Achieve all your summer dessert dreams with a warm, saucy, and crunchy pan of this Fresh Cherry Crisp! Topped with a cinnamon-spiced almond and oat topping, this comforting dessert will quickly become one of your favorite easy cherry recipes. Ready in just a few simple steps and family-friendly!
Cherry season is here, y’all, and I am beyond here for it! Although sometimes overlooked, cherries are among my favorite summer fruits. They’re sweet, juicy, versatile, good for you, and best enjoyed in the summer!
Although you can certainly bake with frozen cherries in the off-season — they’re usually frozen at peak ripeness, preserving their ripe, jammy flavor —baking with fresh cherries outside of the summer just doesn’t compare. They can be lifeless, pithy, and bland. This season, my friends, is where they shine!
Therefore, when the warm weather arrives, you can count on me to jump in with both feet. This week, this fresh cherry crisp is my chosen indulgence. Deep, ruby red cherries are simmered down until utterly jammy, topped with a warm and crunchy almond-oat topping, and baked until, as the name suggests, crisp!
The result? A warm and comforting, scoopable dessert, simply screaming for you to dig in. It’s perfectly topped with vanilla ice cream and guaranteed to be the talk of any dining table you place it on.
Wondering what to enjoy with cherries next? Check out my easy cherry lemonade, iced cherry chai, and homemade cherry syrup. They’re all chef’s kiss!
Jump to:
What Does It Taste Like?
This fresh cherry crisp recipe tastes like the kind of dessert your Grandma would make for you on a warm summer’s day. After coming in from spending the day swimming, playing with friends, or working your summer job, you’re greeted with the aroma of sweet cinnamon-spiced cherries. Next, you pull up to the table and Grandma serves you a warm bowl topped with melty vanilla ice cream. Each juicy, jammy, and crunchy bite is perfectly complemented by the creamy and cool vanilla ice cream.
In summary, this dessert symbolizes the perfect summer days of youth. Thankfully, we don’t need to hop in a time machine to enjoy it! Instead, we can remake it with slightly healthier ingredients — but the same amazing, nostalgic flavors and textures — and pass on a similar idyllic dessert experience to our loved ones and friends. It’s easy to make, perfectly balanced, and highlights our favorite seasonal fruit. What could be better?!
Why You Will Love Fresh Cherry Crisp Recipe
- Fresh (NOT Canned!) – Move over, bright red, gooey canned cherry pie filling! You have nothing on this fresh cherry recipe. Not only is this homemade cherry crisp filling made with wholesome ingredients (no artificial anything!), but it’s sweeter and fresher. You can taste the difference!
- Sweet and Summery – To me, cherries are an (un)official sign that summer is here. Once they arrive in the produce section, it’s game on for all my favorite seasonal eats.
- Wholesome – Although this crisp is sweet and comforting, it’s made with better-for-you ingredients that you can feel good about enjoying with your family.
- Simple Prep – If you can pit cherries, simmer them on the stovetop, and measure ingredients, you can make this dessert. It’s honest-to-goodness easy-peasy (as any self-respecting summer dessert should be 😉)!
Ingredients
Making this fresh cherry dessert recipe is easy. Seriously! Just grab the following:
Cherry Filling
- Fresh Cherries – Use fresh cherries when in season, or opt for frozen for convenience. Always pit fresh cherries and thaw frozen cherries before simmering.
- Sugar – To keep the recipe low in processed sugar, use organic cane sugar. Otherwise, just use granulated sugar.
- Lemon Juice – A touch of citrus brightens the fresh cherry filling. Fresh-squeezed juice is best, but bottled works in a pinch.
- Almond and Vanilla Extract – Vanilla adds a sweet warmth, and almond a nutty undertone, enhancing the sweet and nutty cherry flavor. Use pure extracts whenever possible for the best taste.
Almond Topping
- Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats are best for their hearty consistency, which becomes crunchy when baked. If absolutely necessary, you can use instant oats, but I recommend rolled oats whenever possible.
- Brown Sugar – Not only does this sweeten the topping, but it also adds a caramel flavor.
- Flour – This helps to bind the topping and also enhances its crunch. Use whole wheat pastry flour for whole grains and an extra layer of nutty flavor, or all-purpose flour for convenience.
- Cinnamon and Salt – Ground cinnamon adds sweet warmth to the cherry crisp recipe with fresh cherries, making it cozy and comforting.
- Butter – Grab 1/4 cup of unsalted butter. Cube it into 1/2-inch pieces and return it to the refrigerator until just before using. Extra cold butter works best!
- Sliced Almonds – For a nutty crunch that complements the sweet and juicy cherries like a dream! Use raw almonds to prevent them from overcooking and burning during baking.
Substitutions
- Fruit – Don’t have or want to use all cherries? Add some variety by swapping up to 3 cups of the cherries with mixed berries, blueberries, or blackberries. Or, stir in chopped stone fruit, such as apricots, peaches, or nectarines!
- Sweetener – For a processed sugar-free recipe, use organic cane sugar in the almond topping as well as the cherry filling, or substitute coconut sugar.
- Oats – Switch up your whole grains by making the almond topping with quinoa flakes, amaranth flakes, or barley flakes.
- Nuts – Though the nutty warmth of sliced almonds perfectly complements the sweet cherries, you can also use chopped pecans or hazelnuts.
- Butter – Substitute cold coconut butter or vegan butter for the dairy butter to make this easy cherry crisp dairy-free.
- Spices – For more warmth, add a pinch of nutmeg. For a hint of light floral notes, stir up to 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom into the oat topping.
