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4.7 from 23 votes

Cherry Sheet Cake

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •8/28/22 23 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Cherry Sheet Cake is perfect for the summer! Cherry-studded, sweet, delicious – makes for a perfect afternoon snack or dessert. 

cherry sheet cake slices with a couple stacked on top of each other dusted with powdered sugar

If you want a cake that’s easy and quick, this cherry sheet cake is the answer. This sheet cake is perfect for this time of year, since cherries are in season and there’s an abundance of them in markets right now!

You will love this cake – especially if you’re a cherry lover like I am, I take advantage of them whenever I can! This cake is light and fluffy – every time you bite into one of those huge cherries, you get a burst of flavor, it’s just delicious.

side view shot of a cherry sheet cake cut into squares

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card for FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

  • Butter – I used unsalted to control the sodium!
  • Sugar – Granulated.
  • Vanilla Sugar – You can replace the vanilla sugar with 2 tsp of vanilla extract if you don’t have it!
  • Eggs – Large.
  • Lemon Zest 
  • Flour – I used all-purpose flour.
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Cherries – I used fresh, pitted cherries. Frozen cherries could be used as well, but I prefer fresh cherries, especially if doing this when cherries are in season. You can easily remove the pits from cherries with this OXO Good Grips Cherry Pitter. (See all Pitters)
  • Powdered Sugar – For dusting, optional.
detailed process shots showing how to make the batter for a cherry sheet cake

How to make cherry sheet cake

  1. Preheat – Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
  2. Prep Pan – Spray your baking dish with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper then spray the parchment paper as well. Set aside.
  3. Combine “Wet” Ingredients – In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Beat in the lemon zest.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients & Combine – In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to the egg mixture, and mix until just combined.
  5. Add in the Cherries – Spread the batter evenly in the pan using a spatula. Next, arrange the cherries evenly over the top of the cake. Do not press them down too deeply, because as the cake bakes it will rise around the cherries.
  6. Bake – Bake for 30 minutes or until light and golden brown.
  7. Finish & Serve – Let cool, then dust with powdered sugar – cut and serve.
detailed process shots showing how to assemble the cherry sheet cake, bake it and slice it

Can I make this in another pan?

A sheet cake is normally baked in a very large, flat rectangular pan. You can do this in a 10×15″ pan, however if you only have a 9×13″ pan, that should work as well, which is what I used. If you use a larger pan, obviously the cake will be thinner, hence the name sheet cake.

How to serve

Once you have dusted your cherry sheet cake with the powdered sugar, which in my opinion, is a must, cut it into squares and serve it for breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks or of course, dessert.

side view shot of a cherry sheet cake cut into squares

How to store cherry sheet cake

Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.

cherry sheet cake slices with a couple stacked on top of each other dusted with powdered sugar

Did you like this recipe? Try these!

  • Carrot Cake
  • Strawberry Lemon Bundt Cake
  • Cherry Clafoutis
  • Easy Strawberry Cake
  • Cherry Rolls
  • Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Chocolate Cherry Cake
  • Peach and Cherry Tarts
  • Cherry Jam Filled Sour Cream Donuts

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

side view shot of cherry sheet cake pieces dusted with powdered sugar
Print
4.74 from 23 votes

Cherry Sheet Cake

Prep 20 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 1 hour
Rate Recipe
This Cherry Sheet Cake is perfect for the summer! Cherry-studded, sweet, delicious – makes for a perfect afternoon snack or dessert. 
15 slices

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter (unsalted)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest ((zest from 1 lemon))
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound cherries (fresh, pitted)
  • powdered sugar ( for dusting, optional)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
  • Spray a 10×15 or 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper then spray the parchment paper as well. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Beat in the lemon zest.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to the egg mixture, and mix until just combined.
  • Spread the batter evenly in the pan, using a spatula to even it out. Next, arrange the cherries evenly over the top of the cake. Do not press them down too deeply, because as the cake bakes it will rise around the cherries.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until light and golden brown. To check for doneness insert a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
  • Let cool, then dust with powdered sugar, cut and serve.

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch Baking Pan (set of 2)
  • KitchenAid Classic 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer
  • Keep Calm And Bake On Spatula
  • Cherry Pitter

Video

Notes

  1. You can replace the vanilla sugar with 2 tsp of vanilla extract.
  2. Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
  3. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 262kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 32g (11%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 13g (20%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Cholesterol: 82mg (27%)Sodium: 60mg (3%)Potassium: 191mg (5%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 18g (20%)Vitamin A: 470IU (9%)Vitamin C: 2.1mg (3%)Calcium: 54mg (5%)Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

side view shot of cherry sheet cake pieces dusted with powdered sugar

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Home Recipes
Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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23 Comments
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Sooze
Sooze
Posted: 1 year ago

4 stars
This is the second recipe I’ve tried in a many days. Woot woot, so good. I had 3 squares immediately (can’t believe I admitted that!)
Thank you!!

