbecue.

These elevated shortcakes are a fun spin on the classic. Flavors of cardamom and ginger add spicy zest, and plum and black cherry strike a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Handmade buttermilk shortcakes make the whole dish taste extra-fresh.

The best cherry cobbler tastes of rich, sweet cherries, has a light, flakey biscuit topping and takes just a few minutes to pull together. In search of the juiciest, most concentrated filling, we tested cobblers with fresh cherries, cobblers with frozen cherries, cobblers with a lot of cornstarch and cobblers with less. The winner was clear: frozen cherries have the lush, quintessential cherry flavor and perfect velvety texture that make cherry cobbler so beloved. Bonus points for the fact that they don’t require pitting and can be purchased year-round. A quarter cup of cornstarch helps set the fruit without becoming pasty. A dash of almond extract and some vanilla bean paste brings out the fruit’s floral side. We covered the cherries with an easy sweet biscuit dough; a dusting of coarse sugar and flakey sea salt are the finishing touches that takes this cobbler to the next level. Note: This recipe also works with fresh cherries. If you are looking to use up your bounty, scroll to the bottom of the recipe to see how to adapt it for fresh fruit.

Looking for a gorgeous, edible centerpiece to serve at your next summer party? Turn to trifles. This treat is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat. Black forest cake pairs perfectly with fresh whipped cream and sweet cherries.

Sweet cherries simmer with sugar and balsamic vinegar until syrupy, then get tossed warm over sliced fresh peaches for a light dessert that's ready in fifteen minutes.

An orange zest cookie dough cradles a layer of cherry pie filling, then gets dotted with more dough on top before baking and finishing with a lemon glaze drizzle.

This golden-brown cake gets its decadent sweetness from homemade caramel. Sweet chocolate and tart cherries provide complementing flavors in every bite. The best part? It all comes together in under an hour.

This retro recipe takes fresh summer cherries and caramelizes them with a bit of sugar, lemon zest and rum. Flambéing fruit might seem intimidating, but it’s super simple, and this recipe takes less than half an hour. Serve the juicy fruit over ice cream for an easy yet impressive summer treat.

Hand pies are the perfect make-and-take dessert, and these are oozing with cherry goodness. Handmade dough makes them super fresh and flakey and a dusting of powdered sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness.

This creamy dip tastes just like the iconic dessert—but is even more fun to eat.

Refreshing summer sippers should be easy to make, so we love this drink that takes just 10 minutes to prepare. First macerate cherries in sugar to draw out their juices, then use that sweet fruity flavor to jazz up a glass of cold seltzer. Serve with fresh mint sprigs.

Looking for an interesting way to punch up a standard box of cake? Grab a can of beer! The light flavor and gentle carbonation adds a surprisingly yeasty complexity to the grocery store staple.

Frozen treats are the only appropriate way to finish off a summer barbecue, so why not whip up a fresh batch of homemade pops? This recipe combines frozen cherries with condensed milk for an easy, refreshing and creamy dessert.

Whether you’re celebrating a special holiday or just making a Sunday dinner, stuffing is one of the most filling and decadent side dishes available. To add a bit of sweetness to the savory dish, opt for dried fruit. This recipe uses dried cherries and apples to add a chewy, tender sweetness.

Clafoutis is a decadent dessert that combines fresh fruit with rich flan. We love this version because although it calls for fresh cherries, you can easily swap them out for a bag of frozen. Perfect for a crowd, serve this at your next summer dinner party.

Can’t choose between a chocolatey or a fruity dessert? No you don’t have to. Thanks to this chocolate chip cookie cherry cobbler, you can devour the best of both flavor profiles, all in one dish. Bring it to your next potluck for a crowd pleasing favorite.

Maraschino cherries are a world-famous cocktail garnish for a reason. They’re like little bombs of sweet, fruity juice and turns out, they’re pretty easy to make at home. Whip up a jar to have on hand for your next cocktail party.

Tired of traditional cherry pie? Try this galette instead. It combines the tried-and-true combination of dark chocolate and cherries for a sweet, fruity dessert.

Four ingredients is all you need to make this sweet treat in just five minutes. Frozen cherries and pineapples combine to make an icy treat taste extra refreshing. Serve it to the grown ups at your party with a splash of your favorite liqueur.

If you like oatmeal cookies, you’ll love this cherry-vanilla crisp. Fresh or frozen cherries get cooked down with sugar, rum and cinnamon for a sweet and syrupy center, then the whole dish gets topped with oats and almonds. Once baked, the oatmeal topping creates a golden brown crust that adds the perfect amount of texture to every bite. Serve on its own or alongside ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Looking for an easy dessert that can please a crowd and be ready in just 30 minutes? These cherry almond clusters combine just three ingredients for a simple, fun and decadent treat.

Want to know how to make a slab pie extra easy? Start with store-bought pie crusts and use a baking sheet instead of a pie plate. The chocolate and splash of almond extract are the perfect complement to the ruby summer fruit.

Who said strawberries should have all the fun? These cherry-almond shortcakes take what we love about strawberry shortcakes and punch them up with a tart, nutty complexity.

Buttermilk biscuits just taste better when dunked in fruit juice and chocolate. That’s why we love this cobbler recipe that tops cherry filling with flakey biscuits. Serve on its own or alongside ice cream for a super wholesome dessert any time of year.

The only thing that can make cherry pie more charming? Make it mini! These little cups of fruity flavor are held together with fresh pie dough.

This ice pop recipe requires just a handful of ingredients to come together. Plums, cherries and seedless grapes combine to make a fruity, refreshing ice pop that’s perfect for dunking in a glass of champagne or rosé.

Just 12 minutes in the oven is all you need to whip up these chewy treats. The name says it all — dried cherries and chocolate are the answer to this extra gooey, melt-in-your-mouth dessert. Whip up a batch and keep them in the refrigerator for an easy and delicious bite.

This cooling dessert is perfect for hot summer days. Cherry compote rests atop creamy custard and spongy cake, making for the perfect layered dessert. This recipe yields up to 10 servings, so it’s great for a party.

Cherries and almonds are a delightful combination, and this clafouti highlights the pair perfectly. Rich, creamy and decadent, this is an easy recipe to whip up.

Every margarita-lover knows that limes are a must, but what about other fun and fruity flavors? This recipe uses fresh and frozen cherries to add extra flavor to an already tart treat. Try it with a scoop of sorbet on extra hot days.