How to Make Fresh Cherry Crisp
Who needs that gooey, bright red pie filling when it’s mind-blowingly easy to make homemade cherry crisp with fresh cherries? It’s ready in just a few, anyone-can-do-it steps:
Step 1: Add cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a large saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, slightly mashing the cherries and stirring occasionally.
Step 2: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the extracts. Set aside.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 425°F and grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet or 9×9 baking dish.
Step 4: Stir the rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. Add the cubed butter, working it in with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly and well combined. Stir in the sliced almonds, then set aside.
Step 5: Pour the cherry filling into the baking dish, then top with the almond topping.
Step 6: Bake the crisp in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the topping is browned and crispy.
Step 7: Cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then serve with ice cream and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Pit the cherries. Biting into a cherry pit = no fun! Remove the pits by using a cherry pitter or cutting the cherries in half and removing the seeds.
- Gently mash the cherries. Press them with a wooden spoon or spatula throughout the cooking process to help them break down, soften, and release their liquid.
- Use cold butter. Pull the cubed butter directly from the fridge before adding it to the almond and oat mixture. Extra-cold butter helps keep the topping crumbly (instead of clumping) and is crucial for a crispy topping.
- Bake until golden. You will know the crisp is ready when the topping is golden brown and crunchy and the cherry juices bubble around the edges. It will need to bake for about 10-15 minutes, so keep an eye on it from 10 minutes onwards.
Serving Suggestions
For rave reviews, serve this cherry crisp warm, topped with vanilla ice cream. A good-quality ice cream, like Tillamook or Häagen-Dazs, makes for a truly memorable experience — try it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean!
As for where and when to serve it, consider the following:
- Family Dessert — Spoon the crisp into individual ramekins, top each with a scoop of ice cream, and pass them out to share after Sunday supper.
- Individual Treat-Time – Divide the cherry mixture evenly between 6 small, oven-safe ramekins, topping each with the almond oat topping, and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
- Sweetest Brunch — A warm pan of this crisp is guaranteed to be the talk of the table, perfect for weekend or holiday brunches.
- Fourth of July — Finish off your barbecue with a sweet salute to our country, swapping 2 cups of the cherries with blueberries for a red, white, and blue dessert!
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration — Leftover cherry crisp keeps covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing — Once cooled to room temperature, the crisp can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the fridge overnight or warm it in a covered pan in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Reheating — Warm the crisp in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave on gentle heat until heated through. Although the oven takes longer to reheat, it will recrisp the topping more effectively.
Nutritional Info
As far as summer desserts go, this cherry crisp recipe is a solid choice! Although it clocks in at 327 calories, it’s made with whole food ingredients you can feel good about, and it packs a substantial amount of healthy fiber, protein, and whole grains.
The bulk of the calories in this cherry crisp with fresh cherries comes from carbohydrates, specifically 56 grams. Although that may be on the higher side for some diets, most of it comes from the fresh cherries and whole-grain oatmeal (the rest from the sugars). Though each serving contains 11 grams of fat, it is a modest amount compared to other dessert recipes. The fats from the almonds are also heart-healthy.
Six grams each of fiber and protein help stabilize your blood sugar, support digestion, reach your protein goals, and keep you full. It’s a summertime dessert that won’t skyrocket your blood sugar, leaving you hungry shortly thereafter.
Best of all are all the health benefits that fresh cherries deliver. They are packed with nutrients, such as vitamin C, Potassium, and copper, and are also a great source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can help fight against premature aging and certain diseases. Not only that, but initial studies suggest that cherries may be beneficial for heart health, sleep, arthritis, and gout (source).
Overall, this fresh cherry crisp is a wholesome, whole foods-based warm-weather treat that you can feel great about enjoying and sharing with your family. Buon appetito!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 327 calories
- Total Fat: 11 grams
- Protein: 6 grams
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Carbohydrates: 56 grams
- Fiber: 6 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- 6 cups pitted fresh cherries: $7.23
- 2 tbsp organic cane sugar: $0.10
- 2 tsp lemon juice: $0.10
- ½ tsp vanilla extract: $0.02
- ¼ tsp almond extract: $0.02
- 1 ¼ cups rolled oats: $0.52
- ¾ cup brown sugar: $0.39
- ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour: $0.13
- ½ tsp cinnamon: $0.01
- ¼ tsp salt: $0.01
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter: $0.53
- ½ cup sliced almonds: $0.46
The total comes out to be around $9.52 or about $1.19 per serving!
Other Easy Crisp Recipes
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Fresh Cherry Crisp (w/Almond Topping)
Equipment
- 1 large saucepan
- 1 10 inch cast iron skillet (or 9×9 baking pan)
Ingredients
Cherry Filling:
- 6 cups pitted fresh cherries (or frozen and thawed)
- 2 tbsp organic cane sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract
Almond Topping:
- 1 ¼ cups rolled oats
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (cold and cubed)
- ½ cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Add cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a large saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, slightly mashing the cherries and stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in the extracts. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425° and grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet or 9×9 baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, stir together rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Add the cubed butter, working it in with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly and well combined. Stir in the sliced almonds, then set aside.
- Pour the cherry filling into the baking dish, then top with the almond topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the topping is browned and crispy.
- Allow to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then serve with ice cream!
Notes
- Refrigeration — Leftover cherry crisp keeps covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing — Once cooled to room temperature, the crisp can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the fridge overnight or warm it in a covered pan in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Reheating — Warm the crisp in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave on gentle heat until heated through. Although the oven takes longer to reheat, it will recrisp the topping more effectively.
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
xoxo Megan
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