Fresh Cherry Finish

Oct 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Vanilla: Extract Easy

Sweet cherries, pitted and halved, with vanilla and a little sugar: the Black Forest top, and good on chocolate, almond and vanilla.

Prep 10 min

Cook —

Total 10 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.0 lb (450.0 g)fresh sweet cherries
1.0 tbsp (12.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
½ tsp (2.5 ml)fresh lemon juice

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Instructions

Rinse the cherries, pull off the stems and pit them with a cherry pitter or the tip of a paring knife.
Halve the cherries and toss with the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice.
Let stand 10 minutes so the juices start to run.
Arrange the halves cut side down over the dessert, or pile them in the center, and serve.

Tips

Keep a dozen cherries whole with stems for the top of a cake.
Out of season, use thawed frozen sweet cherries, well drained.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make fresh cherry finish?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep. The recipe makes tops one cake, 12 cupcakes or doughnuts, or a cheesecake.

How should I store fresh cherry finish?

Best within a few hours; a finished dessert with fresh fruit keeps 1 day in the fridge.

Can I make fresh cherry finish ahead?

Prepare the fruit up to 4 hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge; add it just before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Sweet cherries, pitted and halved, with vanilla and a little sugar: the Black Forest top, and good on chocolate, almond and vanilla.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

29 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

7.1g Carbs

0.4g Protein

5.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~348 cal · 1g fat · 85g carbs · 5g protein · 71g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.