19 Fresh Cherry Recipes That Strike the Balance of Tart and Sweet Savor the summer sweetness of these irresistible cherry recipes. Close Credit: Christopher Testani Summertime means warmer weather, vacations, and an abundance of seasonal produce, including one of our favorites: fresh, sweet cherries. We love baking desserts with cherries, but you may be surprised they work in savory dishes as well, like fruit salad with leafy greens or as a topping on crostini with creamy goat cheese. You can also serve cherries over grilled proteins, which provides a pop of color and a burst of sweetness. We're bringing summer's finest sweet cherries center stage with a handful of scrumptious fresh cherry recipes. How to Store Cherries to Keep Them Sweet and Fresh 01 of 19 Martha's Sour Cherry Pie Credit: Yossy Arefi We'd argue that summer isn't complete until you make this sour cherry pie, which is one of Martha's personal favorites. The tang of fresh sour cherries combined with a sweet filling and a buttery pate brisee crust makes each bite delightful. View Recipe 02 of 19 Cherry-Raspberry Semifreddo Credit: Paola + Murray Chill out with this frozen dessert made with a combination of sweet cherries and frozen raspberries, as well as elderflower liqueur, which lends a light floral flavor. View Recipe 03 of 19 Roasted Cherries With Tofu "Panna Cotta" Credit: Ren Fuller Panna cotta is a traditional gelatin-based Italian dessert, but this vegan version gets its body from silken tofu. We dress the protein-packed ingredient up with a luscious fruit topping made from roasted cherries and fresh raspberries tossed in a combination of honey and lemon juice. View Recipe 04 of 19 Rustic Three-Cherry Tart Looking for a more casual dessert that's just as delicious and appealing as a fruit pie? Try this galette, which is filled with a combination of three different fresh cherries. Truly, a symphony of flavors and textures. View Recipe 05 of 19 Sour Cherry Cobbler Credit: Christopher Testani Our recipe blends bright, tangy sour cherries with a warm, buttery cake—a perfection on every bite. Top it off with ice cream, for the ultimate summer treat. View Recipe 06 of 19 Cherry Gelee Credit: Jonathan Lovekin You'll the unique texture a gelee offers—this one in particular has rivulets of vanilla cream, balancing the tartness of sour cherries while creating an elegant pattern before the dessert is completely set. View Recipe 07 of 19 Baked Cherry Crisp Credit: Johnny Miller Think of this as an on-the-go cherry pie—comforting flavors baked in this simple but scrumptious dessert that's perfect for breakfasts, snacks, and when you're craving something sweet midday. View Recipe 08 of 19 Garden Salad With Herbs and Sour-Cherry Dressing Credit: Mikkel Vang Here, sour cherries are quickly marinated in a simple sherry vinaigrette and then mixed with leafy greens for an easy yet flavorful summer salad. View Recipe 09 of 19 Cherry-Cheese Strudel Pie Credit: Christopher Testani This crowd-pleasing fresh cherry recipe showcases a custard-like combination of cream cheese, ricotta, and egg marbled with a homemade tart cherry sauce. The blind baking technique and strategic scoring make for a feather-light puff pastry crust. View Recipe 10 of 19 Cherry-Vanilla Milk Shake With Root Beer Granita Credit: Victoria Pearson A unique reinvention of the classic root beer float. Vanilla ice cream is whirled with sour cherries until frothy before it's topped off with shavings of frozen soda—the summer treat you didn't know you needed. View Recipe 11 of 19 Cherry Bounce Cocktail Credit: Mikkel Vang Fresh sour cherries are infused with white rum (other versions are made with vodka, bourbon, or dark rum as well) anywhere from a week to a month, turning this spirit. into a refreshing—and full of history—summer cocktail. View Recipe 12 of 19 Sour Cherry Charlotte Credit: Sang An Don't be intimidated by this royal dessert. Though traditional charlottes use ladyfingers, our version calls for thin-sliced bread tucked into a muffin tin. Serve with extra sour cherry compote to truly savor one of the summer's favorite fruits. View Recipe 13 of 19 Dark Chocolate-Dipped Cherries Credit: Raymond Hom This two-ingredient recipe is as simple as it gets. Use the best chocolate you can find and fresh, ripe cherries. View Recipe 14 of 19 Homemade Cocktail Cherries Credit: Courtesy of Nikka Make this cherry mixture to use for mixed drinks, like a Manhattan. The flavor of these cocktail cherries will make you a star mixologist. View Recipe 15 of 19 Sour-Cherry and Lemon-Verbena Sherbet Credit: Naho Kubota Simplicity is king in this summer sherbet. Lemon verbena makes a lovely partner for tart cherries, perfect to cool yourself off after a cookout. The best part? It's light and delicately sweet—a combo hard to resist if you're not into heavy, elaborated desserts. View Recipe 16 of 19 Sweet Cherry Pie Bing cherries need little more than a homemade crust to shine in this summer pie—just add a touch of sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice. View Recipe 17 of 19 No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Credit: David Prince Balsamic vinegar and cinnamon add a tangy, spicy depth to the fresh cherry topping for this cheesecake. View Recipe 18 of 19 Cherry Preserves Credit: Christopher Testani Make these sweet cherry preserves to enjoy year-round. Whether you use sweet cherries, tart cherries, or a combination of both, these preserves will be perfect smeared on toast or biscuits—or try them on ice cream or in a yogurt parfait. View Recipe 19 of 19 Sour-Cherry Mojitos Credit: Marcus Nilsson Here's your perfect drink for the season. It's a take on a mojito, but with cherries, lemon juice, and basil. Mix up a batch and pour into a pitcher or punch bowl for a party. Sour-Cherry Mojitos Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes