The BEST Cherry Filling for Cakes Tarts and Desserts – Best Cherry Pie Filling
A Cherry Filling is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that gets done in minutes and is an absolute treat you can use in so many different ways. Try a spoonful over your breakfast yogurt, a stack of pancakes or waffles. Layer it between cake layers as a cherry cake filling, spread it in a pre-baked crust as a cherry pie filling or spoon over your favorite desserts and ice creams and a cherry dessert topping.
The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe for Cakes Tarts and Desserts
One of the best things about Cherries in a season is not just that you can eat so much cherry on its own but that you can make so much more with it. I love cherries and have been crazy about them since a kid. BUT back when we were kids we didn’t have the luxury of getting them in abundance like I do now. They didn’t grow locally so mom would have to ration them and one small box would get divided between the three of us. So now guess what? When we have cherries in season. I sit with the kids and pig out on fresh cherries. Can you get fed up with them? I don’t know cause I’ve never reached a stage where I’d had enough cherries. I can eat cherries.
Like I said besides eating you can so do much more with them!! You can, of course, make cherry compote. You can make cherry crumble, Cherry Pie, Cherry Jam. Speaking of which have you tired my cherry jam yet? There is a reason why it’s among my top popular recipes on this blog. You will love it.
The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe for Cakes, Pies, and Desserts
So what’s so great about a homemade Cherry Filling?
Whether it’s a Homemade Cherry Pie Filling or A Homemade Cherry Cake Filling? Well, fresh cherries are a lot different when you prepare them at home compared to when you buy a ready made cherry filling you open from a can. Don’t believe me? Try it just once and I promise you will see it’s a big difference. The thickness you get from the homemade cherry pie filling is not loaded with starch for one? It’s not loaded with sugar either. It’s packed with fruit goodness so even when you kids eat a few extra spoons you won’t complain.
But you know what’s the best part about this homemade cherry filling?
It does not need much! Just a few ingredients and I mean like simple five ingredients including the cherries and water. And no more than 5 to 10 minutes. The only difficult part of this cherry filling recipes is pitting the cherries.
Pitting the cherries is the only task I do not enjoy much. I use a simple tool like this first one below. but; I must admit I am quite fascinated with these other two on the market that looks so much more efficient.
![Cherry Pitter - Heavy Duty Zinc Alloy Cherry Stoner [Ion-1B] Black](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Me1L64%2BxL._SL160_.jpg)
What can you do with this Cherry filling?
Use it as Cherry Cake Fillings or Cherry Cake Toppings
Homemade Cherry Cake filling between layers- Have you ever tried a simple vanilla cake with cherry filling? Or perhaps a chocolate cake with cherry filling? Of course the classic we all know a Black Forest cake with cherry filling. Cherry cake filling makes a great treat in between layers.
Now, as much as you will get bored of hearing me say this over an over again in all my filling recipes; use a buttercream dam on the edges of your cake layers so the filling won’t ooze out of sides. New to cake decorating – no problem – take a look at my cake decorating tutorials on how to fill and frost cakes. It’s all explained.
Cherry Topping for cake – You don’t always need to use these between layers as a filling. I do that for my customer cakes when I need to dress them in fondant but when I make a dessert cake I love to show off the Cherry Pie Filling? It has such a gorgeous color!! This is a very simple and easy recipe you must check it out – Moist Chocolate Cherry Cake
The BEST Cherry Pie Filling Recipe
Homemade Cherry Pie filling
Yes, works great as a pie filling, and so easy too! All you do is spread it on a pre-baked crust with either vanilla pastry cream as a base topped with cherry filling like I did in my Blueberry Pie Recipe. Or skip the Vanilla Pastry Cream, simply spread the homemade cherry pie filling, then decorated with some whipped cream on top and garnish with more fresh cherries. Both are different and oh so beautiful.
Homemade Cherry Dessert toppings
A fruit filling can take any dessert to the next level. Remember my Classic Vanilla Pound Cake with Blueberry Filling and Strawberry Filling. You can use a good cherry filling exactly the same way.
This is my Homemade Cherry Ice Cream topped with more cherry Pie filling. Talk about indulgent. Don’t worry my Homemade Cherry Ice Cream recipe – needs no ice cream maker and you will be surprised how easy it is to make.
