17 Vegan Cherry Recipes that You’ll Love
Anyone else think fresh cherries are one of the best parts of summer baking and cooking? Whether you’re using sweet cherries, tart cherries, or frozen cherries, there are so many delicious ways to turn them into easy plant-based recipes. From breakfast ideas to desserts, cherries add the perfect balance of sweetness and bright flavor to every dish.
If you’ve been searching for the best vegan cherry recipes, this roundup is filled with simple and flavorful ideas you can make all season long from popsicles to cakes to ice cream and more!
Cherries pair beautifully with ingredients like chocolate, almond, vanilla, coconut, and lemon, making them one of the most versatile fruits for vegan baking. So, if you have extra cherries to use up or simply love seasonal fruit recipes, these vegan cherry ideas are guaranteed to become favorites.
And if you love cooking with seasonal produce, you can also check out my vegan strawberry recipe round-up and my vegan asparagus recipe round-up for more seasonal recipe ideas!
When Are Cherries in Season?
Cherry season typically runs from late spring through mid-summer, with peak season in most parts of the U.S. happening between June and August. This is when cherries are usually the sweetest, juiciest, and best for baking, snacking, and summer desserts.
There are two main types of cherries you’ll usually find during the season: sweet cherries and tart cherries. Sweet cherries are perfect for snacking, baking, smoothies, and easy desserts, while tart cherries have a brighter flavor that works especially well in pies, crisps, jams, and sauces.
When shopping for cherries, look for ones that are firm, glossy, and have fresh green stems attached. Fresh cherries can be stored in the fridge for several days, and they also freeze well if you want to save them for smoothies, baked goods, or easy desserts later in the season!
1. Vegan Black Forest Trifle
This vegan black forest trifle has layers of chocolate cake, creamy chocolate custard, macerated cherries and whipped dairy-free cream. It’s just like your classic German gateau but easier to prepare and assemble!
2. Lavender Peach and Cherry Cobbler (vegan)
In this cakey cobbler, a simple lavender-scented batter is poured over juicy summer peaches and cherries then baked until golden. This vegan cobbler makes an incredibly delicious summer dessert and is quick and simple to make! Try enjoying it warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream.
3. High Protein Cherry Overnight Oats (No Yogurt)
Looking for a healthy, vegan, and high-protein breakfast option that’s easy to make ahead of time? Try these delicious Cherry Overnight Oats with chia seeds. They’re easy to make ahead of time and require no yogurt.
4. Cherry Granola
Granola is a great thing to have around the house for breakfast AND snacks. Every bite is packed with sweet and salty flavors, making it perfect for any time of day or night!
5. Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Bars (Vegan Option)
These gluten-free cherry pie bars have a buttery shortbread crust and crumble, homemade juicy cherry filling, and sweet almond glaze. Easy to make with a vegan option included!
6. Vegan Pineapple Upside Down Cake
This vegan pineapple upside-down cake is an easy retro dessert! Gooey caramelized pineapple slices with maraschino cherries top a simple buttery cake. It is dairy-free, egg-free and loved by vegans and non-vegans alike.
7. Black Cherry Ice Cream
Delicious Black Cherry Ice Cream recipe made using fresh dark cherries, vanilla bean, and amaretto. With a creamy coconut and oat milk base, this vegan ice cream features a perfectly scoopable consistency.
8. Cherry Popsicles
These homemade cherry popsicles are made with real fruit, come together in 5 minutes, and you’ll need only 3 ingredients!
9. Homemade Vegan Almond Cherry Ice Cream
This homemade Almond Cherry Ice Cream is the perfect easy and flavorful homemade ice cream recipe. It’s made with clean and simple ingredients and it’s so delicious that nobody will even know it’s healthy or vegan!
10. Vegan Cherry Chocolate Cake
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!
11. Cherry Simple Syrup
This Cherry Simple Syrup has a true, fresh cherry flavor, and it can be ready in less than 30 minutes! You can make it with both fresh and frozen cherries and use it in cocktails, mocktails, lattes, or drizzle it over pancakes! It calls for just 3 ingredients and it’s freezer-friendly!
12. Vegan Black Forest Cake
This vegan Black Forest cake combines layers of moist and tender chocolate cake with homemade dairy-free whipped cream and sweet Kirsch-infused cherries.
13. Sweet Cherry Coconut Breakfast Polenta (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)
A quick & easy, 3 minute breakfast recipe that’s warm, healthy, and delicious! A Sweet Cherry Coconut Breakfast Polenta that’s gluten-free, vegan, and top 8 allergy-free! Instant polenta cooked right in coconut milk with added pops of fresh cherries, simple and all in one pot!
14. Vegan Cherry Mango Popsicles
These Cherry Mango Popsicles are the perfect healthy and refreshing treat. They are made with simple, clean ingredients, and naturally sweetened. This recipe is raw vegan, oil-free, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free!
15. No Bake Chocolate Ganache Tart
You’re going to love this vegan, dark chocolate ganache tart. It’s a luscious chocolate filling in a gluten free Oreo cookie crust separated by a layer of tasty cherry jam. This decadent chocolate dessert is perfect for special occasions or a dinner party. I personally think it’s also perfect for a plain old Tuesday night treat! 😉
16. Cherry-Berry Beet Smoothie
A delicious vibrant beet and cherry (or berry) smoothie made with Florida Orange Juice. The perfect drink to cool down with!
17. Vegan Bakewell Tart
This cherry vegan Bakewell tart is sweet, nutty and elegant. You won’t notice the difference! A dairy-free shortcrust pastry filled with cherry conserve and eggless frangipane, it makes the perfect Autumn/Winter dessert.
Whether you make a simple cherry dessert, a fresh summer breakfast, or a fun seasonal treat to share with friends, I hope this list gave you plenty of inspiration for what to make with cherries this season!
