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30 Cherry Dessert Recipes to Try, from Classic Pie to Decadent Cheesecake Brownies

By Katherine Gillen

| Feb. 17, 2022

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.

RELATED: 50 Strawberry Desserts You’ll Crave All Year Long

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.*

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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).

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

Chloe Flavor

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.)

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

Michael Kartes/Rustic Joyful Food

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).

Spoon Fork Bacon

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.)

What’s Gaby Cooking

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.)

How Sweet Eats

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.

Sally’s Baking Addiction

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.”

Bojon Gourmet

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.

The Full Helping

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.

Ambitious Kitchen

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.

Foodie Crush

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.)

Cupcake Project

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.

Plays Well with Butter

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?

Sally’s Baking Addiction

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.)

Broma Bakery

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.

A Cookie Named Desire

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.

Two Peas & Their Pod

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.

The Full Helping

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.

Also The Crumbs Please

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.

Averie Cooks

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.

Snixy Kitchen

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.

Simply LaKita

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?

Grandbaby Cakes

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.

Ambitious Kitchen

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?

Sally’s Baking Addiction

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.

RELATED: 40 Apricot Recipes That Celebrate the Underrated Summer Fruit

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