Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (2024)

This homemade Cherry Sauce is loaded with sweet juicy cherries. Quick and easy to make, we love serving this cherry topping on Cheesecake, pancakes, waffles, vanilla ice cream, and pound cake. Cherry Sauce tastes like the filling for Cherry Pie.

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (1)

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Homemade Cherry Sauce Recipe:

Fruit toppings are the perfect complement to many desserts, and this Cherry Sauce definitely can’t be beaten. I find that cherries make the perfect fruit topping for decadent desserts like cheesecake because the tartness of the cherries balances the indulgence of the dessert.

Nothing beats homemade sauces, be sure to also try our Strawberry Sauce and our Caramel Sauce as toppings for desserts or breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles!

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (2)

How to Make Homemade Cherry Sauce:

This Cherry Sauce couldn’t be easier! All of the ingredients are cooked together in one saucepan and you are left with an irresistible sauce you’ll want to eat with a spoon!

  1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together water, lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar.
  2. Put the saucepan over medium heat and stir until it starts to thicken. Add cherries and continue stirring occasionally until sauce is at a light uniform boil and has thickened.
  3. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (3)

Should I Use Sweet or Tart Cherries?

I love making this sauce with sweet cherries. Using sweet cherries means less added sugar is needed – only about 2 tablespoons. Tart cherries also work very well for cherry sauce, however, if using tart cherries I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar (or add sugar to taste) so the sauce isn’t too tart.

Can I Use Fresh or Frozen Cherries?

This Cherry topping recipe is so versatile – either fresh or frozen cherries work. Fresh cherries are perfect in the summer at the peak of their growing season.

Frozen cherries are a great choice when fresh cherries are out of season and are typically pre-pitted which can save you the step of removing cherry pits. Keep in mind, frozen fruit release more juice so add a little less water with frozen cherries.

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (4)

Can This be Used as Cherry Pie Filling?

With a few modifications, this Cherry Sauce makes a delicious cherry pie filling! Simply double the recipe and add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce to allow your cherry pie to set up more firmly.

Since the Cherry Sauce is usually served over a sweet dessert, we love that it is a little tangy. If you prefer a sweeter cherry pie filling, be sure to add a little more sugar to sweeten the mixture.

How to Store Cherry Topping:

If you have leftovers of this delicious Cherry Sauce or need to make it in advance, the sauce will store well in the fridge for about 3 days. Let the sauce cool completely to room temperature then store in a glass mason jar or Tupperware container. This recipe also freezes well for future use.

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (5)

Love Cherries? More Cherry Desserts:

  • Classic Cherry Pie – with the best crust
  • Cherry Upside-Down Cake – the fluffiest cake
  • Cherry Crumble – delicious almonds on top
  • Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake – quick and easy dessert

Easy Cherry Sauce

4.96 from 105 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (7)

This quick and easy homemade Cherry Sauce is loaded with sweet juicy cherries. We love this cherry topping on cheesecake, waffles, ice cream, and cakes!

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Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 8 people (makes 2 1/2 cups)

  • 4 cups sweet cherries, (fresh or frozen), pitted*
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp sugar

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan (off the heat), add water (use 1/3 cup for fresh cherries and 1/4 cup water for frozen cherries). Whisk in 1 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp sugar.

  • Place over medium heat and whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.

  • Add cherries and cook stirring occasionally until sauce is at a light boil (about 6-10 minutes for fresh cherries and 12-15 minutes for frozen). The sauce should be thickened and uniformly bubbling, not just at the edges, then remove from heat.

  • Cool to room temperature then cover and store in the refrigerator in a glass mason jar or Tupperware container until ready to use. It will thicken more as it stands.

Notes

*1 lb of stemmed and un-pitted cherries equals 2 1/2 to 3 cups of cherries, so you will need about 1 1/3 lbs of cherries.

Nutrition Per Serving

59kcal Calories15g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat1mg Sodium153mg Potassium1g Fiber12g Sugar44IU Vitamin A6mg Vitamin C9mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Easy Cherry Sauce

Amount per Serving

Calories

59

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Sodium

1

mg

%

Carbohydrates

15

g

5

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

12

g

13

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

44

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

6

mg

7

%

Calcium

9

mg

1

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Dessert, Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cherry sauce

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 59

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Natasha Kravchuk

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (8)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Easy Cherry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cherry sauce made of? ›

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan. Stir in water. Add the cherries and cook until thick and bubbly.

