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    Home » Gluten-Free Desserts » 13 Fabulous Cherry Recipes for Fresh or Frozen Cherries

    13 Fabulous Cherry Recipes for Fresh or Frozen Cherries

    Published: May 15, 2023 · Updated: Feb 14, 2025 by Elaine - 2 Comments

    13 Fabulous Cherry Recipes for that all-too-short cherry season! These easy gluten-free recipes use either fresh or frozen cherries.

    Here's a roundup of favourite gluten-free cherry recipes featuring both fresh and frozen cherries. From sweet cherry crisp and cheesecake to tangy cherry sauces, this collection has it all. With so many delicious recipes to choose from, you'll never run out of ways to enjoy this versatile fruit.

    image and title for 8 Fabulous Cherry Recipes for fresh or frozen cherries

    When cherry season arrives I can't seem to get enough of those juicy little jewels. Popping one in my mouth leads to another and another . . . and soon there aren't enough left to use for a special cherry dessert. While I love feasting on fresh cherries, sometimes it's a treat to make something special with them.

    I usually pick my own cherries at a local farm, but I've discovered that I can buy bags of organic frozen cherries in most supermarkets. Those ones are already pitted!

    Jump to:
    • Cherry Recipes for Fresh or Frozen Cherries
    • Try these cherry recipes for appetizers, too.
    • Add cherries to your breakfast table
    • Add cherries to your next barbecue
    • An extra recipe! Sour cherry almond tart
    • FAQ's about fresh or frozen cherries

    Cherry Recipes for Fresh or Frozen Cherries

    All of these 13 Fabulous Cherry Recipes use either fresh or frozen cherries, and all are gluten-free!

    If you're wondering what to do with frozen dark cherries, check out these recipes! All of these can be made with either fresh or frozen cherries.

    Click on the buttons below the photos to take you directly to the recipes.

    Cherry Crisp with Frozen Cherries
    Cherry Crisp with Frozen Cherries
    Enjoy cherry crisp year-round with this recipe for cherry crisp with frozen cherries! Warm sweet cherries with a gluten-free buttery, crunchy oat topping make a dessert that can be ready in less than an hour!
    Cherry Crisp with Frozen Cherries
    Cherry Crisp with ice cream
    A group of mini no-bake cherry almond cheesecakes in small jars.
    Mini No-Bake Cherry Almond Cheesecake
    Serve these Mini No-Bake Cherry Almond Cheesecakes in small jars or ramekins. A great choice for a dessert buffet or for picnics. Gluten-free and sugar-free options.
    Mini No-Bake Cherry Almond Cheesecake
    a group of mini no-bake cherry almond cheesecakes in small jars
    Overhead view of a jar filled with homemade cherry sauce.
    How to make a simple cherry sauce
    Learn to make the perfect cherry topping for your desserts in just a few easy steps. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make a simple cherry sauce with either fresh or frozen cherries.
    How to make a simple cherry sauce
    Overhead view of a jar of cherry sauce.
    A slice of gluten-free cherry almond ricotta cake with a fresh cherry on top.
    Flourless Cherry Almond Ricotta Cake
    This Flourless Cherry Almond Ricotta Cake is light, delicately almond-flavoured and filled with fresh cherries. It never fails me! 
    Flourless Cherry Almond Ricotta Cake
    Flourless Cherry Almond Ricotta Cake with fresh cherries.
    Close up view of a mini jar of cherry parfait with creamy lemon ricotta
    10-minute Creamy Lemon Ricotta Cherry Parfait
    This Creamy Lemon Ricotta Cherry Parfait is a 10-minute dessert. It’s sweetened with honey, flavoured with lemon and almond and layered with fresh cherries. Gluten-free and refined sugar-free, this is a dessert that everyone loves!
    10-minute Creamy Lemon Ricotta Cherry Parfait
    a small dessert jar of lemon ricotta cherry parfait
    Close up view of Light Cherry Coconut Yogurt Fool garnished with pistachio nuts.
    Light Cherry Coconut Yogurt Fool
    A lightened up version of a traditional "fool" dessert. This Cherry Coconut Yogurt Fool is made with fresh or frozen cherries and Greek yogurt. Perfect as a mini dessert!
    Light Cherry Coconut Yogurt Fool
    Three mini glasses of cherry coconut fool topped with chopped pistachios.
    Close up view of mini Air Fryer Cherry Almond Crisp desserts in small white ramekins.
    Air Fryer Cherry Almond Crisp
    Cherry Almond Crisp cooked in ramekin dishes in an air fryer makes a delicious, gluten-free mini dessert.
    Air Fryer Cherry Almond Crisp
    Two ramekins with Cherry Almond Crisp with a dish of ice cream

    Try these cherry recipes for appetizers, too.

