The warmer months introduce cherry season — and a variety of delicious culinary possibilities. Cherries, which range in color from yellow-pink to dark red-violet, offer several nutritional benefits, including fiber, iron and Vitamin C, and are thought to promote cardiovascular health, restful sleep and a reduction in tissue inflammation.

Try one of our recommended cherry courses for dinner tonight — and end your meal with a delightful cherry dessert. The dishes in our cooking guide also taste great accompanied by a handful of fresh cherries

Courses
Sauces
Desserts and sweets

Courses

• Fire up the barbecue and top your chicken with a spicy dose of cherries. Grilled Chicken with Cherry-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce features a spicy kick from chipotle peppers and a rich sauce made from chicken broth and cherry pieces.
• The dense, homey flavor of pork tastes delicious when dressed up with cherry flavor. Serve Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cherry & Tomato Chutney with simple veggie side-dishes to accent the subtle ginger and cinnamon notes in the dish.
• London Broil with Cherry-Balsamic Sauce requires advance prep time to yield tender meat, but the results — tender bites of beef crowned with a delicate sour cherry sauce — are well worth it.
• Looking for an easy and savory weeknight dinner? You'll love Turkey Cutlets with Dried Cherries, Rosemary and Port. To change it up, substitute chicken cutlets in the recipe and adjust cooking times accordingly.
• Outdoor dining calls for lighter fare. Serve Turkey Salad with Cherries and Walnuts with a loaf of fresh bread. Besides being simple, this meal is heart-healthy, too!
• Made with pecans and cream cheese, this Spiced Cherry-Cheese Ball tastes great when served with a selection of cut vegetables or assorted crackers for dipping.
• This Persian-inspired Jeweled Golden Rice dish complements any beef or poultry entrée in this cooking guide. Serve it for a family dinner or alongside a mouth-watering barbecue spread and light up your table with color.
• Simple and refreshing, this Juicy Pear and Blue Cheese Salad showcases the delicious flavor contrasts of sharp blue cheese and tart cherries. Serve with your favorite side dish or appetizer for light and refreshing lunch or dinner.

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Sauces

• Cherry jam makes its appearance in a wide variety of dishes from breakfasts to main courses to desserts. Make either the Sour Cherry Freezer Jam or the Sweet Cherry Freezer Jam and keep some on reserve for your favorite recipes or breakfasts.
• Made with frozen cherries and fragrant spices, Cherry Ketchup complements a variety of grilled foods — from burgers to hot dogs, to chicken to salmon.
• Delicious and decadent, Brandied Cherry Sauce adds flavor to ice cream, pound cake, fresh fruit, or rich fudge brownies.

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Desserts and sweets

• Crumbly, buttery crust and sweet, tender cherries come together in four classic cherry desserts. Each taste delightful alone, with a beloved dessert coffee or served with warm scoops of vanilla ice cream.
• Bing Cherry Cobbler
• Bing Cherry Pie
• Cherry Crumble
• Sour Cherry Fruit Slump
• Made with dried cherries, shredded wheat and cooked oats, Chewy Cherry Cookies make an after-school snack that you can feel good about. Dunk them in milk or serve them with a complementary fruit juice.
• You'll feel like a kid in a candy store when you bite into a piece of this dreamy Cherry-Nut Fudge. Flavored with savory peanut butter and sweet vanilla, this fudge makes a great gift and a great snack.
• Bread pudding, a British dessert favorite, nicely rounds out a rich meal. This Chocolate, Cherry & Almond Bread Pudding recipe, with its delectable chocolate-almond flavor, is sure to become a family favorite.
• Give ordinary brownies a fruit-flavored lift — with cherries. This easy Choco-Cherry Bars recipe makes 36 chewy, chocolaty bars — perfect for parties and bake sales alike.
• Discover an easy take on your favorite pastry. Cherry Danish Dessert preps in just 15 minutes and features a cream cheese-and-cherry filling for ultra-rich flavor.
• Perfect for breakfast, dessert or on-the-go snacking, this Cherry-Cream Cheese Coffee Cake features extra almond flavor — and a nutty oat crunch.

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Easy Summer Appetizers

No-Cook Cooking

Blueberry Cooking Guide

Frozen Treats Guide