Can I use canned cherries instead of fresh? ›

If you are substituting canned cherries for fresh, you may need to drain or rinse off the syrup before proceeding. Dried cherries, usually made from sour cherries, are called for in recipes for cookies, savory, cold weather meaty dishes, and fall and winter salads.

How to thicken up cherry juice? ›

If you want a cherry syrup, all you need to do is put the juice back into the saucepan and simmer for another 20 minutes, or till it is reduced to half. You will notice that it will darken and thicken.

What to do with too many fresh cherries? ›

Sweet
  1. Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake. Vicky Wasik. ...
  2. Cherry Ice Cream. ...
  3. Classic Cherry Clafoutis. ...
  4. Cherry Pit Syrup. ...
  5. Easy Stovetop Cherry Grunt (Stovetop Cobbler) ...
  6. Sweet-Sour Macerated Cherries With Marcona Almonds, Mint, and Ricotta. ...
  7. Cherry and Jicama Salad With Lime and Macadamia Nuts. ...
  8. Peppered Duck Breasts With Cherry-Port Sauce.

What is a glazed cherry called? ›

Maraschino cherries are a popular topping for ice cream sundaes and used in certain co*cktails or as garnishes for foods like glazed ham, parfaits, milkshakes, cakes, and pastries. They're also often found in canned fruit mixes.

Do canned cherries go bad? ›

As long as the can is in good shape, the contents should be safe to eat, although the taste, texture and nutritional value of the food can diminish over time. Home canned foods should be used within 1 year.

How many cherries in a can of cherries? ›

This can contains approximately 890 cherries. These world-famous gourmet co*cktail cherries are also available in 400-g (approximately 50-55 cherries) or 6.6-lb cans (approximately 480 cherries).

How many cups is 2 pounds of cherries? ›

One pound of stemmed, unpitted cherries equals three cups. One pound of stemmed, pitted cherries equals 2 1/2 cups.

Can too much cherry juice be bad for you? ›

The abdominal pain and diarrhea are caused by sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that's a type of carbohydrate found in some fruits and plants. And weight gain can occur as a result of extra calories from drinking excessive amounts of juice and the added sugar found in many brands of tart cherry juice.

What is the tart cherry juice trick? ›

You may want to consider adding tart cherry juice to your bedtime routine. Try drinking a glass about an hour before bed to prevent having to use the restroom during the night. Pairing tart cherry juice with your evening book or bath may help you wind down.

Is it OK to dilute tart cherry juice? ›

Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol found in tart cherry juice, can also cause gastrointestinal issues such as stomach cramping and diarrhea for some people, so be sure not to drink too much—and to dilute a concentrate as instructed.

What happens if you eat too many cherries in a day? ›

If you eat more cherries than that recommended dose, there are some potential downsides, adds Blatner: GI distress. "Cherries contain fiber, fructose and sorbitol, which in large amount can cause issues such as gas, bloating, stomach pain, and diarrhea," says Blatner.

How many cherries a day is too much? ›

For example, children and adolescents, as they are growing, need a sufficient amount of nutrients and calories to develop properly and a consumption of between 10 and 15 cherries a day is recommended. In the case of adults, they can consume between 15 and 20 cherries a day, or even 25, depending on each person.

How many cherries can you eat without getting sick? ›

To start, stick to one serving (1/2 cup or about 7 cherries, depending on their size), see how your gut reacts, and go from there. Take the time to measure them out, so you're not tempted to keep popping them in your mouth—otherwise, you may risk your insides retaliating.

What is cherry liqueur made from? ›

Cherry liqueur is sweetened and can be made with any type of spirit base. Brandy is the most common, so cherry liqueur is often called cherry brandy. Then there's kirsch or kirschwasser, which is an unsweetened eau de vie distilled from cherries. But sometimes kirsch is called cherry brandy.

Are glazed cherries real cherries? ›

Glacé Cherries (aka Candied Cherries) are fresh cherries that have been reduced in a sugar syrup until they are 'candied'. Candied fruits have been around since the 14th century, and it's no wonder the tradition is still popular today.

What is black cherry flavor made of? ›

Black cherry imitations have been set on the use of benzoic aldehyde and bitter almond essential oil as the fundamental base and other side products to exploit and sweeten its note. The choice and percentage ratio of the side products is contingent on the use of the flavor itself.

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