The BEST Cherry Ice Cream topped with Cherry Filling
This is my Pink Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry Filling and Whipped Cream Buttercream – another recipe that uses this cherry filling successfully.
The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe, Cherry Pie Filling Recipe, Cherry Dessert ToppingsThis is my Cherry Cheesecake recipe -which I plan to share soon. Another recipe that uses my cherry filling to accompany a favorite dessert. So you see there is so much more you can do with this recipe.
The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe – Best Cherry Pie Filling Recipe, Cherry Dessert Topping
First, let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Fresh Cherries – I’m using fresh cherries in season here but I have used frozen before too. The fresh ones need to be de-seeded of course.
- Sweetened or Unsweetened Frozen Cherries – You can, of course, make a cherry pie filling from frozen cherries as well. If you do usefrozen cherries make sure to check if they are sweetened or unsweetened. Some frozen brands have sugar added as a preservative. You can still use them just reduce the sugar as appropriate from the recipe.
- Cornstarch – I think this is by far the most commonly used and preferred ingredient but for some reason, if you cannot use cornstarch – try arrowroot powder or potato starch. I have used both on two different occasions – not much different.
They both make a thicker consistency of filling but work pretty much the same. I would say use a tad less but since I used both only once I’d say start with less then add more if necessary. - Sugar – I prefer to use a fine grain sugar for this so I get a nice thick syrup consistency.
- Lemon Juice – Do help cut the sweetness and brings out the flavor so much more.
The Best Cherry Filling Recipe for Cakes Tarts and Desserts, Cherry Pie Filling Recipe
As a cake decorator working on order – time is not a luxury sometimes. When I make Cherry Filling for my cakes and I have no time to make a dessert with it for my kids- I serve them the Cherry Filling over whipped cream. Amazing how so simple and yet so delectable this is.
The BEST Cherry Filling for Cakes Tarts and Desserts
Recipe – The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe for Cakes Pies and Desserts (Save/Pin)
Tools
Ingredients
- Cherries – 200 grams (1 1/2 cups or 7 oz)
- White Sugar – 50 grams (1/4 cup)
- Corn Starch – 1 tbsp
- Lemon Juice – 1 tbsp
- Water – 1/4 cup
The Best Cherry Filling for Cakes Tarts and Desserts
Method
- Wash and remove seeds from the cherries
- Place Cherries in a saucepan with, sugar, lemon juice, and half the water (1/4 cup).
- Heat on low to medium until sugar is dissolved.
- In a separate bowl combine the remaining water (1/4 cup) with the cornstarch. Mix well.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the cherries mixture
- Continue to cook on low – the mixture will thicken and looks glossy.
- When thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon or spatula it’s ready.
- Check consistency – for a cake filling you can make a bit more thicker.
Personally, I prefer one consistency for all. Thick not too runny. - Remove from heat – Pour into a mason jar
- Let cool completely
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
The Best Cherry Filling Recipe for Cakes, Tarts and Desserts, The BEST Cherry Pie Filling Recipe
The BEST Cherry Filling Recipe for Cake Tarts and Desserts
Ingredients
- 200 grams Cherries (7 oz)
- 50 grams White Sugar (1.7 oz)
- 1 tbsp Corn Starch
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 120 ml Water (divided)
Instructions
- Wash and remove seeds from the cherries
- Place cherries in a saucepan with, sugar, lemon juice, and half the water (1/4 cup)
- Heat on low to medium until sugar is dissolved.
- In a separate bowl combine the remaining water (1/4 cup) and cornstarch. Mix well.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the cherry.
- Continue to cook on low - the mixture will thicken and looks glossy.
- When thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon or spatula it's ready.
- Check consistency - for a cake filling you can make a bit more thicker. Personally, I prefer one consistency for all. Thick not too runny.
- Remove from heat - Pour into a mason jar
- Let cool completely
Nutrition Information
Do you love desserts? Me too!
You may like to take a look at my huge collection of desserts on this blog.
You can see them all in categories here on this page. Or Click here to see my Recipe Index for all recipes
A Collection of exotic desserts by Veena Azmanov
Love making desserts?
