Being that it’s cherry season and I’ve been doing a lot of baking that involves cherries, I couldn’t resist posting this recipe for cherry almond muffins.
A few days ago, my co-worker brought me a bag of sour cherries from her yard. Sour cherries are super tart and much smaller than super market cherries.
What better way to use sour cherries than to bake them into something sweet.
I don’t have a pitter, so I gut my cherries the old fashioned way- until my finger tips are stained red and sweet, and cherry blood oozes from the cutting board. Mwahahaha!
For this recipe, I simply modified classic blueberry muffins by adding cherries, almonds, and almond extract.
Ingredients: (makes one dozen muffins)
1 and 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh sour cherries
1 cup sliced almonds (divided)
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, milk, oil, egg and almond extract. Next, fold in the cherries and half of the almonds.
Spoon the batter into well-greased muffin tins. Fill the cups 2/3 full and top with the remaining almond slices (and a pinch of sugar, too if you like!)
Bake for 20 to 25 min.
Serve piping hot with a side of cherries and a big ole slab of butter.
Breakfast is served!
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Very Yummy! I made these with 1 cup frozen pitted sour cherries. (I have a bunch in the freezer from this past Spring.) I also chopped up plain whole almonds, since I had that at home. I used 3/4 cup almonds, not 1 cup. I also used just 1/3 tsp almond extract (non alcoholic kind) because I felt like anything more would be too strong. The muffins turned out great! Moist and delish! Oh, I added a bit of white granulated sugar to about 2 tbsp’s of the chopped almonds and put those on top of the muffins (after putting the batter in the muffin pan).
Great! Sounds like you made some delicious modifications!
These muffins were amazing and got rave reviews by all of my kids! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I will be making them many more times with the cherries in the freezer!
Wonderful! I’m so glad your family enjoyed them.
If I am wanting to use some cherries that I had frozen and are now thawed, should I drain the juice from them?
You know, I found these muffins to be a bit dry, so the cherry juice might just work! Add it little by little, just be sure the batter doesn’t get too soupy. Good luck!
They look absolutely delicious.
Perfect for a mid-day little treat with a nice cup of tea or a strong espresso.
Love adding cherries to my baked goods. I eat tart cherries all the time or drink the concentrate to help my muscles recoop from an intense workout!
Sour cherries are supposed to be really good for rehabbing tired muscles too – sounds like a perfect excuse to eat a healthy serving of these muffins!
Oooh, great idea! Thanks for the tip!
I love cherries — these look so good!
Thanks, Kenley!
Wow, such gorgeous photos! Love all of these cherry recipes. So summery!
Thank you, Sarah!
Hey Jen, I am passing the Versatile Blogger Award to you! I mentioned your blog as one of my fav’s, check it out at: http://smartfoodandfit.com/2011/06/versatile-blogger-award/
Thank you, Lisa! Wow! This is my first ever blogger award. What an honor!
Sounds delicious! I always like food better when it looks pretty – and these muffins are pretty! I never actually baked with cherries before, but your recipe is inspiring me to give it a shot
Aw, thanks Bianca! Hope you like them!
These look so pretty! I love baking muffins for my kids and this recipe looks like one they’d like. I think I’ll make it this weekend!
Speaking of which I still haven’t made the chocolate cherry brownies but I am keeping it reserved for this weekend!
Oh, I hope you like them! Let me know how they turn out for you.
So pretty! I have a huge bag of cherries in my fridge. Now I know what to do with them
Lovely pictures.
Thank you!
Those look incredible! I love anything with cherries in it. The addition of slivered almonds is a nice touch!
Thank you, Victoria!
these look great! I wish I had co-workers bringing me in fresh produce!!
It’s a huge perk to my job!
these look so delicious! love that punch of red in the muffins
Ohhhh… what about cherry + blueberry muffins?! These look so good – I love the almond.
Ooooh, great idea! I’ll have to make those next time!
Cherries are highly underused in baking! These look insanely delish!
I agree! There should be more baked goods with a cherry surprise inside!
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