Easy Sweet Cherry Sauce Recipe Perfect for Desserts and More
A quick and easy sweet cherry sauce with vanilla and cinnamon, perfect for drizzling over desserts or using as a glaze. This sauce is luscious, velvety, and packed with fresh cherry flavor.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (450g) fresh or frozen sweet cherries, pitted
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup (60ml) water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for thickening)
Instructions
- Pit 3 cups (450g) of fresh or frozen cherries. No need to thaw if using frozen.
- In a medium saucepan, combine cherries, ½ cup sugar, ¼ cup water, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir gently and heat over medium.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until cherries soften and sauce thickens slightly. Add water if too thick or sticking.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Simmer for another 2 minutes.
- Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Slowly drizzle slurry into sauce while stirring constantly. Cook 1-2 minutes until thickened. Add water if too thick.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Adjust sweetness or lemon juice to taste before serving.
Notes
Use organic cherries for best flavor. Adjust sugar based on cherry sweetness. For vegan version, ensure vanilla extract is alcohol-free or use vanilla bean paste. To get a smoother sauce, strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Sauce thickens more as it cools; remove from heat just before desired thickness. Can substitute cornstarch with arrowroot or tapioca starch. Add a teaspoon of butter at the end for extra glossiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 0.2
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: sweet cherry sauce, cherry topping, dessert sauce, easy cherry sauce, fruit sauce, vanilla cherry sauce, cinnamon cherry sauce