    Goat cheese log with fresh cherry salsa on top with a small dish of square crackers.
    Fresh Cherry Salsa with Goat Cheese
    This Fresh Cherry Salsa is sweet and savoury, spicy and refreshing. Serve with tortilla chips or on a log of goat cheese or serve with grilled fish or chicken fingers.
    Fresh Cherry Salsa with Goat Cheese
    Cherry Salsa with goat cheese and crackers.
    Roasted cherry crostini with goat cheese on a plate with a rosemary sprig.
    Roasted Cherry Goat Cheese Crostini
    Roasted Cherry Goat Cheese Crostini appetizer with Honey Balsamic Drizzle. Tiny toasts topped with creamy goat cheese and sweet cherries. Tasty finger food!
    Roasted Cherry Goat Cheese Crostini
    Three roasted cherry crostini with goat cheese on a white serving platter.

    Add cherries to your breakfast table

    And here are two more cherry recipes using fresh or frozen cherries!

    Cherry Berry Gluten-Free Clafoutis in a cast iron skillet.
    Cherry Berry Gluten-Free Clafoutis
    A traditional rustic French recipe for a fruit-filled baked custard-based tart, now made gluten-free with sugar-free options! A quick and easy gluten-free dessert that's also delicious for brunch.
    Cherry Berry Gluten-Free Clafoutis
    A slice of gluten-free berry clafoutis with cherries.
    Cherry Baked Oatmeal Cups with cherry sauce on top.
    Baked Oatmeal Cups with Cherries and Chia
    These grab-and-go Cherry Baked Oatmeal Cups will start your day on a healthy note. Packed full of protein and fiber from rolled oats, eggs, hemp hearts, chia and flax seeds, these tender baked oatmeal cups have sweet cherries in every bite!
    Baked Oatmeal Cups with Cherries and Chia
    Cherry baked oatmeal cup with cherry sauce.

    Add cherries to your next barbecue

    Homemade cherry barbecue sauce on chicken thighs.
    Homemade Cherry Barbecue Sauce without Ketchup
    This homemade cherry barbecue sauce is made without ketchup! Made with naturally sweetened fruit, it has no added sugar. Use either fresh or frozen cherries or plums.
    Homemade Cherry Barbecue Sauce without Ketchup
    a small bowl of cherry barbecue sauce near grilled chicken.

    An extra recipe! Sour cherry almond tart

    Close-up view of part of a sour cherry almond tart with a gluten-free fluted crust.
    Gluten Free Sour Cherry Almond Tart
    This Sour Cherry Almond Tart is gluten-free, it's just sweet enough, and it's an easy dessert to make for your next party! Use a round 9-inch or oblong pan with a removable bottom.
    Gluten Free Sour Cherry Almond Tart
    Close-up view of part of a sour cherry almond tart with a gluten-free fluted crust.

    FAQ's about fresh or frozen cherries

    Are cherries good for you?

    Cherries are packed with nutrients and they're rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Did you know that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice may actually improve your sleep quality?

    How many cups of cherries are in one pound?

    1 pound of fresh cherries equals 2 ½ to 3 cups pitted cherries. One pound of frozen cherries equals about 3 cups. You'll need 4 ½ to 5 cups of cherries to make a pie.

    Can you freeze fresh cherries?

    Yes! I have frozen them whole. However, it's best to take the time to pit them before freezing. You'll be more likely to use them if you know they can quickly be added to a recipe instead of having to remove the pits first.

    What's the easiest way to pit fresh cherries?

    If you don't have a cherry pitter, there are several methods that you can use. Try removing the stem, then poking a chopstick or a metal straw, or even a frosting tip through the stem end to pop the pit out. You could also slice the cherry in half and remove the pit with your fingers or a paring knife. However, I've found the easiest way ever!

    Use an old fork that you don't care about (or get one at a thrift store). It should be of poor quality, so it bends easily.

    Using pliers, bend the out two tines forward, folding them so they lie flat against the base of the fork. Next, slightly bend the tips of the center two tines so they are bent at a 90° angle. To use, plunge the bent tips through the stem end of the cherry and pop out the pit! Easy-peasy.

    Homemade cherry pitter made out of an old fork.

    Which of these delicious cherry recipes will you make first? Let me know in the comments below!

    This post has been recently updated with new information and extra recipes to make it more useful!

    More recipes to try

    • Sugar free chocolate pudding in ramekins with berries on top.
      Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding (Easy)
    • A hand dipping a strawberry into a small bowl of lemon curd fruit dip.
      Easy Lemon Curd Fruit Dip
    • quinoa chocolate cupcakes in yellow cupcake cases.
      Gluten-Free Chocolate Quinoa Cupcakes
    • Two mugs of Mexican Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.
      Cashew Milk Mexican Hot Chocolate

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deborah

      June 15, 2021 at 8:56 pm

      I discovered that a firm plastic re-usable straw works great to poke through the cherry and get that pit out! When straw full just clean it out with a brush meant for cleaning straws. I invented it myself this evening after using the paring knife/finger method for a few days! THanks for all these yummy-looking recipes. Freezing gallons of cherries from our two trees!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        June 15, 2021 at 9:00 pm

        Great tip! Thanks for sharing! Lucky you with your own cherry trees!

        Reply

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