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Fresh Cherry Muffins are a sweet summer flavor
Right now, sweet cherries are at their peak and at the best prices all year. So Fresh Cherry Muffins are a must-have!
We don’t have AC, so it is a pretty big deal for me to turn the oven on this time of year. These muffins are worth it though.
It is a busy time of year
You don’t want to be fooling around in the kitchen for a long time when there is so much else to do. Me either, which is why there aren’t as many photos in the post as I usually include. If you need some step-by-step encouragement on making fruity muffins from scratch, there are more detailed shots in my recent recipe for Blueberry Sugar Doughnut Muffins.
Get your cherries ready
The only fiddly bit when making these muffins is prepping the cherries. It’s not a huge bother really, and using a cherry pitter does make it a lot easier. I have used a number of different ones over the years, but currently, I like this one. It doesn’t take much of the cherry itself along with the pit and it is easy to use. Pit and chop enough cherries to equal 1 cup.
A little crunchy sparkle
The recipe calls for sprinkling the tops with raw, or sparkling sugar. While this is optional, it does add a bit of appeal and a little bit of crunch. Quite yummy!
How to make Fresh Cherry Muffins
Fresh Cherry Almond Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup roughly chopped pitted sweet cherries
- 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plain regular yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- raw or sparkling sugar for the tops
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF, and line a 12 spot muffin tin with muffin papers.
- Prepare the cherries first, pitting whole ripe cherries, and cutting them roughly in quarters to eights - set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt - set aside.
- In a larger bowl, whisk together the yogurt, milk, eggs and extracts.
- Add the dry ingredients and fold the two mixtures together. When they are about half combined, add the cherries and continue folding. Don't over-mix; fold just until barely combined.
- Portion the batter evenly in the muffin tin, filling each cup nearly full.
- If desired, sprinkle the tops with raw or sparkling sugar.
- Bake at 425º for 10 minutes, turn pan and lower heat to 350º and bake an additional 10 minutes. A toothpick inserted near the center of a muffin should come out with no more than a few moist crumbs.
- Remove them from the tin and cool muffins on a rack.
- Serve warm with butter and honey or jam.
Notes
Nutrition
Serve with butter
I always say that I know, but butter on muffins is really good.
Refrigerate leftovers
The moisture that the fruit adds, makes refrigerating leftovers a necessity. They can be frozen as well. You can reheat them in the toaster oven. The microwave will make them mushy, so I wouldn’t do that. But, they won’t be around very long in any case!
This post was originally made in July 2017, updated in July 2024
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I hate to hear that cherries are hard to grow b/c we just planted one this spring
I don’t think they are hard to grow everywhere for everyone Debra – we just haven’t had any success with them. We aren’t giving up though!
The classic is usually the best, I love these muffins!
Thanks Sue – I agree!
They have turned out amazing! I wish I had bought some fresh cherries this morning when I did grocery shopping.
Thanks Angie – I think they might be the best muffins I have ever made 🙂
Donalyn , those muffins look delicious, I have to bake them when I return to the states, although cherry season will be over, maybe I use dried cherries. My absolute favorite are sour cherries to cook with. A friend of mine at home in Santa Cruz managed to grow a tree in his backyard near the Pacific Ocean , which is amazing . Maybe you have better luck with a sour cherry tree.
I hope you’re enjoying your trip Gerlinde! We do have a sour cherry tree which is doing well and I am looking forward to some cherry pies in the next couple years!
I am also a big cherry fan. Cherries go so well with almonds, I can imagine how delicious your muffins must be…
Thanks Sissi – it is a very good flavor combo!
I love muffins and these look so yummy. I’ve never made cherry ones before but now I definitely have to try. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Tina and I hope that you have a chance to try them!
Great muffins, love the cherry almond combo. Wow you tried to grow some, impressed.
Hi Evelyne – we are trying to grow everything – with obvious mixed results 😉
These muffins look absolutely perfect for breakfast 😀
So full of flavour and who can resist cherries?
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks CCU!
It too bad about your cherry trees. I love sweet cherries too, it would be fun to have my own tree. Your muffins look really tasty. I love the almond and cherry combination.
Thanks Dawn – I am sure that we will try again 🙂
I’m so impressed that you can grow fruit! Even my chilli plant died on me! The muffins looks glorious Donalyn!
In the interest of full disclosure, Lorraine, I should probably note that so far the only fruit we have grown are blueberries – and we will soon have some raspberries if the birds don’t get them first.
I’ve made similar muffins and they’re so, so good! You’ve made me hungry!!!!
Thanks Liz – go make some!
What beautiful muffins! I wish I had one right now to go with my morning tea!
Thanks MJ – I’m wishing the same thing 🙂
What great looking muffins! We don’t bake that much with cherries, but should. Starting with these muffins. Bummer you can’t grow them — it’d be awesome to have your own cherry trees. Anyway, really nice recipe — thanks.
John – we never know when to give up, so I am sure we will plant another tree!
These muffins are going to become my new favorite breakfast! Love the fresh cherries!
Thanks Pamela – cherries go in my breakfast smoothies very often!
I’m loving the cherries this year and they are plentiful in Atlanta. I can’t think of a better way to use them than in a muffin and your version looks fantastic. Great idea to pair the cherries with almond flavor. Great recipe, Donalyn!
Thanks Bill – we are going to get out to pick some this weekend I think – lots of cherry orchards around the Finger Lakes here in NY 🙂
I haven’t made muffins in ages… but darn these look fabulous!! I just might have to surprise the kids this weekend.
I wish we have even one fruit tree, but we don’t… I would love to eat cherry muffins – I usually love berries and never even attempted to make ones with cherries. Cherries are so delicious and very seasonal so I would love to enjoy all kinds of cherries while they last! Your muffins look amazingly delicious!
fantastic recipe – everyone should try these!