Have you ever been to the Okanagan? It is a sun-soaked valley nestled into the mountains of British Columbia. I'm lucky enough to have some very dear friends [Nikki & Brad] that live there in West Kelowna. I just returned from visiting them, and I brought back the juiciest cherries to make fresh cherry frosting!
The Okanagan region is probably most famous for its wine. Its warm climate makes it an interesting destination for wine enthusiasts. More than sixty varieties of grapes are grown there, including some not typically able to grow in Canada. This time we ventured south so that they could show me the Naramata Bench.
I was met by charming wineries with a stunning view of Okanagan Lake. And probably the best fruit wine I have ever tasted. I don't think I ever really doubted that I would have to pay the overweight luggage fee on the way home.
The Okanagan is also brimming with fruit orchards. At this time of year cherries and peaches are in season. You could see the heavy fruit hanging low on the branches, just waiting to be plucked and bit into. Doesn't this look like peach heaven?
Before my visit came to an end, Nikki and I made a last day stop at one of the fruit orchards. I couldn't leave without bringing home some delicious, ripe cherries.
Just look at these amazing, plum-coloured berries. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them - fresh cherry frosting!
How to make fresh cherry frosting
You are going to want to get rich, dark plum coloured cherries if possible. They are the best. Remove the stems, half them and remove the pits.
Use either of these:
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Throw them in a blender or food processor and purée. Pour the cherry purée into a small sauce pan over medium heat.
Stirring frequently, reduce it until you only have a few tablespoons of a jam-like consistency remaining. This took me about fifteen minutes. Make sure to stir a lot so that it doesn't burn! Remove the reduction from the pan and let it cool.
Next you are going to whip the softened butter and ½ cup sifted, powdered sugar together for about five minutes to get the perfect, fluffy consistency. While you can do this by hand, I adore using my Kitchenaid stand mixer for this. I just get it running, then use the time to do some kitchen tidying.
I used this:
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Add in the vanilla extract and half of the cherry reduction, then mix until just combined. Follow it with the remaining ½ cup powdered sugar (mix). Then the other half of the reduction (mix).
The end result is about a cup of luscious, fresh cherry frosting. You can use this on an endless variety of desserts.
The rich berry flavour is amazing with chocolate. I used it on my marble cake. Mmmm.. so good together!
For another beautiful and naturally coloured frosting option, check out my matcha vanilla bean cream cheese frosting.
Fresh Cherry Frosting
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Frosting
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delicious frosting made from juicy, fresh cherries. This frosting is naturally coloured and bursting with real berry flavour.
Ingredients
1 cup (154 g) cherries (stemmed, halved & pitted)
½ cup (113 g) salted butter, softened
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar (sifted & divided)
Instructions
Purée the cherries in a blender or food processor.
Reduce the purée in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently and cook it down until you have just a few tablespoons of jammy reduction remaining. It took me about 15 minutes. Remove the reduction from the pan and allow it to cool.
Whip the butter and half of the powdered sugar together for 5 minutes in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. This is to get the perfect fluffy texture and structure in the frosting.
Add in the vanilla and half of the cherry reduction. Mix until just blended. Add the remaining half of the powdered sugar and mix. Finally, add remaining reduction and mix.
Notes
This recipe yields about a cup of frosting. Double it if you think you will need more.
The deepness of the red colour may vary depending on the cherries that you use.
Keywords: fresh cherry frosting
So so good. This was perfect on chocolate cupcakes.
Thanks! I love it on chocolate cake as well
Amazing flavour.
Thanks!
It's the best I've ever had.
Thanks so much!
Anything cherry I love. This frosting is exceptional.
Thank you ❤️
I made a double batch for a chocolate layer cake. Perfection.
Amazing. Thank you 🙂
Hi Asha, this recipe looks delicious! I’m planning on making an almond cake with cherry frosting, but I only have frozen cherries - do you think they’d still work if I pat them dry once sliced? Thank you!
Hi Rachael, thanks so much 🙂 That sounds great. I haven't tried making this recipe with frozen cherries myself, but I think it would work fine since any extra moisture inside the cherries should evaporate while reducing the purée on the stove stop. Would love to hear how it turns out.
I am in love with this and it went perfect with your marble cake. Thank you.
Thank you!
So, so good. Used with your marble cake recipe. I'm in love.
Thanks! I love it too 🙂
Loved it with your marble cake. Divine.
Thank you 🙂
This was the 'icing on the cake'. 🙂 Pardon the pun. Everybody loved your marble cake recipe with this icing.
❤️
I could eat a dish of this frosting all by itself.
Thanks, me too! haha
Divine. Used on your marble cake recipe. Going to use this on sugar cookies too.
Thank you, I think it would be delicious on sugar cookies.
Delicious frosting. I love, love, love cherries.
Thanks! Me too 🙂
So thankful for finding this recipe. Went perfect on your marble cake which I made husband's birthday.
He loves cherries and this was so very good.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review 🙂
Oh my goodness I am loving this cherry frosting.
Thanks so much
YES!!! So delicious.
❤️ Thanks!
So good. Cherries have to be one of my favourite things. I can picture putting this frosting on sugar cookies too.
Thanks Nicole. That sounds delicious 🙂
This looks SOOO good, but I just have one question... should the cherries be "stemmed, halved & pitted" -before- measuring them to 1 cup? Thanks!
Hi David, thank you! Yes that's right, it's a cup of halved and pitted cherries. Enjoy 🙂
Thank you very much! I really appreciate such a quick reply, especially since I'm just about to make it!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Awesome! Hope it turned out great for you.