27 Sweet and Sour Cherry Recipes (2024)

Cherries are wonderfully delicious all on their own, but when you'd like to cook or bake with the fruit, allow us to share some of our favorite cherry recipes with you. We have sweet and sour applications for fresh, frozen, and dried cherries. For dessert, cherry pie is a classic, and we're big fans of black cherry–chocolate ice cream sandwiches; for a savory entree, try prime rib with sour cherry conserva, truffle, and chocolate. The spread includes booze, too, such as a recipe for a smoked cherry bounce (an ideal toast to the holidays, if you ask us). Read on for even more cherry recipes we love.

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Cherry Empanadillas

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This delicious cherry filling will convince you that empanadillas aren't just for savory snacking. These empanadillas are fried until golden brown, then glitzed up with a pretty pink glaze. If you don't have a cherry pitter, a chopstick does a surprisingly good job of removing the pits.

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Polenta Cherry Cobbler

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A few spoonfuls of polenta add a sunny color and nutty depth to this twist on a classic cherry cobbler. Sour cherries are abundant at farmers markets in the early summer (you'll probably want to use a cherry pitter to make short work of prepping them), but frozen sour cherries are available year-round in many supermarkets as well.

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Luxardo-Style Cherries

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Move over maraschino cherries, there's a serious new upgrade in town — and with this recipe, you can save money by making your own instead of buying the pricey ones from the store. Cook a batch when cherries are in season, or any time of year; frozen cherries work well here. They're the perfect garnish for your next Manhattan, a bowl of vanilla ice cream, or a cake.

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Sour Cherry Pie

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Here, sour cherries and almond frangipane are combined to create a rich cherry pie with perfect sweet-tart balance. Sour cherry season is fleeting, so be sure to make this pie while they're around. If you're yearning for an off-season sour cherry pie, feel free to use canned sour cherries.

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Black Rice Salad with Cherries and Plums

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Fresh plums and cherries add pops of juicy sweetness to this hearty summer salad. Black rice gives the dish a dark, moody hue and an extra textural bite. The salad builds to a delicious crescendo with its finishing touch: crunchy, craggy, blue cheese–infused breadcrumbs, which provide a lovely textural reprieve to the chewy rice and fruit.

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Cherry Cordial

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Packed with the sweet flavor of ripe fruit and rounded out with subtle notes of orange, cardamom, and ginger, this cherry cordial has countless uses. Add a splash to a glass of sparkling wine or lemonade, or serve over ice with plenty of tonic water. Brush cherry cordial on layers of chocolate cake before frosting, or drizzle it over crêpes or vanilla ice cream.

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Blue Corn, Cherry, and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Featuring a soft interior that has a hint of almond flavor, these fresh cherry–studded cookies are not only colorful but also incredibly delicious.

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Sour Cherry–Cheesecake Trifle with Black Pepper and Saba

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Chef Pichet Ong's riff on a proper British trifle retains the classic form while reinventing the components. Cheesecake stands in for egg custard; pound cake replaces ladyfingers. Rather than sherry, Ong's trifle uses saba, a syrup made from cooking down grape must, which has a flavor similar to balsamic vinegar.

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Sour Cherry Mezcal Margarita

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This fruity spin on a margarita combines smoky mezcal, citrusy Cointreau, and sweet-tart cherry puree in a vibrant red drink perfect for summer sipping. Bright, pleasantly tart sour cherries are in season for a limited window, so this simple roasted puree is an easy way to preserve their flavor. Try it on ice cream or over pancakes, too.

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Dark Cherry Crumble Pie

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Maya-Camille Broussard's shop Justice of the Pies in Chicago is inspired by her father's work as a criminal defense lawyer on the West Side of Chicago. When she was young, she says, he would pull her away from the television and into the kitchen. In addition to turning out delicious pies like this one, Justice of the Pies is focused on community development and inclusion. This pie, which uses fresh, sweet cherries, amaretto, and toasted oats, has no thickeners for a cleaner, more fruit-forward flavor.

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Chilled Sour Cherry Soup with Fennel and Sour Cream

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Traditional Hungarian chilled sour cherry soup is sweet enough to be a dessert. Chef Nicolaus Balla blends fennel into his more savory version and serves the beautiful pink soup as a first course.

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Juniper-Rubbed Roast Duck with Cherry Jus

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Chef Angie Mar models her roast duck on the one her father made every Christmas. After a prolonged salt cure, he'd cold-smoke it so the fat picked up the whiff of sweet smoke. Then he'd slow-roast the bird until it resembled the crisp-skinned, mahogany-hued ducks that hang in the windows in Chinatown. Mar serves hers with a rich sauce of reduced duck broth and tart cherries as a nod to the cherry trees in the Pacific Northwest where she grew up.

