21 Delicious Recipes To Make with Cherries

By Southern Living Editors
April 17, 2013
Photo: Melina Hammer
Whether you have an abundance of fresh cherries on hand from your cherry tree, a can of cherry pie filling in your pantry, or a stockpile in the freezer that you’re looking to cook up, these cherry recipes are the perfect way to use up that delicious bounty. From cupcakes to cookies to pie and more, you’ll be surprised by how many different recipes there are to enjoy the flavor of cherries. The hardest decision will be which one of these sweet cherry recipes to make first.
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Cherry Pie Bars

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Cherry Pie Bars

Aside from pantry staples, you'll need just a few ingredients to whip up these cherry-speckled treats.

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Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

As the name implies, all you have to do is dump the ingredients for this easy cake into a baking dish and 45 minutes later you'll be enjoying it.

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Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

From the filling to the frosting to the cherry on top, there's no shortage of cherry flavor in these Cheerwine-inspired cupcakes.

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Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Credit: Courtesy of Damaris Phillips

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

These sweet treats are the first recipe Southern chef Damaris Phillips ever wrote. The dough can be made-ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to one week and the freezer for up to six weeks.

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Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread

Homemade bread is a labor of love, but your brunch crowd will be wowed by this masterpiece.

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Cherry Pecan Brie

Credit: Jim Franco

Recipe: Cherry Pecan Brie

Serving cherry preserves over brie is one of the most simple yet crowd-pleasing appetizers of all time.

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Cherry Spice Cake Trifle

Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Cherry Spice Cake Trifle

While we love the homemade spice cake, you can save time by using boxed spice cake mix if preferred.

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Cherry Flag Pie

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cherry Flag Pie

Use fresh or frozen cherries to create this patriotic treat.

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Sparkling Cherry Limeade

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Annette Joseph; Food Styling: Cynthia Groseclose

Recipe: Sparkling Cherry Limeade

A fun mocktail you can garnish with margarita salt, limes, and cherries. Add a little tequila and a splash of orange liqueur for an extra kick.

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Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

These cookies feature the irresistible flavor combination of cherry and chocolate.

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Orange-and-Basil Macerated Cherries

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Orange-and-Basil Macerated Cherries

Cloud-like ricotta is the perfect complement to juicy cherries infused with herbal-citrus zing.

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Roasted Cherry Hand Pies

Credit: Photo: Melina Hammer

Recipe: Roasted Cherry Hand Pies

Cherry recipes don't come much sweeter than these handheld delights. No need to fry these pies! Vodka enhances the crust's flakiness, so you can use less butter. Chill the dough to help it hold its shape.

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Cherry-Bourbon Ice Cream

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cherry-Bourbon Ice Cream

Customize your own ice-cream flavor by adding the ingredients to a 1-qt. container of softened vanilla ice cream and refreeze. It will taste so good no one will know you took a shortcut.

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First Kiss Cupcakes

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: First Kiss Cupcakes

As sweet as love's first kiss, our chocolate and cherry cupcake is special. One bite and you'll fall in love, all with a cherry on top!

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Apple-Cherry Cobbler with Pinwheel Biscuits

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Apple-Cherry Cobbler with Pinwheel Biscuits 

Our twist on apple cobbler is both darling and delectable. Who could resist buttery biscuit dough rolled with almonds and brown sugar baked into a pretty pinwheel crust?

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Cherry Bread Pudding

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cherry Bread Pudding

Add some toasted slivered almonds for a crunchy garnish, if you wish.

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Too-Easy Cherry Cobbler

Recipe: Too-Easy Cherry Cobbler

It's hard to find a cobbler recipe that's easier than this one. In just minutes, your kitchen will be filled with the irresistible aroma of baking cobbler.

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Chocolate-Cherry Scones

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Chocolate-Cherry Scones

Work fresh cherries into your breakfast or brunch menu with these rich Chocolate-Cherry Scones.

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Seafarers’ Cherries Jubilee

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Seafarers' Cherries Jubilee

Cool down after a long boat ride with this delicious ice cream dessert. Chocolate liqueur is the secret ingredient in Seafarers’ Cherries Jubilee.

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Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

Kirk Samuels of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, shared this recipe. Stir the cherries and their syrup into anything bourbon-flavored, or use them to gussy up sparkling beverages, such as club soda and ginger ale.

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Riesling-Poached Peaches and Cherries

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Riesling-Poached Peaches and Cherries 

If you like, trade the homemade whipped cream for a scoop of ice cream.

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