17 Homemade Maraschino Cherry Recipes

Believe it or not, maraschino cherries are good for more than just plopping on top of a banana split or ice cream sundae, and these maraschino cherry recipes will prove it. 

Whether you’re in the mood for a fruity margarita, a pineapple upside-down cake, or some super sweet cupcakes, maraschino cherries can play an integral role in those recipes. 

While most of the recipes using maraschino cherries on this list are desserts, you’ll also find a few cocktails and even one savory recipe for pineapple and cherry ham.

These syrupy sweet cherries may not be as versatile as some of the other ingredients we use every day, but they’re every bit as delicious. 

Now, let’s check out 17 of my all-time favorite maraschino cherry recipes. 

1. Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes

These pretty-in-pink cupcakes have maraschino cherries in the batter, the frosting, and on top of them, as well!

They only take about 45 minutes to make, though you’ll need to let them sit for a while before you serve them. 

They’re the perfect sweet treat for any occasion, but thanks to their all-over pinkness, they’re especially fitting for baby showers, sweet sixteens, and princess parties. 

2. Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

A bit of forewarning: You’ll notice a lot of lovely pink desserts on this list (for obvious reasons). 

As a result, most are ideal for the same things I stated above – baby showers, sweet sixteens, and princess parties.

To avoid repetition, however, I won’t mention them again.

Now, back to it! 

These gorgeous pink cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with chopped maraschino cherries and decadent chocolate chips. 

Each bite is a flawless mixture of sweetness and tartness that’ll make it impossible for you to stop at just one. 

3. Cherry Bourbon Slush

Remember how amazing those fruity slushies were when you were a kid?

Those frosted, icy drinks were heavenly on hot summer days when it felt like the world would never be cool again.

It may have been a while since you’ve enjoyed a good, old-fashioned slushie, but with this recipe, you can change that. 

And as a bonus, you’re an adult now, which means your slushie can come with a nice dose of bourbon. 

If you like cold, tart drinks with a gut-warming shot of liquor, grab your bourbon, some ice, lemon-lime soda, and maraschino cherry juice. 

Toss them in your blender, and in about 5-7 minutes, you’ll have two lemon-lime cherry slushies – one for you and one for a friend (or not!). 

4. Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

These double chocolate cookies probably aren’t what you imagine when you think of thumbprint cookies, but once you’ve tried them, they’ll be your new go-to recipe for them.

It takes only 30 minutes to make 30 cookies, and each one features a double dose of chocolatey goodness, a bit of cherry juice to make them moist, and a plump, sweet cherry on top.

The added chocolate drizzle adds extra yumminess and makes each cookie look elegant and delectable. 

5. Cherry Margarita

You can whip up this refreshingly tart cherry margarita in only 5 minutes, and all you’ll need are five ingredients – cherries, maraschino liqueur, tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar. 

The cocktail is a vibrant red, and it tastes a bit like honeyed cherries, even though there’s no honey in it.

It’s beyond tasty and strong enough to have you tipsy after just one or two drinks.

6. Maraschino Cherry Buttercream Frosting

Whether you’re making cupcakes, a cake, or just want to eat icing out of a bowl, this maraschino cherry frosting won’t disappoint. 

It’s creamy, fluffy, and tastes like pure maraschino cherry goodness.

It’s also unbelievably easy to make, and you can whip up more than two cups of it in just 20 minutes.

7. Maraschino Cherry Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

These soft, pink cookies look almost identical to the maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies mentioned above, but they have a wonderfully nutty taste that sets them apart. 

Don’t worry, though; there’s still plenty of cherry and chocolate flavor in them, as well. 

8. Shirley Temple

I love the way the author of this recipe describes the Shirley Temple: “pretty, pink, and irresistibly fizzy.” That sums it up flawlessly. 

The Shirley Temple is the quintessential summertime drink.

You can make it in less than a minute with only grenadine, lemon-lime soda, ice, and maraschino cherries for a garnish.

Despite what many people think, there’s no alcohol in a Shirley Temple. 

Named for the child actress from the 1930s, the drink, created by a bartender at Chasen’s restaurant, is 100% alcohol-free. 

