Its Cherry Season: Time for Homemade Treats

There is nothing quite like the arrival of fresh, plump cherries. Their deep color, incredible sweetness, and slight tartness make them the ultimate star ingredient for cozy baking and savory twists alike.

Whether you are looking to fill your kitchen with the warm aroma of a baking cobbler or want to whip up an elegant, creamy soup, we have gathered four foolproof cherry recipes that will elevate your seasonal cooking.

1. Cherry Almond Buckle

A traditional “buckle” is an old-fashioned single-layer cake that rises up around a heavy layer of fruit, causing the top to buckle and crinkle. This version pairs sweet cherries with a fragrant almond and cinnamon crumb topping.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 40 mins | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• Maida 1 and 1/3 cups
• Baking powder 1 tsp
• Salt 1/4 tsp
• Unsalted butter 1/2 cup
• Sugar 3/4 cup
• Eggs 2
• Sour cream 1/2 cup
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Almond essence 3/4 tsp
• 1 and 1/2 cup quartered cherries

For Crumb topping:

• Maida 1/4 cup
• Brown sugar 1/4 cup
• Cinnamon powder 1/4 tsp
• Unsalted butter 2 tbsp
• Sliced almonds 1/4 cup

Get the ingredients here

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 177° celsius. Grease a 8-inch square baking pan.
2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
3. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy for about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Add eggs, sour cream, vanilla and almond essence. Beat until well combined. Carefully fold in the cherries and set aside.
4. Mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together and stir in the melted butter. Keep the mixture crumbly.  Sprinkle the crumb mixture and almond slices on top of the batter.
5. Bake for 38-45 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and set it on a wire rack. Cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

2. Cherry Soup with Mascarpone Lime Cream

If you are looking for an elegant, show-stopping dessert to impress guests, this velvety cherry soup is it. The rich, spiced cherry reduction contrasts beautifully with a bright, citrusy mascarpone cream.

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• Cherries 1 kilo
• Cinnamon powder 1 tsp
• Cardamom powder 1 tsp
• Cornflour 1 tsp
• Lime 1
• Icing sugar 2 tbsp
• Mascarpone cheese 150 gm

Get the ingredients here

Method

1. Wash and remove the pits from the cherries and halve them. Blend in a blender.
2. Sieve the puree and drain out the liquid by pressing the puree.
3. Beat the mascarpone cream and add lime zest and juice of half the lime and stir until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of icing sugar and mix.
4. Place the drained cherry juice in a saucepan and heat until slightly reduced. Add the cornflour to slightly thicken the soup.
5. Serve the soup with some fresh cherries and a quenelle of mascarpone cream. Drizzle with pistachio nuts and serve.

3. Chicken Salad with Cherries

Cherries aren’t just for dessert! Their natural sweetness beautifully cuts through rich, savoury dishes. This crunchy, creamy chicken salad is perfect for a comforting lunch or an easy weeknight dinner.

Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings:  4

Ingredients

• Chicken  breasts boneless cooked and diced 3
• Cherries 1/3 cup
• Celery 1/3 cup
• Pecans toasted and chopped 1/3 cup
• Mayonnaise 1/3 cup
• Buttermilk 1 tbsp
• Salt 1/3 tsp
• Black pepper powder 1/2 tsp
• Apple cubed 1/2  cup

Get the ingredients here

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine chicken, cherries, celery, pecans, mayonnaise, milk, salt, pepper and apple cubes.
2. Toss well and refrigerate until chilled.
3. Serve on toasted bread or croissants.

4. Cherry Cobbler

This is the ultimate comfort food dessert. Unlike a pie, a cobbler features a sweet, cake-like batter poured over fruit that bakes up into a beautiful, golden crust with bubbling pockets of rich cherry juice.

Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 55 mins | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• Cherries pitted and halved 4 cups
• Unsalted butter 6 tbsp
• Maida 1 cup
• Sugar 3/4 cup
• Baking powder 1 tbsp
• Salt 1/4 tsp
• Milk 1 cup
• Vanilla extract 1 tsp
• Almond extract 1/4 tsp
• Coarse sugar 2 tbsp

Get the ingredients here

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 177 degree celsius. Place the butter in a 9-inch square baking dish. Melt the butter while the oven preheats.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Add the milk, vanilla and almond extract and whisk until smooth.
3. Remove the pan from the oven and spread the cherries over the melted butter in an even layer. Pour the batter over the top of the cherries. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar.
4. Bake for 60 minutes. Check with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it is done.
5. Remove from the oven and set it on a wire rack. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Which of these cherry recipes are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments below!