Looking for the best fresh cherry cake recipes and ideas on how to make fresh cherry cakes from scratch without a box mix? Here are 11 easy recipes like my moist cherry almond bundt cake or my cherry loaf with sesame!
Fresh Cherries, my friends, are the epitome of summer, aren’t they? I have such fond memories of biting into those sweet, juicy fruits in my oma’s garden as a child—pure bliss! Me and my sister would pick them an granny would make her famous German cherry cake (kirschkuchen) or her sour cherry jam that we would then use to fill Christmas Cookies later in the year. Even today, I can’t get enough of them, and that’s why I’m thrilled to share my favorite cherry cake recipes with you—guaranteed to make every cherry lover’s heart skip a beat.
Which cherries shall I use for Baking?
Before we dive into the recipes, let’s talk a bit about cherries. In Germany, we’re blessed with an abundance of sour cherries, the most popular being the Schattenmorellen, which are perfect for baking. They have a tartness that balances beautifully with the sweetness of the cake. In the U.S., you’ll find a wider variety of cherries, from sweet Bing cherries to sour Montmorency cherries. For baking, I always recommend going for the sour varieties if you can find them—Montmorency cherries are a great option. But if you’re using sweet cherries, just reduce the sugar in the recipe a bit to balance things out.
Canned Cherries vs Fresh Cherries
Now, let’s talk about canned cherries. Sometimes fresh cherries aren’t in season or available, but don’t worry—you can absolutely use canned cherries in your recipes! Just make sure to drain them well and maybe even pat them dry a little to avoid adding too much moisture to your cake. If your recipe calls for fresh cherries, you can substitute them with canned ones by using about the same amount, just adjust the sweetness as needed.
How to pick the best cherries at the grocery store/market:
When picking cherries at the market, look for ones that are firm, glossy, and have their stems attached. They should be plump and feel heavy for their size, which is a good sign of juiciness. Avoid cherries with blemishes or soft spots, as they’re likely overripe.
Here are the 11 Best Fresh Cherry Cake Recipe Ideas – all made from scratch
German Sour Cherry Cake with Streusel (called Fireman Cake “Feuerwehrkuchen” )
This German Sour Cherry Cake with Streusel (called Fireman Cake “Feuerwehrkuchen” ) consists of a buttery shortcrust pastry, a luscious sour cherry filling, and a nutty hazelnut crumble, all topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream. A traditional German cherry cake for any occasion.
Vegan cherry chocolate cake – simple, moist and chocolaty. The vegan fresh cherry cake can be made gluten-free and sugar free and can also be baked in a loaf tin or as muffins. So decadent and indulgent, but made from wholesome ingredients!
This Cherry Pie with Vanilla Custard is an easy German Cherry Cake recipe that you will love! No-roll shortcrust pastry, creamy vanilla quark filling, and tart sour cherries make this traditional German cake so special!
Try this traditional recipe for German Mohnkuchen – that’s Poppy Seed Cake with Cherries and Crumble topping – a classic German cake with homemade poppyseed filling. Can be made with fresh or frozen cherries.
This easy white chocolate cherry bundt cake recipe features a blend of vanilla, almond, and white chocolate flavors with an added pop from fresh cherries and extra moisture from Greek Yogurt. A delicious and easy summer dessert perfect for potlucks!
This Sour Cherry Cake with Black Sesame & Lime is THE BOMB! A combination of coconut oil, lime juice and yoghurt in the batter make this Sour Cherry Cake one of the moistest loaf cakes I have ever made! Try it today!
German marble cake with cherries baked on a sheet pan! With grandma's traditional Bavarian marble cake recipe, you can make this Black Forest marble cake with fresh or canned cherries within minutes and it will be wonderfully juicy. The best traditional german marble cake recipe.
This easy German Apricot Crumb Cake with cherries is an amazing coffee cake for summer made with fresh apricots and a buttery crumble topping. Can be made vegan.
Poppy Seed Twisted Loaf with Sour Cherry Jam and Rum Glaze
This soft and buttery Twisted Poppy Seed Loaf with Sour Cherry Jam and Rum Glaze is the perfect recipe for an indulgent Christmas or Easter Brunch! Serve it fresh out of the oven !
