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 108 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? ›

Directions. Bring cherries, sugar and 2/3 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often. Stir 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth and stir into the boiling cherry mixture. Return to a boil, stirring constantly; cook until thickened, about 1 minute.

How to thicken juice from cherries? ›

(The amount of sugar can vary according to taste and if the cherries were frozen with sugar or not.) Drain juice from cherries and add water to make 3/4 cup liquid. Stir liquid into corn starch mixture. Stir mixture on high heat until mixture thickens and boils.

What to do with too many fresh cherries? ›

You can, of course, put them into a classic cherry pie, but beyond that, cherries stand up nicely to heat and add a tangy, bright pop to savory dishes. You can roast them, fry them, stir-fry them, and dehydate them.

What is the ingredient in cherry flavor? ›

Other materials are found in more significant amounts; however, benzaldehyde is powerful and has a dominant character making it the primary compound people identify as the traditional cherry taste.

How is cherry made? ›

In commercial production, sour cherries, as well as sweet cherries sometimes, are harvested by using a mechanized "shaker." Hand picking is also widely used for sweet as well as sour cherries to harvest the fruit to avoid damage to both fruit and trees.

How long to soak cherries in vinegar and water? ›

This will kill off listeria, e. coli, mold spores, and any other harmful pathogens that are left on the cherries after harvest. Allow the cherries to soak for two minutes in the vinegar soak. When time is up, I rinse off the cherries to remove any debris or loose stems that might have been left on after soaking.

What to make with cherries going bad? ›

What to Do with Overripe Fruit Like Peaches, Cherries & More
  1. Make a small batch of jam. ...
  2. Make a quick bread. ...
  3. Bake a crumble, cobbler, or crisp. ...
  4. Freeze that fruit for future smoothies. ...
  5. Slow-cook a chunky sauce for pancakes or sundaes. ...
  6. Use as a topping for grilled meats and fish. ...
  7. Make a salad dressing.

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

"Cherries contain fiber, fructose and sorbitol, which in large amount can cause issues such as gas, bloating, stomach pain, and diarrhea," says Blatner.

What not to eat with cherries? ›

These fruits include watermelon, blackberries, nectarines, pears, apples and avocado. Knowing this, you don't want to eat cherries as part of a big fruit salad with these potentially problematic foods. On the flip side, enjoy cherries with foods you know you tolerate well.

What is cherry liqueur made of? ›

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.

What are the ingredients in VH cherry sauce? ›

WATER, SUGAR, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, TOMATO PASTE, SALT, MOLASSES, COLOUR, LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, CONCENTRATED LEMON JUICE, LEMON OIL, SULPHITES, SODIUM BENZOATE), SEASONING, NATURAL FLAVOUR. CONTAINS: SULPHITES.

What is cherry puree made of? ›

Fresh cherries simmered with fresh lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Softened cherries processed smooth in food processor.

What is the liquid in co*cktail cherries? ›

The name maraschino originates from the marasca cherry of Croatian origin and the maraschino liqueur made from it, in which marasca cherries were crushed and preserved after being pickled. Whole cherries preserved in this liqueur were known as "maraschino cherries".

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