Our Most Luscious Cherry Recipes

This ephemeral juicy fruit makes summer a whole lot sweeter. Delicious eaten on their own, cherries also shine in everything from pies and jams to savory appetizers and salads.

Cherry Basics

In Season: This stone fruit -- a relative of plums, peaches, and nectarines -- has a short season, appearing briefly in the produce aisle from June to August.

What to Look For: Bings, Lamberts, and Sweethearts may be the most recognizable names, but don’t miss the rose-blushed yellow Rainiers, a delicate Northwest variety available in July. No matter the kind, look for firm, plump, and shiny cherries with bright green stems.

How to Store: Store them, unwashed and with stems attached, in a bowl in the fridge for up to one week. (Wash right before eating, as water can cause the cherry to soften and split.)

How to Prep: No cherry pitter? Get a little MacGyver: Remove the stem and place the cherry stem-end down over a standard round metal pastry tip. Press firmly, and out pops the pit. A chef’s knife works, too: Gently press down on the cherry with the side of the blade and remove the pit with your fingers.

Store-bought phyllo dough is dressed up with cinnamon sugar, topped with cherries, and baked in this oh-so-simple dessert.

Quality is key in this five-ingredient recipe, so splurge on the best heirloom and cherry tomatoes, Bing cherries, balsamic vinegar, and herbs (we used fresh anise-hyssop leaves and flowers) you can find.

You only need three ingredients -- frozen cherries, coconut water, and fresh lime juice -- to whip up this refreshing, not-too-sweet treat.

Cherries baked with thyme make a spectacular topping for thick slices of toast slathered with fresh goat cheese.

Fresh, juicy cherries amp up an otherwise ordinary grilled chicken salad. A shallot-red wine vinaigrette ties the flavors together beautifully.

Sour cherries give this gelee its eye-catching crimson hue. Streaks of vanilla cream offset the tartness of the fruit perfectly.

More sour cherry recipes right this way!

A splash of kirsch (cherry brandy) intensifies the flavor of the cherry topping for this decadent chocolate cake.

A crisp almond pastry crust is schmeared with creamy ricotta and topped with macerated cherries in this sensational summer dessert.

Two of our favorite summer fruits come together under a crunchy oat-and-coconut topping in this better-for-you crisp.

A batch of these when cherries are at their peak might be the ultimate summer hostess gift.

Toss fresh cherries with grappa, lemon zest and juice, fennel seeds, and pepper, then let the flavors mingle in the fridge. Serve with vanilla-scented mascarpone cream and homemade Lemon-Almond Biscotti.

Balsamic vinegar and cinnamon add a tangy, spicy depth to the fresh cherry topping for this cheesecake.

Crispy phyllo dough stands up well to a creamy chocolate-studded ricotta filling and juicy cherries.

Fresh orange juice and zest brighten this sweet-and-spicy Italian condiment. Serve alongside grilled meats of all stripes.

No ice-cream maker necessary for this refreshing cherry sherbet! A combination of milk, cream, and creme fraiche gives it a perfectly satisfying texture without.