0
Reply
sylvia bucksar
sylvia bucksar
Posted: 2 years ago

Can you use frozen cherries, and how???

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  sylvia bucksar
Posted: 2 years ago

I’m assuming the frozen cherries are pitted, I would just sprinkle about 1 tbsp of flour over them and just toss them with the batter as instructed.

0
Reply
Georgia Rayne 🌦
Georgia Rayne 🌦
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
This recipe was the best dessert I have ever made! It was so light and fluffy and delicious. I substituted margarine for butter, and I think it turned out AMAZING. I also used a smaller pan, so they were higher. It took a lot longer to bake, but it baked all the way through and was delicious. Me and my family are raving about it. And I will for sure make this again.

0
Reply
Bernie
Bernie
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
I just made this cherry cake this morning and it really is absolutely delicious!!! I followed the recipe as is, with cherries that were forgotten in the back of my fridge. I used a knife to cut them in half and remove the pit. I put half a cherry, instead of a whole one, where we were supposed to put the cherries and it still turned out phenomenal.
Thank you Jo for this as your other awesome recipes! This is definitely a keeper and will be shared with all those I love!

0
Reply
Rhonda
Rhonda
Posted: 2 years ago

Can sour cherries be used and will they make the cake taste sour? Thanks in advance.

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Rhonda
Posted: 2 years ago

You can use them, and yes they’ll add a sour flavor!

0
Reply
Luz
Luz
Posted: 4 years ago

Can blueberries be used

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Luz
Posted: 4 years ago

Yes, blueberries would be great, peaches as well.

0
Reply
baltisraul
baltisraul
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
Well, the dogs didn’t eat my homework but they did eat the cherries from Publix. Went ahead and made with cherry pie filling on top and we really liked the flavor. Next time, Labor Day, I believe, I will stash the cherries first before going out to mow the lawn! Never gave it a 2nd thought as our 2 dogs (5 & 11 yrs) have never taken anything off the table, counter or floor and eat it, if wasn’t theirs. Publix must have the best cherries in the whole world! ha ha

0
Reply
Nicole Beaulieu
Nicole Beaulieu
Reply to  baltisraul
Posted: 4 years ago

Dogs will always find ways to surprise us, hey?

0
Reply
Cooki Turner
Cooki Turner
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
I have lots of frozen cherries from last August that I need to use. How would I do this recipe with these cherries versus fresh.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Cooki Turner
Posted: 4 years ago

I would thaw out the cherries first, then just follow the recipe as stated.

0
Reply
CindyH
CindyH
Posted: 4 years ago

I don’t normally post a comment unless I have made the recipe. It’s too hot to turn the oven on for the next couple of months, but I HAVE TO make this! I love fresh cherries and have been enjoying them while I can get them. This recipe and the pics just might make me break the “no oven in Summer rule” for one hour.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  CindyH
Posted: 4 years ago

Let me know how you like it! We made it twice this week and each time it was gone within a couple hours. 🙂

0
Reply
CindyH
CindyH
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
I made it tonight. So good! I should have checked it a couple minutes early though siince I know my oven runs hot. It was a little dry because of it, but that’s no fault of yours! It was worth turning the oven on even though it was close to 110 degrees here today. Thanks for the recipe.

0
Reply
Russell at Chasing Delicious
Russell at Chasing Delicious
Posted: 11 years ago

5 stars
Yum! I love cherries! I haven’t tried them in a cake yet so I will have to give this a try.

0
Reply
Claudia Annie
Claudia Annie
Posted: 11 years ago

che meraviglia questa torta! l’ho fatta anche io, ma con le susine o con le fragole! troppo troppo buona! un bacione 🙂

0
Reply
Tres Delicious
Tres Delicious
Posted: 11 years ago

5 stars
Splendid! I’m gonna try every piece of sheet that this cherry cake is made of. It’s enticing.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Tres Delicious
Posted: 11 years ago

lol, you crack me up!

0
Reply
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker
Posted: 11 years ago

5 stars
This is beauutifulll, what a lovely recipe 🙂

0
Reply
Dave at eRecipeCards
Dave at eRecipeCards
Posted: 11 years ago

I have seen a few of these recently… always stunning looking great post, next time I pick up a bag, these are on my list!

Dave

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Dave at eRecipeCards
Posted: 11 years ago

Yeah, there are a few different kinds of cherry cakes, cherry clafoutis being the most popular one probably and one of my favorites.

0
Reply

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
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