I love a creamy, custardy dessert, especially during the summer months, and this chocolate-cherry cream is a new favorite. Cherry can be a tricky flavor. Too often, cherry-flavored treats have a medicinal quality. To avoid that awful cough syrupy taste, I used fresh cherries and 100 percent cherry juice with no concentrates or extracts in this cream. This ensures you get nothing but an authentic cherry flavor.
When I first planned to make this recipe, I thought I wanted to go with a traditional mousse. Although mousses are light, airy and perfect for summer, I was in the mood for something even more delicate. I used the same technique to make a mousse but added a touch more cream to give it even more of a whipped texture. Imagine if chocolate mousse and whipped cream had a love child. That's how I'd describe this chocolate-cherry cream's texture.
Besides being delicious, I love this chocolate-cherry cream's versatility. Sure, it's great in a dessert glass as pictured, but it also makes an amazing cake filling. Recently, I made a three-layer chocolate cake with ganache frosting and filled the layers with this chocolate-cherry cream for a dear friend's party. Everyone loved it and commented on how the cherry flavor added a nice touch.
In fact, it was such a hit that as I was leaving with my empty cake holder, my friend's young son sadly said, "Bye, cake." Did he care that I was leaving? Not so much. But the cake? Now that's a sad moment.
With the temperatures rising and fresh cherries hitting the market, I hope you give this recipe a try, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Let's take advantage of cherry season while it lasts.
Perfect Pairing
When chocolate and cherries are in play, you can't go wrong with a bourbon barrel-aged stout. These beers tend to be on the sweeter side, making them perfect with so many desserts. You can also play up the cherry flavor with a kriek, which is a Belgian-style cherry lambic. Krieks are tart and effervescent, so those light bubbles pair well with the whipped body of the cream. A nice port is another delicious choice as is my cherry-infused bourbon.
Cheers!
Feeling a Little Fruity?
If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate-Cherry Cream
Ingredients
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
- 8 tablespoons butter sliced
- 3 large eggs separated
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 3 ounces cherry juice
- 1 ½ cups cherries chopped, pitted and stems removed
Instructions
- In a double boiler or bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter while stirring frequently until smooth.
- Add the yolks and beat well with a hand mixer after each addition. Remove from heat.
- Using a different bowl, beat the egg whites until they reach the soft peak stage. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
- In another bowl, beat the cream and sugar until it starts to thicken. Add the cherry juice and keep beating until it forms soft to medium peaks.
- Gently fold in the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Once the egg whites are fully incorporated, fold in the cherry whipped cream and stir in the chopped cherries.
- Cover with plastic wrap on top of the cream to prevent any film from forming. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve in dessert glasses or use as a cake filling.
Notes
- Pitting cherries can get messy. Wear an old shirt that you don't mind staining.
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
Lathiya says
This chocolate cherry cream looks so creamy and luscious...I would like to have it as such though I wouldn't mind to use this as cake filling too
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I hope you do! I'm sure you'll love it.
Stephanie Simmons says
Chocolate and Cherry is one of my all time favorite flavor combos! This would be so perfect for Valentine's Day!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
? percent! It's a great combo.
Krista Price says
I'm always hesitant about cherry flavored things because of they're medicinal qualities (as you said), so I'm super excited to try a cherry-flavored dessert that actually tastes like cherries! YUM!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Totally! Hope you love it.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
I am loving this treat for Valentine's Day! It is the perfect dessert after a savory meal to enjoy while we watch a movie!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I agree -- it'd be perfect for that!
Jacqueline Debono says
Sorry forgot to rate!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Haha, thank you!
Jacqueline Debono says
Love this dessert. I live in a cherry growing area and every year we get given boxes of cherries by the local farmers. I can also help myself from the neighbouring farmer's trees! So, I am always on the look out for cherry recipes. Going to pin for later!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Ohhh, I'm a little bit jealous you have access to local cherries like that! Sounds amazing.
Kelly Anthony says
I also don't like the fake cough syrup cherry flavor. This chocolate cherry cream will make the perfect dessert for our February supper club. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're welcome! Hope everyone loves it.
Jori says
Sounds like a pot de creme and a fantastic one at that! Such a classic pairing of cherry and chocolate. Great tips, too, for how to keep it from tasting medicinal.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, Jori! That’s a good way to describe it.
Candiss says
I also hate that fake cough syrup-y flavor some cherry things have so using fresh cherries and juice sounds like the perfect solution!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
For sure! ❤️
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
Cherry Garcia Ice cream is my absolute favorite in Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I love cherries and I love chocolate. I really am stoked to try this in the New Year.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
That’s one of my favorites too! Hope you love it.
Kacie Morgan says
Cherries and chocolate go so well together, it's as though they were made to be paired. This dessert looks scrumptious!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I agree ? percent.
Stine Mari says
Yees, sign me up! Cherry is a difficult flavor - too much and it does have that medicinal flavor you are talking about. Doing it right and you get a masterpiece, and this looks and sounds like a masterpiece! Also great idea to have it in a cake!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you so much! ?
Tara says
Chocolate and cherries has got to be one of my favorite flavor combos, so I can't wait to try this! The texture looks so nice and smooth too.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you! The texture is great.
Gloria says
The flavour pairing is spot on. What a great little dessert to whip up on a weeknight. I love when things are simple and delicious like this.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Same here!
Danielle Wolter says
What awesome flavors! Cherry and chocolate just go so well together. And I love a light and fluffy mousse 🙂
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Right? Love the combo. Thank you!