Homemade Cherry Bread Recipe (Quick and From Scratch)

Sweet, tart and bursting with fresh summer cherries, this homemade cherry bread recipe is a warm weather delight!

This easy-to-make quick bread has a buttery, crumbly streusel topping that adds a perfect little crunch on top. 

I cannot get enough of summer fruits. The berries, the peaches, the plums – bring ’em all on. But cherries? Cherries are my favorite! 

We had a cherry tree in our yard growing up, and I remember my dad climbing up on a ladder and me standing on the ground holding a big colander.

He’d drop them down and I’d catch all of those juicy cherries in the colander. Mom always had a bowl of cherries on the counter during the summer months for us to snack on. 

Biting into this homemade cherry bread is like taking a bite of summer. So pour yourself a hot cup of coffee, cut yourself a slice and enjoy the season! 

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What’s in this cherry bread recipe

Quick breads are nice because they use basic pantry staples. Nothing fancy here.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this homemade cherry quick bread recipe: 

• All-purpose or gluten free flour
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vegetable Oil
• Buttermilk
• Fresh cherries
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Cinnamon
• Salt

For the streusel topping, you’ll pretty much need more of the same: 

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• White sugar
• Melted butter
• More cherries

How to Make Homemade Cherry Bread

Making quick bread is so easy!

Grab two bowls. Put your dry ingredients in one bowl and your wet ingredients in the other. Combine the two bowls and boom – quick bread. 

To make the streusel topping, combine the sugar, flour and melted butter together and sprinkle them on top. Finish with some more cherries and bake! 

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Michigan cherries – an origin story

You’ll sometimes hear cherry bread referred to as “Michigan cherry bread”, and with good reason. Did you know that the state of Michigan grows almost 75% of the tart cherries in the United States?

In fact, Traverse City, Michigan is known as the cherry capital of the world! When you buy fresh cherries from your local grocery store, chances are they came from Michigan. 

Every July they host a huge cherry festival to celebrate the harvest. Michigan is famous for a particular variety of tart cherry called the Montmorency cherry, which happens to be great for baking. 

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What are the best cherries for baking? 

When it comes to baking cherry bread, not all cherries are created equal. While sweet cherries, like Rainier, are delicious when eaten fresh, their higher sugar content can make them excessively sweet and overpowering when baked. Same goes for maraschino cherries that you can buy in a jar. Save those for ice cream sundaes. 

On the other hand, tart cherries, like the iconic Montmorency cherries, offer the ideal balance of sweetness and acidity, making them perfect for baking. The tanginess of these cherries complements the bread’s flavor, imparting a delicious zing that enhances the overall taste profile.

Tips for working with fresh cherries

1. Use a cherry pitter. I’ll be up front – it’s going to be super annoying to use fresh cherries in a baking recipe unless you have a cherry pitter. A cherry pitter is an inexpensive gadget that will pop the pits out of your cherries in seconds. A worthy investment, in my humble opinion. They range in price from $9-$15 and are easily found in kitchen stores and on Amazon. 
2. Protect against splatter. When working with fresh cherries, expect some splatter. And cherry juice can stain! Pit your cherries in the kitchen sink or over a trash can to minimize splatter and possible staining of kitchen towels and clothing.
3. Try frozen cherries. If you don’t have a cherry pitter, I’d recommend using frozen cherries just to keep your sanity. Bags of frozen cherries are already pitted, and all you need to do is let them defrost in a colander before using them for baking. 

Variations on this cherry bread recipe

This Michigan cherry bread is super versatile, allowing for a lots of of delicious variations. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Almond Cherry Bread: Incorporating almond extract and slivered almonds to this recipe adds a nutty, aromatic dimension.
2. Chocolate Cherry Bread: For the chocolate lovers out there, adding cocoa powder or chocolate chips creates a luscious blend of chocolate and cherry flavors that is irresistible.
3. Orange Zest Cherry Bread: The addition of fresh orange zest infuses this bread with citrusy undertones, complementing the cherries and creating a refreshing twist on the classic recipe. Lemon zest can also be used to add a puckery essence.
4. Cherry Walnut Bread: Stir 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts into the batter for a textural twist. 

 

How to store this homemade cherry bread

Once your cherry bread is baked and cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to protect it from air and moisture. This bread can be stored at room temperature for up to two days, after which it should be transferred to the refrigerator for an extended shelf life of about a week.

This cherry bread also freezes beautifully. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container or freezer bag.

When you’re ready to enjoy it, allow the bread to thaw at room temperature or gently warm it in the oven for a few minutes.

When you make this homemade cherry bread recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more quick bread recipes, try these:

• Best Ever Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
• Cinnamon Zucchini Bread with Pecans

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For more summer fruit recipes, try these:

• Homemade Blueberry Pie (That is not Runny!)
• Cherry Plum Upside Down Cake
• Strawberry Ice Cream Pretzel Pie