Cherry season is (finally) here for a good time, not a long time. Make the most of these plump, bite-sized beauties — bake them into a cherry pie, a Cherry Ripe pavlova or any of our sweet variations on the Black Forest cake. They work well in savoury dishes too, imparting a sweet-sour counterpart to roast ham, turkey and pork. Perfect for festive feasts come Christmas time.
Our favourite cherry recipes for spring/summer 2025:
Fudgy chocolate-cherry cake
Think of this as a very glamorous and very modern version of a Black Forest cake.
Pete Evans’ cherry pie
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry pie by Pete Evans.
German cherry streusel
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for German cherry streusel by Brigitte Hafner.
Cherry and gingerbread bombe Alaska
For dessert with drama.
Gochujang-glazed ham with roast cherries
This is an elevated take on the classic centrepiece.
Spiced plum, cherry and coffee trifle with cardamom crumb
Need a Christmas dessert to impress? Look here.
Olive-oil ice-cream, yoghurt mousse and black cherries
Heaven on a plate.
Amaretto and cherry-glazed ham with pistachio and herb crust
Christmas lunch is sorted with this glazed ham of your dreams.
Coconut and cherry frangipane tart
A sweet treat to make the most of cherry season.
Black Forest cheesecake
Desserts in the ’70s were all about Black Forest cake and cheesecakes. We figured a combination of the two could only be a good thing. Instead of the cornflour thickened fruit topping of earlier eras, we’ve opted for lush roast cherries. This can be made well in advance, so it’s the entertainer’s friend.
Cherry and vanilla parfait sandwiches
These ice-cream sandwiches are perfect cool treat for kids (and adults too) this summer.
Cherry and Chinese spiced duck salad
Australia’s cherry season takes a detour through China with this fresh twist on classic duck, hoisin and stone fruit.
Hong Kong French toast with smoked cinnamon ice-cream and spiced cherry sauce
This softly spiced take on French toast is sure to delight.
Coconut lamingtons with cherry jam
The Australian classic receives a glow-up.
Christmas Spritz
Summer cherries and Lambrusco combine in a Spritz that screams Christmas in Australia.
Cherry, almond and yoghurt tart
The base of this tart is brioche-like in texture, with a beautifully buttery flavour.
Cherry, almond and burnt-butter tart
Emma Knowles recipe for cherry, almond and burnt-butter tart.
Cherry Ripe pavlova
Emma Knowles recipe for Cherry Ripe pavlova.
Shaved ice with cherries, gin and lime
Emma Knowles recipe for shaved ice with cherries, gin and lime.
Chocolate-cherry marquise
Emma Knowles recipe for chocolate-cherry marquise.
Black Forest chocolate roulade
Sour cherries add a lovely fresh tart note to this roulade. Fresh cherries will work here, too, if you can find them.
Dark-chocolate cherry trifle
This dark chocolate trifle is too easy to make, ready in just over 20 minutes. Pitted cherries on top ensure it’s a delight.
Cherry and plum salad
Cherry and plum salad recipe | Gourmet Traveller
Freekeh, sour cherry and feta salad
Inspired by stuffing, this salad combines freekeh with a sherry vinaigrette and sour cherries for a sweet acidity, while Greek feta crumbled on top adds a satisfying tang.
Strawberry, cherry and raspberry salad with raspberry sorbet
Double-down on the vibrant flavours of summer berries with a simple sorbet to go with your fruit salad.
Grilled mackerel with cherry salad
This simple dish balances the rich oiliness of torched mackerel with a sweet-sour dressing, while nashi pear refreshes the palate.
Cherry and almond tart
Australian Gourmet Traveller Christmas dessert recipe for cherry and almond tart.
Roast pork rack with cherry-ginger relish
Emma Knowles recipe for roast pork rack with cherry-ginger relish.
Analiese Gregory’s whiskey-glazed ham with preserved cherries
A lick of whiskey goes a long way.
Turkey with chestnut, rosemary and apple stuffing and cherry-cranberry preserve
Christmas recipe for turkey with chestnut, rosemary and apple stuffing and cherry-cranberry preserve.
Roast duck with cherries and roast kipfler potatoes
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for roast duck with cherries and roast kipfler potatoes.
Cherry lardy cake
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry lardy cake.
Chocolate shortbread and truffle cakes with sour cherry jam
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Chocolate shortbread and truffle cakes with sour cherry jam
Chilled rice pudding with roasted cherries and pistachio
Emma Knowles recipe for chilled rice pudding with roasted cherries and pistachio.
Watermelon and cherry salad with cheat’s cherry granita
Straightforward and speedy.
Cherry lattice pie with almond-milk ice
There’s nothing as sweet as a cherry pie.
A pâtissière’s guide to making Black Forest cake
Chocolate and kirsch are the stars of this knockout classic German dessert gâteau, with a light, airy sponge the key to success. Catherine Adams shows how it’s done.
Cherry napoleons with rosemary-scented crème fraîche
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast pastry recipe for cherry napoleons with rosemary-scented crème fraîche
Cherry-vanilla jam
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry-vanilla jam.
Chocolate, cherry and raspberry tart
Poaching the cherries for this tart adds that little bit extra flavour that will keep you coming back for more.
Chocolate cherry fudge and coconut ice-cream cake
Recipe for chocolate cherry fudge and coconut ice-cream cake.
Cherry toast with vanilla cream
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry toast with vanilla cream.
Watermelon, cherry and rose salad with shortbread, yoghurt and cherry syrup
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for watermelon, cherry and rose salad with shortbread, yoghurt and cherry syrup.
Cherry and almond-crumble galette
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry and almond-crumble galette.
Bistro Moncur’s Cherry Ripe soufflé
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Cherry Ripe soufflé by Bistro Moncur.
Cherry bombe
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry bombe.
Cherry cheesecake with cherry-pit ice-cream
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry cheesecake with cherry-pit ice-cream.
Cherry ripe sundae with cherry spider
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cherry ripe sundae with cherry spider.
Can you freeze cherries?
Yes, cherries can be frozen for up to a year if stored properly. Seal in a ziplock bag to retain the fruit’s freshness and prevent freezer burn. For convenience, pit your cherries before freezing so they can be used straight away when defrosted.
What do I make when I have too many cherries?
Bought a tray of cherries before festive season and found yourself with a few extras? No worries, cherry recipes to the rescue. Make a cherry-heavy recipe like a glaze in our gochujang-glazed ham with roasted cherries, or make some cherry ice-cream to use in our cherry and vanilla parfait sandwiches.
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