Cherry desserts cover way more ground than just pie, and this list proves it. From soft hand pies and chilled cheesecake to upside-down cakes, crumb bars, cookies, and ice cream, cherries show up sweet, tart, and ready to bake, chill, or stir into just about anything. You’ll find a mix of recipes here that use fresh cherries, frozen, canned, or even ground cherries, depending on the dish. Some go creamy, some go crisp, and a few bring in chocolate, almond, or cinnamon to take the flavor up without making things complicated. Whether you’re baking bars, blending popsicles, or spooning cobbler straight from the pan, these desserts are made for the season, but most hold up anytime you’ve got cherries on hand and want something that feels finished without needing much work.
Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
This chilled pie layers a smooth cream cheese filling under a sweet cherry topping. The crust stays crisp while the center holds its shape. It slices clean after chilling and serves best cold. A classic make-ahead dessert that always delivers.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
Sweet Cherry Handpies
Flaky pastry folded around a juicy cherry filling and baked until golden. The fruit stays soft without leaking, and the edges crisp up with every bite. Easy to make ahead and freeze. Great for packing up or grabbing on the go.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Cherry Handpies
Cherry Apple Crisp
Cherries and apples bake into a warm, soft filling topped with a brown sugar oat crumble. The mix balances sweet, tart, and spiced in every spoonful. Bake until the top is crisp and the filling bubbles through. Serve warm with a scoop on top.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Apple Crisp
Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Soft, buttery cookies pressed and filled with sweet cherry jam before baking. The almond flavor runs through the base and holds up well with the fruit. These bake golden with soft centers. A strong choice for gifting or stacking on a tray.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Frozen Chocolate Cherry Bars
Cherries get folded into a creamy chocolate filling that freezes into clean-cut bars. The base stays firm while the top softens just enough. Chill overnight for best texture. A cold dessert that slices like fudge and tastes like candy.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Chocolate Cherry Bars
Cherry Apricot Upside Down Cake
Apricots and cherries caramelize at the bottom of the pan and flip into a sticky, sweet topping. The cake underneath bakes soft and soaks up just enough juice. Serve warm or cooled—it works both ways. A good pick for when stone fruit is in season.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Apricot Upside Down Cake
Cherry Danish Recipe
Flaky pastry layered with cream cheese and cherry filling, then baked until golden. The filling melts slightly into the pastry as it bakes. Add glaze or leave it plain. This one’s easy to shape and hard to mess up.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Danish Recipe
Gluten free cherry cobbler
Sweet cherries bake under a topping made with almond flour or gluten-free mix. The crust bakes crisp on the edges and soft in the center. Serve warm with ice cream or cold the next day. It’s simple, flexible, and doesn’t feel like a swap.
Get the Recipe: Gluten free cherry cobbler
Cherry Pie Cupcakes
Cupcakes filled with cherry pie filling and topped with whipped frosting or crumble. The filling bakes soft but holds its shape inside. Each bite tastes like a slice of pie in cupcake form. Easy to dress up or keep simple.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie Cupcakes
Cherry Blossom Cookies
Soft sugar cookies baked with a cherry twist and topped with a chocolate kiss in the center. They hold their shape and color well. Chill the dough for the best texture. A sweet spin on a classic cookie tray staple.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Blossom Cookies
Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Sweet cherries and dark chocolate chips swirl into a creamy base that churns smooth. The fruit stays soft and the chocolate adds crunch. Freeze until firm and scoopable. Tastes like a grown-up version of cherry vanilla.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls layered with cherry filling and baked until soft and golden. The fruit melts into the swirl while the icing drips down the sides. Serve warm for the full effect. These bake sticky, soft, and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
German Cherry Crumb Cake
A light cake base topped with tart cherries and a soft crumb topping. The cake stays moist and the topping bakes golden. Serve as-is or with a dusting of sugar. It’s sliceable, simple, and easy to repeat.
Get the Recipe: German Cherry Crumb Cake
Cherry Salad
A chilled mix of cherries, whipped topping, and sweet add-ins like pineapple or marshmallow. It stirs together fast and sets in the fridge. Sweet, fluffy, and a little retro in the best way. Best served cold with a big spoon.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Salad
Cherry Chocolate Chip Pie
A soft pie filled with chocolate chips and cherries, baked into a chewy, rich slice. The filling sets just enough to hold its shape without drying out. Serve warm or cooled depending on how you want the chips. A dessert that eats like a brownie and pie in one.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chocolate Chip Pie
Cherry Cheesecake
Classic cheesecake with cherry topping poured over a smooth, creamy base. The crust bakes crisp while the filling sets soft but sliceable. Chill overnight for clean edges. A no-fail combination that always shows up strong.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cheesecake
Chocolate Cherry Cobbler Cake
This cobbler bakes into soft cake layered with cherry filling and swirls of chocolate. The edges crisp while the center stays gooey and rich. Scoop it out warm and serve with something cold. It’s bold, sweet, and comes together in one pan.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cobbler Cake