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Casarecce with Sausage, Pickled Cherries, and Pistachios

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This creamy pasta from star chef Tom Colicchio comes together in just minutes, though you'll have to make the pickled cherries the night before.

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Chocolate-Cherry Focaccia

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Tart dried cherries play up the fruitiness of dark chocolate and olive oil in this light and airy, sweet, and savory focaccia. Bittersweet chocolate, aromatic rosemary sprigs, and crunchy turbinado sugar balance one another in this bread. For an even more delicious treat, try dipping in a fruity olive oil and cherry balsamic vinegar.

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Black Cherry–Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Homemade chocolate cookies encase store-bought black cherry ice cream for the ultimate ice cream sandwiches.

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Smoked Cherry Bounce

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Smoking juicy, sweet Bing cherries infuses them with a heady, savory aroma. The depth carries into boozy cherry bounce, ready after a three-month rest. Plenty of sugar, a touch of bright lemon juice, and smooth brandy round out this vibrant homemade cordial.

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Cherry Clafoutis

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"In France, there's almond flour in everything — except clafoutis," pastry chef Belinda Leong says about the rustic dessert of fruit baked in batter. Bucking tradition, she includes the flour in her clafoutis to add texture to the custardy interior.

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Prime Rib with Sour Cherry Conserva, Truffle, and Chocolate

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2017 F&W Best New Chef Angie Mar is a master with meat, like this enormous, decadent, and completely fabulous dry-aged beef rib roast. Mar's trick is to take the meat out of the oven for 30 minutes during its overall cooking time, which creates evenly cooked and perfectly juicy meat throughout the roast.

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Cherry and Cream Cheese Kolaches

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For the filling in these kolaches, a quick jam of summer's fresh sweet cherries is dolloped over lemon-scented cream cheese.

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Cherries Poached in Red Wine with Mascarpone Cream

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Thick mascarpone cheese mixed with honey makes a luscious topping for poached cherries. You can serve the dessert either warm or cold. We love it both ways.

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Sour Cherry Tart with Almond Frangipane

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This irresistible tart takes full advantage of the affinity between tangy sour cherries and rich, nutty frangipane. A sprinkle of toasted almonds on top adds a welcome dose of crunch. It's essential to seek out sour cherries for this tart, whether they're fresh, frozen, or jarred. Serve the tart with your choice of unsweetened whipped cream, crème fraîche, or vanilla ice cream — or all by its glorious self.

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Almond Rice Pudding with Sweet Cherry Sauce and Caramel Cream

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Cookbook author Nadine Redzepi's creamy, fluffy rice pudding is good enough on its own, but it's even better with two great sauces: a fruity and tangy sweet cherry sauce, as well as a creamy caramel sauce.

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Sour Cherry–Glazed Ribs

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These finger-licking ribs from F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple get great flavor from a Sriracha-spiked barbecue sauce.

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Sour Cherry Lambic Sorbet

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"Above all, sorbet should taste — and feel — almost like eating fresh fruit," says ice cream maven Jeni Britton-Bauer. She makes this sorbet with an old-fashioned style of Belgian beer called lambic, which is brewed with wild yeasts.

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Black Forest Mousse Cake with Cherry-Chile-Pomegranate Glaze

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In the hands of pastry chef Renee Bolstad, black forest cake morphs into a modern layered mousse. To add texture and heat, Bolstad sandwiches it between a spicy cherry-pomegranate glaze and crispy chocolate. For the smoothest, silkiest mousse, be careful not to over-whip the cream; just under soft peaks will result in the best final texture.

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Cherry Gazpacho

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This truly delicious gazpacho is inspired by Andalusian chef Dani García, who includes sweet cherries in the mix, then tops the summery soup with shaved goat cheese "snow."

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Pork Chops with Cherry-Miso Mostarda

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Adding a bit of umami-rich miso to cherry mostarda amps up the flavor, making a perfect condiment for juicy pork chops.

27 Sweet and Sour Cherry Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of cherries? ›

Sweet
  1. Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake. Vicky Wasik. ...
  2. Cherry Ice Cream. ...
  3. Classic Cherry Clafoutis. ...
  4. Cherry Pit Syrup. ...
  5. Easy Stovetop Cherry Grunt (Stovetop Cobbler) ...
  6. Sweet-Sour Macerated Cherries With Marcona Almonds, Mint, and Ricotta. ...
  7. Cherry and Jicama Salad With Lime and Macadamia Nuts. ...
  8. Peppered Duck Breasts With Cherry-Port Sauce.

