Roasted Cherries {Sweet OR Savory!}

Roasted cherries have a deep cherry flavor, delicious soft texture, and rich cherry sauce that can be made either sweet or savory. Sweet cherries are perfect for spooning over a cheesecake, ice cream, or pound cake while savory cherries can be served with chicken or pork.

When you try as many fresh cherry recipes as I've done over the years, you realize that sometimes it is the simplest of ideas that are the big winners.

As much as I love cherry pie and cherry crisp, this easy roasted cherries sauce is the perfect quick recipe for spooning over a plain cheesecake, bowl of vanilla ice cream, or slice of pound cake with whipped cream.

All it takes is one little ingredient swap and you can make savory roasted cherries that taste amazing spooned over chicken or pork for an easy dinner.

With just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of hands-on time, you can make this whole cherry recipe in a pinch for a fast and easy summery dessert or a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Sweet Cherries

I love how this roasted cherries recipe uses just 3 ingredients and keeps the focus on the star of the show -- the cherries!

All you need to make it is:

• Fresh Cherries: You could use frozen cherries from the grocery store if it isn't cherry season.
• Sugar
• Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the cherry sauce and makes it rich and spoonable.

Savory Roasted Cherries Variation

I prefer the sweet roasted cherries recipe but you can also turn your berries into savory roasted cherries for spooning over chicken or pork.

Omit the sugar and instead toss the cherries in a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Cook the fruit as directed and then add up to 1 tablespoon of your favorite fresh herbs: basil, thyme, or rosemary would all be perfect additions to the savory roasted cherries.

How to Roast Cherries

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Toss the cherries, sugar, and cornstarch together in a baking dish. (Or, cherries with olive oil and salt and pepper.)

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Sweet Cherries Serving Suggestions

You can serve roasted cherries warm from the oven or you can cool them completely and chill if you prefer them cold.

Warm roasted cherries would be delicious spooned over:

• vanilla ice cream
• pound cake
• a vanilla bundt cake
• plain coffee cake

Chilled roasted cherries would be delicious paired with:

• the perfect cheesecake topping for a cherry cheesecake
• spooned into vanilla yogurt with homemade granola
• dolloped over a chocolate or vanilla pudding
• stirred into a cherry milkshake
• made into homemade cherry chocolate chip ice cream

Savory Cherries Serving Suggestions

You can turn a savory cherry sauce into an easy dinner with my healthy chicken tenderloins or delicious pork tenderloins and a side of herb butter rice.

You might also enjoy using the savory cherries on a hearty green salad with crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese.

Storage Tips

You can make roasted cherries in advance and store them in an airtight container in your fridge up to one week.

You can freeze the roasted cherries sauce in a freezer-friendly container for up to 1 year. Simply thaw in the fridge overnight.

To reheat the roasted cherries, simply place the sauce in a saucepan and gently heat it over Low heat until it is warmed through.

Roasted Cherries

5 from 2 votes

This easy roasted cherries recipe can be made sweet for desserts or savory for spooning over chicken or pork. It is a great way to use up fresh cherries during the season.

TOTAL TIME 5 minutes

PREP TIME 5 minutes

COOK TIME 45 minutes

YIELD 2 cups

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Ingredients

  

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• 2 cups fresh cherries pits and stems removed
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Rinse and dry the fresh cherries. Remove the stems and pits.
• In a 9x9 glass baking dish, toss the cherries with the sugar and cornstarch. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. 
• The roasted cherries can be served warm or cold.

Recipe Notes

Store roasted cherries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. The recipe can be frozen for later, simply thaw in the fridge overnight. You can reheat the cherries in a small saucepan if you want to serve them warm.

SAVORY VARIATION

To use roasted cherries for dinner with chicken or pork, omit the sugar and toss the fruit with a tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook as directed. Add up to one tablespoon of fresh herbs like basil, thyme or rosemary.

COURSEDessert Sauces

CUISINEAmerican

AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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