20 Cherry Desserts That Stack, Swirl, and Bake Golden
Cherries work in just about every kind of dessert, from soft muffins and no-bake layers to rich cakes and quick bar bakes that cut clean and go fast. Some desserts on this list go warm and bubbly straight from the oven, others chill and slice from the fridge, but everyone finds a way to use cherries in a way that keeps things simple and full of flavor. You’ll find chocolate, cheesecake, pastry, and poke cake all layered with cherry filling or studded with fresh or frozen fruit. A few go heavy on cream and whipped topping, others fold into muffins or roll into pastry, and some skip structure entirely and bake straight in a pan until they’re spooned out hot. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or making something that sets overnight, this list hits all the cherry dessert notes that go big without going fussy.
Chocolate Cherry Brownies
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Dense chocolate brownies baked with cherry chunks or swirls for a bold, rich combo. The cherries add moisture and cut through the sweetness. Let them cool for clean slices or eat warm for a molten bite. These feel like a mashup of candy and cake.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Brownies
Chocolate Cherry Poke Cake
Chocolate cake baked soft, then poked and filled with cherry pie filling or sauce. It chills into layers and holds together well once set. Add whipped topping or leave plain. Each slice shows off the contrast between rich cake and bright fruit.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Poke Cake
Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
A cold pie layered with sweetened cream cheese and cherry topping in a graham crust. It chills firm and slices clean with soft filling and glossy top. Easy to prep ahead and holds well in the fridge. Serve cold straight from the pan.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
Cherry Cheesecake Muffins
Muffins swirled with cherry filling and cheesecake batter before baking. The top sets golden while the inside stays soft and slightly tangy. Serve warm or cool—they hold up both ways. These stack well and don’t fall apart.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cheesecake Muffins
Cherry Apple Crisp
Cherries and apples soften into a thick, spiced filling beneath a golden oat topping. The mix stays jammy while the crisp bakes until browned. Serve warm with something cold on top. It hits sweet and tart without going too heavy.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Apple Crisp
Cherry Chocolate Chip Pie
A soft pie filled with chocolate chips and cherries in a cookie-style base. It bakes up gooey in the center and crisp on the edges. Slice warm for melty chips or chill for cleaner cuts. It’s bold, chewy, and rich without being dense.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chocolate Chip Pie
Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
Cherry filling swirled into soft cinnamon roll dough and baked until golden and sticky. The fruit melts into the layers and keeps them moist. Top with icing or leave them plain for a less-sweet finish. These serve best warm with the filling still soft.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
Cherry Danish Recipe
Flaky pastry baked with a cherry and cream cheese center. The filling stays soft and the edges rise crisp. Add icing for extra sweetness or serve as-is. They come together quickly and look polished out of the oven.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Danish Recipe
Cherry Cheesecake Icebox Cake
Layered graham crackers, cheesecake filling, and cherry topping stacked into a no-bake dessert that chills overnight. It sets firm enough to slice but stays creamy in the center. The layers soften just enough to hold without collapsing. A solid fridge dessert that feeds a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cheesecake Icebox Cake
Cherry Pie Cupcakes
Cupcakes baked with cherry pie filling inside and topped with frosting or crumble. The center stays soft and juicy while the cake bakes around it. Each one feels like a mini version of pie. Best served slightly warm or chilled.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie Cupcakes
Cherry Blossom Cookies
Soft cherry-flavored sugar cookies topped with a chocolate kiss. The dough holds its color and shape with a chewy bite. Chill before baking for the best results. A sweet twist on the original blossom cookie.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Blossom Cookies
Cherry Apricot Upside Down Cake
Cherries and apricots caramelize under the cake as it bakes, then flip into a glossy topping. The fruit bakes down soft while the cake stays light underneath. Serve warm or room temp with nothing extra. The colors hold up and look good on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Apricot Upside Down Cake
Mini Cherry Almond Cakes
These bake into individual cakes filled with almond flavor and a cherry center. The edges crisp slightly while the centers stay soft and sweet. Great for plating or packing up. Dust with powdered sugar or add glaze for finish.
Get the Recipe: Mini Cherry Almond Cakes
Cherry Pandowdy
Baked cherries covered in a patchwork of crust or puff pastry, broken midway through baking to let the juices bubble up. The filling thickens and soaks into the topping. Serve hot or warm with cream or ice cream. A rustic, one-dish dessert that doesn’t need clean lines.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pandowdy
Cherry Lush
A layered no-bake dessert with a graham cracker crust, cherry topping, cream cheese layer, and whipped topping. It sets cold and slices into soft, creamy squares. Prep ahead and chill until firm. Light, sweet, and crowd-ready.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Lush
Cherry Pie Cookies
Cookie dough shaped into little cups filled with cherry pie filling. The dough bakes soft and holds the shape for easy grabbing. These work for trays, parties, or gifting. All the flavor of pie without slicing.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie Cookies
Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Soft almond cookies pressed and filled with cherry jam before baking. The filling sets glossy and the cookie stays tender underneath. Add a drizzle or keep them simple. A tray-friendly cookie that holds up well.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Cherry Pie Cheesecake Bars
Shortbread crust with a cheesecake center and cherry topping, all baked into slices. Chill before cutting for clean layers. Each bite hits tangy, sweet, and smooth. Great for parties or prepping ahead.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie Cheesecake Bars
Cherry Danishes
Pastry folded or shaped with cherry filling in the center, baked until puffed and golden. The filling holds well without leaking and adds a bright finish. Glaze optional but works well. Serve warm or let them cool and set.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Danishes
Cherry Dump Cake
Cherry filling topped with boxed cake mix and melted butter, then baked until golden and bubbly. No stirring, no layering, just dump and bake. It’s crisp at the edges and soft in the center. Scoop and serve warm from the pan.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Dump Cake
