This luscious cherry frosting is made with real, fresh cherries whipped into a dreamy, fluffy buttercream frosting. The cherry flavour is rich from reducing the berries. I love the little flecks of berry reduction visible throughout the frosting, bursting with tastiness.
This frosting is easy to make and so versatile! It is simply heavenly when paired with desserts, such as chocolate cake or almond cookies. I used it on this loaf cake marbled with vanilla and chocolate swirls and the resulting flavour was divine.
I love that this frosting features natural colours. You should also see this matcha cream cheese frosting for another beautiful, naturally coloured icing option.
I was inspired to make this recipe after a visit to my friends who live in the Okanagan valley, which is full of fruit orchards. At a local farmers' market I picked up some amazing, deep red cherries. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.
Ingredients
- Cherries - The deeper the red of the cherries, the more vibrant the colour of the frosting will be. I used these amazing, dark red cherries from an orchard in the Okanagan Valley. They had a rich, almost plum-like colour.
- Unsalted butter
- Pure vanilla extract
- Confectioner's sugar
- Salt
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Prepare the cherries by rinsing, de-stemming, halving, and pitting them.
Use a blender or food processor to purée the cherries.
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. Be very careful to not let it burn. 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 salt and mix to combine.
The end result is about a cup of luscious, fresh cherry frosting. You can use this on an endless variety of desserts.
Substitutions
Cherries - I prefer to use fresh berries in this recipe for a more vibrant flavour, however, you can use frozen in a pinch. Make sure to thaw before puréeing.
Other berries - feel free to swap out the cherries in this recipe for another kind of berry. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries..
Equipment
To make this recipe, you will need a blender or food processor to purée the cherries. You will also need either a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip the buttercream.
Tips for success
For the fluffiest buttercream, make sure that you don't skimp on time when whipping the butter and sugar together.
If you are unable to get cherries with highly pigmented colour, you could supplement the colour of your frosting with a little bit of red gel food colour.
FAQ
Fresh cherry frosting can be kept at room temperature for a day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 day. To store in the fridge, store in an airtight container with minimal extra air space.
📖 Recipe
Fresh Cherry Frosting
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Frosting
- Cuisine: American
Description
This luscious cherry frosting is made with real, fresh cherries whipped into a dreamy, fluffy buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
1 cup (154g) cherries
½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (130g) confectioner's sugar (sifted & divided)
⅛ tsp salt
Instructions
Prepare the cherries by rinsing, de-stemming, halving, and pitting them.
Use a blender or food processor to purée the cherries.
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. Be very careful to not let it burn. 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 salt and mix to combine.
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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 14.5 g
- Sodium: 38.2 mg
- Fat: 11.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.3 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 30.5 mg
Keywords: fresh cherry frosting
Saki says
So so good. This was perfect on chocolate cupcakes.
Asha says
Thanks! I love it on chocolate cake as well
Viki says
Amazing flavour.
Asha says
Thanks!
Pam says
It's the best I've ever had.
Asha says
Thanks so much!
Bernice says
Anything cherry I love. This frosting is exceptional.
Asha says
Thank you ❤️
Meghan says
I made a double batch for a chocolate layer cake. Perfection.
Asha says
Amazing. Thank you 🙂
Rachael says
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!
Asha says
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.
Emilie says
I am in love with this and it went perfect with your marble cake. Thank you.
Asha says
Thank you!
Rebecca says
So, so good. Used with your marble cake recipe. I'm in love.
Asha says
Thanks! I love it too 🙂
Rhonda says
Loved it with your marble cake. Divine.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂
Felicity says
This was the 'icing on the cake'. 🙂 Pardon the pun. Everybody loved your marble cake recipe with this icing.
Asha says
❤️
Robyn says
I could eat a dish of this frosting all by itself.
Asha says
Thanks, me too! haha
Harriet says
Divine. Used on your marble cake recipe. Going to use this on sugar cookies too.
Asha says
Thank you, I think it would be delicious on sugar cookies.
Evelyn says
Delicious frosting. I love, love, love cherries.
Asha says
Thanks! Me too 🙂
Rebecca says
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.
Asha says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review 🙂
Vanessa says
Oh my goodness I am loving this cherry frosting.
Asha says
Thanks so much
Candice says
YES!!! So delicious.
Asha says
❤️ Thanks!
Nicole says
So good. Cherries have to be one of my favourite things. I can picture putting this frosting on sugar cookies too.
Asha says
Thanks Nicole. That sounds delicious 🙂
David says
This looks SOOO good, but I just have one question... should the cherries be "stemmed, halved & pitted" -before- measuring them to 1 cup? Thanks!
Asha says
Hi David, thank you! Yes that's right, it's a cup of halved and pitted cherries. Enjoy 🙂
David says
Thank you very much! I really appreciate such a quick reply, especially since I'm just about to make it!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Asha says
Awesome! Hope it turned out great for you.
Michelle says
Hi there! This frosting looks absolutely divine!! Can I make this ahead of time and store in the fridge overnight prior to use?
Asha says
Hi Michelle, thanks so much! Yes you can store this frosting in an airtight container in the fridge overnight no problem.
Pamala Erickson says
Love Absolute Love♥🍀😍🌟🥀. Thank You So Much? Finally I Found Found A Cherry Icing That Works Together Easily and So Quick To Prepare? Thanks Kindly?
Asha says
Hi Pamela, thanks so much! I’m so glad that you like it 🥰
Kristen says
I used frozen black cherries and just boiled for longer, mixing pretty continuously. The frosting was delicious thank you so so much!
Asha says
Thank you Kristen, I'm so happy to hear that. Glad you liked it!