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 106 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? ›

Can you use frozen or canned/bottled cherries? Yes! At least partially thaw the cherries before you use them, or if you use canned/bottled cherries reserve a ½ cup of juice to use in place of water. I reduce salt, lemon juice and sugar if I'm using canned.

How to thicken cherry juice without cornstarch? ›

Instead of using cornstarch, swap it out for arrowroot starch. Note that if cornstarch or arrowroot starch is not used in the recipe, it will not get thick and will be very watery. Sugar - The amount of sugar you use will vary based on how sweet your cherries are.

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.

What is a glazed cherry called? ›

A maraschino cherry (/ˌmærəˈskiːnoʊ, -ˈʃiː-/ MARR-ə-SKEE-noh, -⁠SHEE-) is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties.

How many cherries should you eat a day? ›

You'll reap cherry benefits regardless of whether you like your stone fruit sweet or sour. Sweet cherries may be more delightful for your tastebuds when you eat them by the handful. Tart cherries are often used in baking. “Aim for one cup of fresh cherries a day or a quarter-cup of dried ones,” suggests Sedlacek.

How do you spruce up canned cherries? ›

A quick and simple way to give your canned cherry pie filling a homemade taste is to add more flavor. Use dried spices or flavor extracts to up the flavor without adding more sugar. Start with a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract. From there, get creative with cinnamon, ginger, cloves or nutmeg.

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.

What to do with too many 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.

Do cherries last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Keep 'em cold! Cherries will spoil quickly if left out at room temperature, so you should pop them in the refrigerator immediately upon getting home from the grocery store. Once in the fridge, cherries can last for about a week.

How to make sauce thicker without cornstarch or flour? ›

Egg yolks, arrowroot, tomato paste or butter can thicken sauce in place of flour or cornstarch.

How much cornstarch does it take to thicken 1 cup of juice? ›

For each cup of liquid, you want to thicken, start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl. Add an equal amount of cold liquid and stir until smooth paste forms. This is your slurry. Whisk the slurry into the hot, simmering liquid that you want to thicken.

Can butter thicken sauce? ›

Butter does not provide any thickening to a sauce, since it is made of just fat and water. But a chunk of butter, salted or unsalted, swirled into a sauce at the end, can temporarily emulsify a sauce, while adding richness and sheen, all of which are good things.

What is cherry syrup made of? ›

Ingredients. Sugar, water, natural flavouring, concentrated cherry juice, concentrated redcurrant juice, elderberry concentrate, acidifier: citric acid.

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.

What is cherry puree made of? ›

Ingredient List: Cherry puree concentrate, filtered water, cane sugar, fruit and vegetable juice for color, and fruit pectin.

What are the ingredients in VH cherry sauce? ›

Ingredients. 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.

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