Cherry Topping Recipes

CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan.
• Stir in water.
• Add the cherries and cook until thick and bubbly.

CHERRY CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish. Pour pie filling into the dish, and spread evenly.
• In a medium bowl, mix together flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in melted margarine. Spread over pie filling, and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown. Allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.

MINI CHEESECAKES WITH CHERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter the sides of 12 4-inch springform pans. Wrap exterior of pans (including base) in a double layer of foil.
• To make crust, process graham crackers in food processor until fine. Add butter, sugar, and salt; pulse until combined. Divide mixture evenly among pans and pat into an even layer using the bottom of a measuring cup or mallet. Place pans on a baking sheet. Bake until the crust is firm to the touch and deeply golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the cheesecake batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides as needed.
• In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and flour. With mixer on low speed, gradually add sugar mixture to cream cheese; mix until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined; do not overmix.
• Pour cream cheese filling into the prepared pans. Set pans inside two large, shallow roasting pans. Carefully ladle boiling water into roasting pans to reach halfway up sides of springform pans.
• Bake until cakes are set but still slightly wobbly in the center, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off oven; leave cakes in oven with the door slightly ajar, 1 hour. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cakes cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make the cherry topping: Pit cherries and place a pound of them in food processor; pulse with sugar and lemon. Blend until smooth, then strain mixture through fine-mesh sieve.
• Pour 1 cup cherry puree into a small saucepan. Sprinkle with gelatin and let sit for 10 minutes. When gelatin is bloomed, place over medium to high heat and stir until dissolved.
• Combine cherry gelatin mixture, reserved cherry puree, and whole cherries. Spoon mixture over mini cheesecakes, about 5 or 6 cherries on each cheesecake and 2 to 3 tablespoons of liquid. Chill until firm, at least 2 hours.

EASY CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• If working with fresh cherries, wash them thoroughly and carefully remove all the stems and pits.
• In a medium saucepan, place the cherries (fresh or frozen), sugar, and water. If using frozen cherries, add just half the amount of water to begin with. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often.
• In a small bowl, stir the lemon juice and cornstarch together until smooth.
• Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the boiling cherry mixture.
• If working with frozen cherries, check on the texture of the mixture and add one tablespoon of water at a time if too thick.
• Return the sauce to a boil, stirring constantly. Don't let the sauce scorch on the bottom.
• Cook until the liquid has properly thickened, about one more minute.
• Remove the pot from the heat and taste. Add a little extra sugar or lemon juice if needed at this point, depending on your personal preference. Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before using it.

CHERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Drain liquid from cherries, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid. Pour liquid into small saucepan.
• Add sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Cook on medium heat until clear and thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in cherries; cool.
• Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain cherries, reserving juice. Set cherries aside. Add enough water to juice to equal 1-1/4 cups. In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter, vanilla, cherries and food coloring if desired. Serve warm over cake or ice cream.

CLASSIC CHERRY-TOPPED CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of the remaining sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, cook cherries, lemon juice and remaining sugar in saucepan on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until cherries are tender and sauce is thickened. Cool completely. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Spoon cherry topping over cheesecake before serving.

CHERRY CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Melt butter or margarine in a large saucepan. Remove pan from heat; stir in oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt until a dry, crumbly dough forms. Press about 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of 9 inch square pan, making a firm even layer.
• Spread cherry pie filling in the crust, and sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until top is lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.