I found the most beautiful Bing cherries at the farm stand today. Their deep red skins promised the sweet, summer flavor that only comes from peak-season fruit and honest farmhouse baking.
This Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake is a labor of love that celebrates simple, honest ingredients. Sweet fresh cherries nestled in a soft, delicate crumb with just a hint of almond liqueur make for a truly beautiful dessert that brings warmth to any table.
Seasonal Perfection
You will love this Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake because it captures the essence of a summer harvest in every bite. It is not a fussy or precious dessert; instead, it relies on the natural sweetness of fresh fruit and the nutty warmth of amaretto. The texture is incredibly tender thanks to the use of fine cake flour, making every slice feel like a special treat from a rustic kitchen. It is a reliable, honest recipe that lets the quality of your ingredients shine through. When the fruit bubbles slightly against the golden crust, you know you have made something genuine. This cake offers a happy balance of flavors that feels both sophisticated and deeply grounded in farmhouse traditions. Whether you are sharing it at a backyard gathering or enjoying a quiet slice with coffee, the spirit of fresh baking is evident in the vibrant cherry flecks and the soft almond aroma.
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Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Yield: 12 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This elegant bundt cake pairs the natural sweetness of peak-season Bing cherries with the nutty warmth of amaretto liqueur. Its tender, light crumb is achieved with fine cake flour, creating a sophisticated yet rustic dessert finished with a smooth almond glaze.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 cups Swan Cake Flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (for glaze)
- 2–3 tablespoons milk (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and generously spray a bundt pan with baking spray.
- Sift the cake flour, salt, and baking powder into a bowl and set aside.
- In an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time followed by the almond extract.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk/amaretto blend to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour.
- Toss the halved cherries in two tablespoons of flour to help them stay suspended in the batter.
- Gently fold the coated cherries into the batter and pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to rest in the pan for 20 minutes before flipping onto a plate to cool completely.
- Whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk to create a thick glaze and drizzle over the cooled cake.
Notes
To ensure your cake releases perfectly, make sure to grease every crevice of your bundt pan with a high-quality baking spray containing flour. For the best flavor balance, use a high-quality amaretto and ensure your cherries are fully ripe and firm before pitting.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
The Farmhouse Pantry
When the orchards are full, this Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake is the best way to honor the harvest. Selecting the right ingredients is the first step toward a successful bake. Always look for fruit that feels firm and heavy for its size, as this indicates juiciness and flavor.
- Fresh Cherries: Use only fresh cherries for this recipe. Pitting and halving them takes a little time, but the texture they provide is far superior to anything from a can.
- Butter: Use two sticks of high-quality creamery butter. Make sure it is at room temperature so it creams beautifully with the sugar.
- Amaretto: This almond-flavored liqueur adds a sophisticated depth. If you prefer to leave it out, you can use milk, but the amaretto really makes the flavor profile unique.
- Swan Cake Flour: This specific flour is essential for the delicate, soft crumb of the Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake. Do not substitute it with all-purpose flour if you want that professional yet rustic texture.
- Almond Extract: A little goes a long way in highlighting the natural cherry flavor.
- Farm-Fresh Eggs: Use large eggs at room temperature to create a stable emulsion in your batter.
Simple Steps
Step 1: Prep and Sift
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spend a moment to generously spray your bundt pan with a quality baking spray. Sift the cake flour, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. Sifting is a simple truth of baking that keeps the Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake light and airy.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In your electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture looks fluffy and pale. This process creates the foundation of the cake. Add your eggs one at a time, followed by the almond extract, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Step 3: Mix the Batter
Begin adding the flour mixture and the milk/amaretto blend to the butter mixture. Alternate between the two, starting and ending with the flour. Stop to scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is mixed well without overworking the batter.
Step 4: Prepare the Cherries
Toss your halved cherries in two tablespoons of flour. This coating helps the fruit stay suspended in the Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake batter rather than sinking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 5: Fold and Bake
Gently fold the coated cherries into the batter. Be careful not to over-mix, or the juice will turn the whole cake pink. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
Step 6: Cool and Glaze
Allow the cake to rest in the pan for about 20 minutes before flipping it onto a plate. Once it is completely cool, whisk together your powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk to create a thick glaze. Drizzle it over the top, letting it drip naturally down the sides.
Farmhouse Wisdom
To get the best results with your Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake, always use a cherry pitter to keep the fruit intact and your hands a bit cleaner. When measuring your flour, use the spoon-and-level method rather than packing it down, which can lead to a heavy, dry cake. If you find your fruit is particularly juicy, a light extra dusting of flour can help. For more fruit-forward inspiration, you might enjoy our guide on making a cherry cake from scratch. Remember that the beauty of a bundt cake lies in its rustic imperfection; if a small piece sticks to the pan, the glaze will hide it beautifully. Always make sure your butter is truly soft to the touch before you begin creaming.
Farm-Fresh Options
You can easily adapt this Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake to the changing seasons. In the autumn harvest, try replacing the cherries with diced tart apples and using a splash of bourbon instead of amaretto. If you find yourself with an abundance of summer berries, a mix of raspberries and blueberries works wonderfully here as well. For those days when you need something even simpler, you can look into our cherry dump cake for a quicker fix. If you want a deeper flavor, try adding a handful of dark chocolate chips to the batter along with the cherries for a decadent twist on the classic combination.
At the Table
Serve a thick slice of this Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of simple vanilla bean ice cream. It is the perfect companion for an afternoon cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk. For a truly rustic presentation, place the cake on a wooden board and garnish the center with a few whole, unpitted cherries. If you love this style of baking, check out our other bundt cake recipes for more inspiration. This cake also travels well, making it a wonderful gift for a neighbor or a lovely addition to a local potluck.
The Simple Truth
There is a quiet joy in pulling a golden Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake from the oven and seeing the vibrant fruit peeking through the crust. It reminds us that the best things in life are often the simplest, made with care and seasonal ingredients. If you find yourself with extra cherries, you might also want to try our chocolate cherry dump cake for a different take on this flavor. For more inspiration, you can find similar flavor profiles at Punchfork. Please share your bakes with us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Keep your baking honest and your ingredients fresh.
