The 28 Best Cherry Recipes for Summertime and Beyond

Though cherries are synonymous with summer, their deeply tart and sweet flavor should be enjoyed all year round. If you freeze a few after your trip to the orchard (just be sure to pit them first!), you’ll have them on hand for everything from refreshing cocktails to savory sides. Fresh, frozen or even dried, you’ll find that they add a pop of flavor to a variety of different dishes. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up all our favorite cherry recipes right here, starting with cherry pie—a quintessential summer fruit dessert. We love that this recipe calls for homemade pie dough and combines tart cherries, balsamic vinegar and ice cream for the perfect balance of savory and sweet. You’ll want to keep this classic top of mind for your next barbecue.

These elevated shortcakes are a fun spin on the classic. Flavors of cardamom and ginger add spicy zest, and plum and black cherry strike a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Handmade buttermilk shortcakes make the whole dish taste extra-fresh.

The best cherry cobbler tastes of rich, sweet cherries, has a light, flakey biscuit topping and takes just a few minutes to pull together. In search of the juiciest, most concentrated filling, we tested cobblers with fresh cherries, cobblers with frozen cherries, cobblers with a lot of cornstarch and cobblers with less. The winner was clear: frozen cherries have the lush, quintessential cherry flavor and perfect velvety texture that make cherry cobbler so beloved. Bonus points for the fact that they don’t require pitting and can be purchased year-round. A quarter cup of cornstarch helps set the fruit without becoming pasty. A dash of almond extract and some vanilla bean paste brings out the fruit’s floral side. We covered the cherries with an easy sweet biscuit dough; a dusting of coarse sugar and flakey sea salt are the finishing touches that takes this cobbler to the next level. Note: This recipe also works with fresh cherries. If you are looking to use up your bounty, scroll to the bottom of the recipe to see how to adapt it for fresh fruit.

Looking for a gorgeous, edible centerpiece to serve at your next summer party? Turn to trifles. This treat is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat. Black forest cake pairs perfectly with fresh whipped cream and sweet cherries.