Don’t Let Cherry Season Slip By—Make These 10 Fresh Cherry Desserts

It's time to dig out that cherry pitter.

By
Mimi Young
Mimi Young
Mimi Young
Editor
Mimi Young is an editor and pastry chef. She has also curated and written numerous recipe roundups for Serious Eats.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Published July 15, 2025
Overhead view of Cherries Jubilee

Serious Eats / Jordan Provost

Ever since I was a kid, I've done a little happy dance to celebrate the arrival of cherry season. Back then, I was perfectly content with gobbling up bowls of fresh cherries. That, however, was before I got my hands on a cherry pitter. Now, I'm constantly brainstorming ways to make the most of the all-too-short cherry season. With that in mind, I've pulled together some of my favorite cherry dessert recipes. Whether you're clamoring to bake the best cherry pie ever, churn the creamiest, fruitiest cherry ice cream, or dazzle your guests with a cherries jubilee, we've got you covered. So what are you waiting for? It's time to dig out that cherry pitter!

Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for Serious Eats.

  • Classic Cherry Clafoutis

    A slice of cherry clafoutis on a speckled ceramic plate on the left side of the image. On the right side is the remaining clafoutis, showing a slice has been removed.

    Serious Eats / Qi Ai

    A cross between flan and a Dutch baby, this elegant French classic is an impressive, minimal-effort dessert. Cherries are traditionally used to prepare clafoutis, but other tender fruits such as apricots, plums, figs, or berries are delicious too. A splash of kirsch (cherry brandy) enhances the flavor of the cherries, bringing out the fruit's sweet almond notes.

  • Cherries Jubilee

    Overhead view of cherries Jubilee

    Serious Eats / Jordan Provost

    Seeing "cherries jubilee" on a restaurant menu conjures up visions of extravagant tableside pyrotechnics, but in truth, the dessert is incredibly simple to execute. (You don't even have to flambé if you don't want to.) Cooking the fresh sweet cherries in a covered pan quickly softens them and coaxes the fruit into releasing its juices, and a touch of balsamic or red wine vinegar balances out the syrup's cloying sweetness.

  • Black Forest Icebox Cake

    Overhead view of a slice of black forest icebox cake, placed atop and layer of shaved chocolate curls.

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    The beauty of this icebox cake is that you get all the kirsch-soaked chocolate and cherry vibes of a fancy Black Forest gateau without ever having to turn on the oven. Here, we layer creamy chocolate mousse with homemade cherry compote and store-bought chocolate cookies to recreate the flavors of the classic cake. Be sure to let the icebox cake chill for at least six hours, which allows the flavors to meld and the cookies to soften into a cake-like texture.

  • The Best Easy Cherry Pie

    Overhead view of cherry pie. One slice has been transferred to a small plate.

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Want to make consistently killer cherry pies worthy of Agent Dale Cooper's (and the rest of Twin Peaks') praise? Well, pastry wizard Stella Parks has unlocked the mystery. As with her spectacular blueberry pie, the key to the best cherry pie is using tapioca starch for a clear, light gel that is neither cloudy nor gloppy. Using a four-to-one ratio of fruit to sugar raises the tapioca's gelatinization point, allowing the filling and crust to cook at the same rate. Meanwhile, baking with a tempered-glass pie plate—which conducts heat more quickly and evenly than ceramic or stoneware—means you'll never have a soggy bottom.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Cherry Ice Cream

    Closeup of a parfait glass with a few scoops of cherry ice cream.

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    For cherry ice cream with maximum flavor, use the entire fruit. Roasting fresh cherries whole with their pits—then steeping the pits in cream—infuses the fruit and ice cream with a pleasantly nutty flavor. Paired with a swirl of jammy cherry purée, this frozen dessert stands out as the most cherry-forward ice cream.

  • Cherry and Pistachio Frangipane Tart

    Side view of a slice of cherry and pistachio frangipane tart, served on a plate.

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    In this riff on the classic cherry frangipane tart, homemade pistachio paste replaces traditional almonds. All the main components—the dough, pistachio paste, and cherries—can be prepped in advance to streamline assembling and baking. Pitting the cherries ahead also means you can make a cherry pit-infused whipped cream to accompany the tart.

  • Cherry Pit Whipped Cream

    20160607-cherry-whipped-cream-vicky-wasik-4.jpg
    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik.

    Why let your cherry pits go to waste when you can use them to make a cherry pit-infused whipped cream? Simply add a quarter cup of cherry pits to a cup of cream, then refrigerate it for at least four hours and up to 24 hours, which helps extract maximum flavor. When you're ready to serve, strain the pits, then whip the infused cream with salt and sugar for a delightful cherry-flavored cream.

  • Cherry-Amaretto Tart

    Overhead view of a cherry-amaretto tart. A slice has been cut and set to one side on a red background.

    Serious Eats / María del Mar Cuadra

    This glossy tart tastes as amazing as it looks. Plus: It's exceptionally easy to make. Use crushed store-bought shortbread cookies and ground almonds to make a rich, buttery tart base, then fill it with a sweet, creamy mascarpone mixture spiked with amaretto liqueur. For the grand finale, top it all off with fresh cherries lightly coated in a cherry-amaretto glaze.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • Sweet-Sour Macerated Cherries With Marcona Almonds, Mint, and Ricotta

    Overhead view of macerated cherries and marcona almons with wint and ricotta, served in a blue-rimmed bowl.

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Some of the most satisfying desserts are often the simplest. This dessert (or side!) consists of just four main components: sweet cherries, fresh ricotta, Marcona almonds, and fresh mint. Honey, red wine vinegar, black pepper, and salt offer a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes to enhance the cherries. Ricotta brings a luscious creaminess, while mint and crushed almonds add freshness and a nutty crunch.

  • Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake Recipe

    20170127-chocolate-cherry-cake-vicky-wasik-5.jpg

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Cherries and chocolate make a great pair—ask any Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia fan. In this cake, the tart cherries amplify chocolate's fruity notes, while the earthy cocoa coaxes out the fruit's nutty undertones. Frosted with a pretty pink chantilly, it's a showstopper fit for a special occasion.

Explore more:

More Serious Eats Recipes