24 Must-Make Cherry Recipes For the Summer

Here are the next healthy and delicious recipes you should make during cherry season!

I think every other post me and Serena have written in the past few months highlight a summer fruit. While I change my mind practically every week on what my favorite fruit of the summer is (usually based on what I’m getting in my CSA share), cherries are always at the top of the list.

My love for cherries goes all the way back to eating them on the beach and learning a childhood right of passage: spitting the pits (which is how my then 5-year old daughter lost her first tooth in the sand.) And to this day, every year without fail, my dad smiles with his “cherry teeth” for a photo. Also, I have family in Seattle so whenever I am lucky enough to be there during cherry season, I’m noshing on those gorgeous yellow-orange Rainer cherries.

A few cherry nutrition facts:

• 1 cup cherries = 90 calories
• Cherries are a good source of Vitamin C, fiber and potassium
• Cherries contain melatonin and may help with sleep cycles
• Some research shows that tart cherries may reduce muscle soreness after strenuous exercise and elevate arthritis and gout symptoms. Read more here.

Now, when it comes to pitting cherries, it’s worth reposting this trick I first shared in a Healthy Kitchen Hacks post if you don’t have an actual cherry pitter tool. Grab a chopstick and an empty wine bottle and follow these instructions.

To really get my cherry grove on this year, I asked some of my favorite dietitian food bloggers to share their best cherry recipes – both savory and sweet.

So, now it’s time for me to try to stop eating them on their own so I can start making some of these amazing cherry treats!

Beverages:
Cherry Lime Slush – Marisa @Marisa Moore Nutrition
Sweet Cherry Coconut Smoothie – Kim @Nutrition Pro Consulting
Healthy Cherry Limeade – Lindsay @Lean Green Bean
Frozen Cherry Smoothie – Joe @BlueCure

Appetizers + Salads:
Portable Cherry Caprese Panzanella Salad – Teaspoon of Spice
Red Wine Cherry + Caramelized Onion Bruschetta – Abbey @Abbey’s Kitchen
Citrus Mint Quinoa Salad with Cherries – Jamie @Dishing Out Health

Breakfast:
Cherry Pie Baked Oatmeal – Alex @Delish Knowledge
Protein-Rich Cherry French Toast – Amy @Amy Gorin Nutrition
Cherry Vanilla Overnight Oats – Marie @Healthy Ideas Place

Condiments:
Cherry Bacon Jam – Regan @Healthy Aperture
Spicy Fresh Cherry Chutney – Jessica @Nutritioulicious
Cherry Mint Salsa – Brittany @Your Choice Nutrition
Cherry Strawberry Chia Jam – Abbey @Abbey’s Kitchen

Snacks:
Peanut Butter Cherry Trail Mix Bites – Sarah @Bucket List Tummy
Baked Oatmeal Squares with Cherries – Teaspoon of Spice
Gluten-Free Almond-Cherry Bread – Regan @Healthy Aperture
Port Wine + Bing Cherry Pops – Karman @The Nutrition Adventure

Desserts:
Cherry Berry Baked Donuts – Whitney @Sweet Cayenne
Cherry Clafoutis with Lime – Teaspoon of Spice
Cherry Marzipan Cookies – Gretchen @kumquat
Vegan Cherry Coconut Ice Cream – Abby @Abby Langer Nutrition
Pistachio Cherry Coconut Crisp – Sharon @The Plant-Powered Blog
Vegan Gluten-Free Black Forrest Trifle – Kara @The Foodie Dietitian

Still want more? Here’s a 10 Cheers For Cherries! dessert recipe round-up I wrote for Healthy Aperture a few years back.

What’s your favorite way to serve cherries?