Sweet, juicy Bing cherries are one of summer's greatest treasures, and there's no better way to showcase them than in this incredibly moist Bing Cherry Loaf. Every slice is packed with fresh cherries, rich buttery flavor, and a tender crumb that stays soft for days.
Whether you're serving it for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an afternoon coffee break, this homemade cherry loaf is always a crowd favorite.
Unlike overly sweet quick breads, this loaf lets the natural sweetness of ripe Bing cherries shine. The fresh fruit creates bursts of juicy flavor in every bite while the buttery batter bakes into a golden loaf with a delicate crumb that's perfect for slicing.
If you've been searching for the best Bing Cherry Loaf recipe, you've found it.
This recipe is simple enough for beginners yet delivers bakery-quality results every single time.
You can adapt it any way you like, but this is our number one favorite for summer muffins along with Best Mango Muffins.
We also love Summer Style Berry Muffins, plus my delicious roundup post on The Best Quick Bread and Muffin recipes for you to check out.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card to get this in your oven today.
Why You Love Bing Cherries and Nature's Seasonal Fruit In This Loaf!
- Fresh Bing cherries offer natural sweetness, beautiful color, and juicy pockets of fruit that frozen cherries often can't replicate.
- Their rich flavor intensifies as the loaf bakes, creating a delicious balance between sweet fruit and buttery cake.
- Nobody wants dry quick bread. This loaf stays wonderfully moist thanks to the fresh fruit, quality butter, and the proper balance of wet and dry ingredients.
- No yeast, no kneading, and no complicated steps. Simply mix, pour, and bake.
- Cherries are in season for just a short time so take advantage of this delicious fruit. You can buy several pounds, then cut them up, pit them, and freeze them so I can make these loaves all year long!
- The loaves also freeze well if you make several.
- This recipe also makes great muffins!
- Perfect for any occassion Weekend breakfasts, Summer brunches, Afternoon tea, Potlucks, Holiday breakfast tables
Tips for The Best Bing Cherry Loaf
- Use another fruit you prefer, peaches, apples, pineapple, berries or any kind works great also
- Dry Your Cherries Well. After washing the cherries, dry them thoroughly with paper towels. Too much moisture can make the loaf dense or create soggy pockets.
- Can You Use Frozen? Yes! Frozen cherries work well when fresh cherries aren't in season. For best results: Thaw completely, drain well, pat dry with paper towels. Toss lightly in flour before folding into the batter. Pit Carefully. Even one forgotten pit can ruin a slice.
- Double-check every cherry before adding it to the batter.
- Toss Cherries with Flour. Lightly coating the cherries in a tablespoon of flour helps keep them suspended throughout the loaf instead of sinking to the bottom.
- Don't Overmix. Once the flour is added, stir only until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in a tougher loaf.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients Butter, eggs, and dairy blend together more evenly, creating a lighter texture.
- Chocolate chips, dried fruits, white chocolate, coconut, macadamia nuts, or another kind you prefer can be added to the fruit
- This batter can be used in muffin tins or a cake pan, and adjust the baking time
- Use an electric mixer for creaming the butter and sugar, then only stir in the rest of the ingredients, and fold in whatever fruit you use
- Always test the middle with a toothpick, baking times vary on ovens, and correct temperatures
- For easy removal in any pan, line it with parchment paper
Choose The Best Bing Cherries
- Deep burgundy in color
- Firm but not hard
- Glossy with smooth skin
- Free from wrinkles or bruises
- Heavy for their size
- Bright green stems if possible
Mix-in Ideas for Bing Cherry Loaf Recipe
- White chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chunks
- Mini chocolate chips
- Toasted sliced almonds
- Chopped pecans
- Walnuts
- Coconut flakes
- Lemon extract
- Orange extract
- Almond extract
- Vanilla bean paste
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Streusel topping (cinnamon, flour, sugar, butter combination)
- Coarse sparkling sugar
Check Out Some Of My Other Favorite Quick Recipes:
Sour Cream Coffee Cake Cupcakes
Guinness Beer Bread Muffins
Chocolate or Regular Zucchini Bread Recipes
Banana Sour Cream Streusel Bars
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Why My Readers Constantly Tell Me They Love This Recipe
This Bing Cherry Loaf has everything people love in a homemade quick bread—it's buttery, moist, loaded with fresh fruit, and easy enough for bakers of every skill level.It slices beautifully, freezes well, and fills your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of fresh cherries and a hint of lemon while it bakes.
Whether you're taking advantage of peak cherry season or preserving summer flavors with frozen fruit, this loaf is one you'll find yourself making again and again.
It's a timeless recipe that's equally at home on a breakfast table, dessert tray, or holiday brunch spread.
You might also want to try our a Blueberry Lemon Loaf recipe.
Bing Cherry Loaf
Yield: 1
Prep time: 15 MCook time: 1 hourTotal time: 1 H & 15 M
A delicious summer treat using fresh dark sweet bing cherries to make a sweet tender loaf quick bread style cake or muffins.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted bing fresh cherries sliced
- 1/3 cup softened butter
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange or lemon peel
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Optional Glaze after Baking:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Mix together set aside
Instructions:
- Heavily grease a loaf pan and I would also use nonstick cooking spray and flour or line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter together for a few minutes.
- Add the milk, eggs, lemon juice till blended.
- At a little at a time, add the flour, salt, baking powder, and peel to this wet mixture until blended.
- Fold in the cherries.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the middle is firm using the toothpick method.
- Cool 3 or 4 minutes and invert onto a cooling rack or wax paper before adding the optional lemon sugar glaze topping.
Calories
157
157
Fat (grams)
16
16
Sat. Fat (grams)
7
7
Carbs (grams)
32
32
Net carbs
11
11
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More Summer Recipes We Love
Strawberry Skillet Shortcake
Strawberry Cream Pie
Cannoli Pie
Strawberry Biscuits