What can you do with old cherries? ›

Overripe fruit, if it hasn't lost all of its juice, can still impart some good flavor to a sauce. Chop it into small bits (or whiz it in a blender) and add it to some chicken stock and balsamic vinegar to make a glaze or sauce for meat.

What is the difference between sour cherries and tart cherries? ›

Tart cherries (scientific name Prunus cerasus) are also called sour cherries. They are best known as a key ingredient in desserts; most importantly, the cherry pie. However, tart cherries are also delicious in preserves, main courses, salads, side dishes and beverages.

What cheese goes with sour cherries? ›

Perfectly matched for stronger flavoured white mould or bloomy rinded cheese, these dried sour cherries add a sweet and sour balance that brings out their best. Also goes well with semi hard goat and sheep milk cheeses.

What does eating cherries do to your body? ›

There is some evidence to suggest that regularly eating cherries or drinking cherry juice may benefit a person's heart health, boost sleep quality, and lower inflammation. People with specific conditions, such as high blood pressure or gout, may find them especially helpful.

Do cherries detox your body? ›

The presence of water content in cherries helps in flushing out the toxins. In fact, drinking fresh cherry juice will not only keep you hydrated with its water content, but at the same time it will detoxify your body and improve metabolism.

Do cherries last longer in the fridge or out? ›

Fresh cherries last three to four days if kept on the counter and can last up to a week in the refrigerator. Only rinse cherries right before eating, as liquid will quicken the spoiling process. Cherries can last longer if frozen properly, keeping for up to six months.

Can I freeze cherries straight from the tree? ›

We are often asked – Can you Freeze Cherries – yes you can!

Is it OK to freeze fresh cherries? ›

Cherries will last in the freezer for around 6 months but will be fine up to a year when properly frozen. This means you can enjoy the sweet taste of cherries year-round, even when the cherry season is over.

Are sour cherries healthier than sweet cherries? ›

Cherry Nutrition

A cup of sweet cherries gives you 3 grams of fiber, about 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, and 6 percent of the daily value for potassium. A cup of tart cherries has roughly the same amount of fiber and potassium, and supplies 16 percent of the daily value for vitamin C.

Do you use sweet or sour cherries for pie? ›

You can use any variety of cherries. I use all dark sweet cherries in the pictured pie, but also enjoy using a 50/50 combination of dark sweet and Rainier cherries. Feel free to use all Rainier cherries if desired. If using sour cherries, increase sugar to 3/4 or 1 cup depending how sweet you like your pie.

Are sweet or sour cherries better for you? ›

Bottom Line. Tart cherries are excellent for regulating sleep because of its melatonin content. Sweet cherries are ideal for digestive health thanks to their high levels of fiber. They are also a natural source of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Why are sour cherries so expensive? ›

Also, Cherries simply come and go quite quickly, so it is rare to find cherries on sale or offered at a low price. The reason cherries are so expensive is because fungicides are required to keep the fruits in good shape and not lose them completely.

Should sour cherries be refrigerated? ›

Cherries should always be kept in the refrigerator, unless you plan to eat them immediately. The best way to increase the longevity of fresh cherries is to make sure they stay as dry as possible. This means that washing fresh cherries before storing them can accelerate the spoiling process.

What is a sour cherry called in English? ›

Prunus cerasus (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus (cherries), native to much of Europe, North Africa and West Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (Prunus avium), but has a fruit that is more acidic. Its sour pulp is edible.

Can you freeze fresh raw cherries? ›

The easiest way to freeze cherries is to wash them, blot them dry gently with a paper towel and then arrange them on a cookie sheet. Place them in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then take and seal them in zip-loc bags and place them back in the freezer. You can pull them out at any time to eat them.

Can you freeze cherries for later use? ›

Cherries will keep in the freezer for 6 months, or up to a year in a deep freezer. I froze approximately 54 cherries, and that yielded one quart size bag of frozen cherries.

Can you freeze cherries to eat? ›

Freezing fresh cherries for later use keeps the sweet taste of summer around. And it's super easy to do—all you need is a freezer. You can eat them straight out of the freezer for a cooling snack on a sweltering summer day.

How do you preserve fresh cherries? ›

Bring the water and sugar to a boil and stir continuously until sugar dissolves. Gently pour the hot water-sugar mix over the cherries, also leaving a half-inch of room at the top. Seal tightly and store in the fridge. Use within one month.

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