The bartender made it for Shirley so she could have a pretty, sugary sweet drink to enjoy while her older dining companions drank their cocktails. 

So if you’re looking for the perfect fruity drink to make for both you and any underage kiddos you know, the Shirley Temple is a tasty, lovely, guilt-free option. 

9. Maraschino Cherry Bars

You’ll be shocked at how easy these colorful, tart, and tangy treats are to make. 

In fact, if you’re a newbie to the world of baking, these are perfect; they’re nearly impossible to mess up. (It’s not a real word, but it’s precisely what they are!)

They’ll take a little over 30 minutes to make (excluding chill time) and have a chewy texture and light, tart taste that no one can resist. 

10. Aviation Cocktail

All you’ll need for this 3-minute cocktail are two ounces of gin, some maraschino liqueur, creme de Violette liqueur, lemon juice, and a lemon peel for a garnish. 

The taste is neither sweet nor sour, but somewhere in between, with the gin taming both flavors.

I love its lovely, light purple color and the quick kick from the alcohol. 

11. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple upside-down cake is probably one of the most famous recipes to use maraschino cherries, but finding exactly the right recipe for it can be challenging. 

Until now, that is. 

If you want to make the lightest, juiciest, and moistest pineapple upside-down cake you’ve ever tried, you’ll need this recipe for Duncan Hines pineapple upside-down cake.

Thanks to the boxed cake mix, it’s supremely easy to make, but the cake is so perfect that no one will believe it came from a box.

With or without the whipped cream topping, this cake is sure to be a hit wherever you take it. 

12. Pineapple and Cherry Ham

And that brings us to the only savory recipe on the list – pineapple and cherry ham.

Although, to be honest, it has enough sweetness to it that “savory” might be a stretch for some people.

The ham is tender and succulent; the pineapple slices are juicy, tropical, and a bit smokey, and everything else just sort of falls into place precisely as it should.  

Plus, the ingredients you’ll use to season the ham – brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves – will make your whole house smell amazing while this main course is cooking.

13. White Chocolate Cherry Fudge

White chocolate cherry fudge is not only delicious, but it also has the most amazing, fluffy texture, thanks to the marshmallow cream. 

Biting into a piece is like biting into a thick cloud – a thick cloud that tastes like creamy white chocolate and cherries.

14. Banana Split Cheesecake Bars

If no-bake desserts are your thing, you’ll love this recipe for banana split cheesecake bars.

They’re rich, decadent, and surprisingly refreshing, and the only appliance you’ll need is your fridge.

With a crumbly, nutty graham cracker crust and a sweet and tangy cheesecake filling, these bars are almost flavorful enough without the toppings. 

Then again, the toppings are too good to leave off. 

Pineapples, bananas, strawberries, Cool Whip, chocolate chips, pecans, maraschino cherries, and chocolate syrup: Who would want to miss out on all of that yumminess?

15. Hawaiian Banana Bread

The name “Hawaiian banana bread” deceives some people.

They think of the King Hawaiian rolls you can buy in the bakery, and that’s not what this is.

With cinnamon, walnuts, and bananas, this dense, tropical-tasting bread is more like banana bread, only juicier and more flavorful. 

The maraschino cherries and crushed pineapples make it moister and sweeter than banana bread. 

Dust it with some powdered sugar, and you have the perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

16. Maraschino Cherry Cake

This light and lovely cake is soft, fluffy, and mouth-wateringly moist.

The cherry cream cheese frosting is pretty rich, though, so keep that in mind when deciding what size piece you want. 

Preparing, baking, and icing the cake takes only 45 minutes, making this subtly sweet cake the ideal option for brunch or an after-dinner dessert.  

17. Banana Split

You didn’t really think I would have an entire list of maraschino cherry recipes and not include a banana split, did you!? Of course not! It’s a classic! 

As all banana splits are (assuming whoever makes them knows what they’re doing), it’s cold, sweet, and insanely delicious. 

With a fresh banana and strawberries, three scoops of ice cream, pineapple chunks, whipped cream, peanuts, chocolate sauce, and maraschino cherries, there’s no way you can go wrong!

Eating this will make you feel like you’re at a 1950s soda shop without ever leaving your kitchen.