15 Cherry Desserts That Are Sweet and Tart

A Slice of Cherry Olive Oil Cake on a plate

Cherry season is here, and while these tart beauties may be best known as Northeastern fruit (D.C. cherry blossoms, anyone?), different varieties are plentiful across the northern states. I love using cherries in cakes and desserts because they are tart AND sweet, making them a burst of balanced fruit flavor. They’re tasty in toppings, filling or inside cakes. You’ll find all kinds of cherry desserts below.

Looking for more desserts featuring summer berries? Check out my collections of blueberry desserts and strawberry desserts!

Cherry Desserts

Three basic components (meringue pie crust, vanilla pastry cream and sour cherry sauce) make up this easy but impressive cherry angel pie!
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Angel food cake is the lightest, fluffiest, most ethereal cake and this version gets even better with a cherry studded whipped cream.
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These sour cherry streusel bars are perfect for a Minnesota get together. The tart cherry is balanced out by sweetness and a tasty, gooey cream cheese layer.
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Cherries pair beautifully with honey and olive oil, so they were the natural pick for this olive oil cake. I used sweet cherries, but I think sour cherries would be even better. You could use any other fruit you like and add them in the same way.
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This cherry blossom cake is filled with a simple and delicious whipped cream and cherry sauce. It's adorned with some beautiful cherry blossom flowers piped with royal icing.
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A semifreddo is a cross between ice cream and mousse, but doesn't require any special equipment to prepare. The texture is smooth and luxurious when allowed to sit at room temperature until it just on the verge of melting, but still partially cold, hence the name. 
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This chocolate cherry cake features a cream made with marsala wine and tart cherries. The combination is perfect with the rich chocolate cake and the result is a decadent and balanced dessert.
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Cherry makes for a wonderful topping to cheesecake, and this version features a sweet and cherry sauce over a classic cream cheese and ricotta cheesecake recipe. The cherry topping is a sweet touch to the light and creamy cheesecake.
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All of the components of the classic German torte without the fuss. This cherry chocolate cake has layers of dark chocolate cake, fresh whipped cream and sweet cherries spiked with Kirschwasser.
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Boozy and delicious is the way to describe this recipe for mini pavlovas. You can choose between sweet or tart cherries to tweak the flavor profile, and the gorgeous little treats a perfect for a special occasion.
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There aren't many showier desserts than a bright and shiny mirror glaze. The technique is easier than you may think, and this version features my simple no-bake cheesecake under the gorgeous cherry mirror glaze.
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A classic rhubarb pie recipe with lattice crust. Cherries (or raspberries!) are added for sweetness.
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Homemade ricotta cheese has changed my kitchen forever. I used goat milk to give extra flavor and served the cheese with poached cherries.
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This apple cherry strudel is flaky and delicious! Enjoy with softly whipped cream and a good cup of coffee.
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The key to success with this sweet, but not too sweet, pie is to use sour cherries. Combined with just enough sugar and a pinch of black pepper, the sour cherries add a tart balance that goes perfectly with the rich, buttery crust.
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One thought to “15 Cherry Desserts That Are Sweet and Tart”

  1. I just gained 5# looking at the pictures and reading the wonderful recipes. Anytime you need a taster, let me know. Look love Zoe Bakes, I’m making my hubby’s birthday cake from it.

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