Cherry Filling

Homemade cherry filling is so easy to make, you will never go back to canned cherry pie filling! With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, you can create sweet, tart cherry cake filling from scratch! Perfect as a cake or cupcake filling!

Ingredients for Cherry Filling

• Frozen sweet cherries: You can use fresh or frozen sweet cherries. Frozen are more readily available due to the limited cherry season.
• Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the filling. You can add a bit more or less dependent upon your personal taste.
• Water: Water helps dissolve the sugar and is also used to make cornstarch slurry.
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice adds a bit of tartness. I recommend using fresh for best results, but you can also use bottled if you have it.
• Cornstarch: Water and cornstarch create a slurry that thickens the filling.

How to Make Cherry Filling

1. Combine frozen cherries, granulated sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan.
2. Cook the cherries over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherries have softened.
3. Stir together cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cornstarch slurry mixing immediately to combine.
5. Transfer the filling to a heatproof bowl and cool to room temperature.
6. Use immediately or cover and chill in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

How to Use

Cake: Fill cake layers with this cherry filling. It pairs perfectly with dark chocolate cake and whipped cream to create a Black Forest Cake (pictured below).

Cupcakes: Fill cored cupcakes!. This recipe would pair well with vanilla, chocolate, almond, or cherry cupcakes! It is one of the star components of my Black Forest Cupcakes!

Topping: Top cheesecake, ice cream, pavlova, or any other dessert that would pair well with cherries! Use for waffles or pancakes to make a sweet breakfast treat with fresh cherry flavor.

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Cherry Filling

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Yield: 2 cups

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Homemade cherry filling is so easy to make, you will never go back to canned cherry pie filling! With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, you can create sweet, tart cherry filling from scratch! Perfect as a cake or cupcake filling!

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 16 oz (453 g) frozen sweet cherries
• ▢ ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ▢ ½ cup (118 g) water
• ▢ 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
• ▢ 2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch
• ▢ 2 tbsp (30 ml) water

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, combine frozen sweet cherries, granulated sugar, ½ cup water, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
• Cook the cherry mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cherries soften, approximately 10-15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and 2 tbsp water. Stir to combine.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat. Pour cornstarch slurry into the cherry mixture and stir immediately to prevent lumps.
• Transfer the cherry filling to a heatproof container. Cool to room temperature.
• You can use the cherry filling once it cools to room temperature or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

Cherry filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To use, bring the filling to room temperature and stir for best results. 

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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About Courtney

Baker | 80s Lover | Cookbook Author

Courtney is a self-taught home baker and cookbook author of “Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes”. She loves to create new and unique recipes while simultaneously listening to 80s music.

Meet Courtney