This Sour Cherry Cake is a simple and homey treat. The rustic almond cake is studded with a whole pound of fresh sour cherries (but you can use frozen or jarred). It’s a totally unfussy recipe.

I…just…can’t…stop…making…sour….cherry…recipes….

In the spirit of there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing, here’s another sour cherry recipe! This is an easy peasy recipe that can be thrown together quickly.

I just love the unusual texture of this cake. The cherries start out on top of the batter, but will sink as the cake bakes. What you end up with is an almost custardy layer of cake/cherries on the bottom and a lighter layer of cake above.

Ingredient Notes

Almond flour – Replacing some of the all purpose flour with almond flour tenderizes the cake crumb.
Sour cherries – You can use fresh, frozen or canned/jarred cherries.
Almond extract – Almond is a complimentary flavor to cherries. Like peach and apricot pits, the center of cherry pits have a bitter almond flavor (don’t try to eat the pits they can be toxic).

Tips for making rustic Sour Cherry Cake:

You could even make this cake using sweet cherries. The texture of the cake will be a little different since sour cherries have a lot more moisture than sweet cherries.
Sprinkling the cake pan and the top of the cake with sugar and almonds gives the cake a rustic and crunchy crust.
The flavor and strength of almond extract can vary based on the brand you use. Start with 1/2 teaspoon of extract and adjust to taste.
This cake can be baked in a regular (not springform) 10″ pan. Just allow the cake to cool to room temperature before flipping it out of the pan.
Save extra cherry juice to make delicious homemade pink lemonade or add it to Pink Lemonade Sangria.

a sour cherry cake on a wooden cake stand

Even though it’s super moist, a slice of this Sour Cherry Cake is pretty much begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

More Sour Cherry Recipes

If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.

Print Recipe

4.45 from 100 reviews

Sour Cherry Cake

By: Eileen Gray

This Sour Cherry Cake is a simple and homey treat. The rustic almond cake is studded with a whole pound fresh sour cherries. It bakes up with a super moist, almost custardy texture.

Prep Time20

Bake Time50

Total Time1 10

12 servings

Ingredients

8 oz granulated sugar (1 cup, divided)
3 oz almond flour (¾ cup, divided)
5 oz all purpose flour (1 cup)
1 pound sour cherries (pitted (or frozen or canned w/juice))
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon table salt
6 oz unsalted butter (room temperature)
3 large eggs (room temperature)
½ teaspoon almond extract (adjust to taste)
2 oz cherry juice (¼ cup)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Combine 1/4 cup of the sugar with 1/4 cup of the almond flour. Generously butter a 10" springform pan. Coat the inside of the pan with half of the sugar/almond flour mixture. Reserve the remaining mixture for topping the cake. Drain the cherries, reserving the juice. Toss 2 tablespoons of flour with the drained cherries, set aside.
Combine the remaining sugar, remaining almond flour, 5 oz all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder and ¼ teaspoon table salt in a mixing bowl. Run the mixer on low speed to distribute the ingredients. With the mixing running on low, add 6 oz unsalted butter a tablespoon at a time. Increase the speed to medium high and mix the batter for 2-3 minutes to aerate. Scrape the bowl and beater half way through.
With the mixer running on low, add 3 large eggs, one at a time. Scrape the bowl and beater between each egg. Add ½ teaspoon almond extract and 2 oz cherry juice.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread to an even layer. Scatter the cherries evenly over the batter. Sprinkle the remaining sugar/almond mix over the cherries.
Bake until the center of the cake springs back when lightly pressed or a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes before releasing the sides of the pan. Serve slightly warm or room temperature. For a pretty finish, sprinkle the top with powdered sugar before serving.

Equipment

My Book

KA Stand Mixer

10" springform pan

Parchment Sheets

Cooling Rack

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Nutrition

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @eileen.bakingsense or tag #bakingsense!

John

Friday 7th of July 2023

Where's the ask purpose flour used? And how can I mix a quarter cup almond flour then add an additional three ounce almond flour when the whole ingredient list calls for 3oz almond flour? Recipe doesn't seem to make sense.

Eileen Gray

Thanks for pointing out the typos. I've fixed the recipe.

Nina

Friday 18th of June 2021

I would like to make this, but I really don't like cherries...any other fruit suggestions?