Well, there are lots to choose right here on my blog. Below you can see some filling recipes that are on this blog or to be added soon. So whether you looking for a simple quick fruit filling of strawberries and cherries or an indulgent fruit crud such as lemon or orange. Try a creamy caramel filling or an eggless pastry cream filling for those light and low carb days.
You can find more filling and frosting recipes here on this page – Filling & Frosting recipes
Cake Filling, Pie Fillings, Dessert toppings, Fruit Fillings, Caramel fillings and more
Veena! Thanks so much for this recipe! I had originally planned to make the Chocolate Cherry Cake in which this Cherry Sauce is referenced, but, after making it, decided to skip the cake and use the sauce on ice cream, angel food cake, and…by the spoonful! It’s so good! We’ve switched out the cherries for blueberries and peaches…and they are amazing as well! Thanks again…SO GOOD!!
You are very welcome Jeff. So happy to hear you had success with this recipe and enjoyed it so much. Yes, it works great with other fruits as well.
If you use frozen cherries, how much do you need? And when you give me the weight, could you please indicate if that’s measured when frozen or thawed? Thanks ahead of time.
Hey Anthony. I substitute 1:1 – meaning 1 kg fresh cherries to 1 kg of frozen cherries. You do have ice crystal but that does not really matter much in terms of weight. There is a huge difference when substituting canned but in this cake the difference is negligible. Hope that helps.
Just finished making this for a cake filling. Used a little less sugar, cause me friend is diabetic, and didn’t have cornstarch….so I subbed flour. Came out so yummy!! Will definitely make it again!!
Thank you Jennifer. So happy to hear you had great success with this recipe. I like using less sugar for myself too. I once used agave syrup instead of sugar for a customer who was diabetic. I made her my diabetic chocolate cake with cherry filling and she still raves about it.
Yum! Just what I was looking for! Can you tell me how long it can be stored and how to store it. Thanks!
Fillings can last usually a week to 10 days in the fridge. Frozen for 3 months in the freezer. If you add it to a cake you can keep it out for 2 days. The sugar acts as a preservative.
This looks great, thank you for sharing! What tool do you use to remove the pits?
Andrea I have shared three Amazon links for the removing the pits. I used the very first and I had to do it one at a time lol. The other two look more efficient but have not tried them. Thanks
This looks lovely, and I adore the idea of serving the extra over whipped cream for a tasty, simple dessert!
Yeah the filling over whipped cream is a real treat my kids love.
YUM!! Perfect way to use up those cherries!!
Absolutely Mindy. Love them in everything.
Is it possible to be addicted to cherries? Because I think I am ~ this looks luscious and so do-able!
Thank Sue. Oh it is so do-able.
I LOVE how versatile this is. The fact that you can use it in both cakes *and* pies, among many other things, is fabulous. I’m not much of a cake girl myself, but this would be glorious in a homemade pie! Thanks for the filling tips!
Absolutely Dana. This would make a glorious pie filling.
Ohmygosh I could go recipe crazy with this tasty filling! Love it!
Thanks Jenn. Hope you try it.
When I was a kid, my aunt had a fruit orchard. Every summer I would spend time there picking fruit…and eating the cherries off the tree while I picked them. I would use this on my Black Forest Cake….what a great treat it would be.
Ah so lucky Gloria.. Some of us only get to see these fruits when they come to the markets. Would be amazing to eat these fresh off the branches.
I love cherries. It is my favorite fruit!! I try to make my own filling too, but this gives me an alternate recipe! I love all the different ways you can use it. Beautiful photos and lovely recipe!
Mine too. I love cherries very much. And I love cherry desserts very very much. Thanks Elaine
I have a black forest cake recipe that this would be perfect for!!!
I bet it would be perfect for that.
You’re right, this cherry filling looks absolutely delicious! I’m pinning this for the next time I need cherry filling! Yummy!
Thank you Kristine.So happy to hear you saving it for later. Let me know if you use it. Thanks
YUM! That filling sounds delicious! Cherry pie is such a perfect summer treat, this filling would be awesome!
Thanks Liz – it sure would make an awesome cherry pie filling