As the story goes, the young George Washington could not tell a lie when asked by his father if he had cut down the cherry tree with his little hatchet. This legend, found in American history books, is the first look at a great man who went on to become the first president of the United States.

George Washington's connection with the cherry tree was forever forged in truth and honor. To remember the man and the patriot, cherry desserts served on President's Day (the third Monday in February) are a fun way to remind children of the good qualities in our first president from the time he was a six year old. (Source: Suite101)

Want to share your recipe with SPROUT viewers? Send us your favorite cherry recipes here. 

Washington Cherry Cheesecake (Source: Suite101)
Ingredients:

1. 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2. 1-1/2 sticks of butter, melted
3. 1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
4. 2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
5. 1 can cherry pie filling or 1 pint of fresh cherries

Directions:

1.  Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 1/4 cup of the sugar together.
2. Line 8 x 8-inch backing dish with crumb mixture; set aside.
3. Beat together cream cheese, remaining cup of sugar and eggs until smooth and creamy.
4. Pour cheese filling on top of the crust; bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Cool.
5. Spread pie filling (or fresh, sliced cherries) over top. 

Bing Cherry Cobbler (Source: Suite101)
Cobblers date back to the 1850s. A traditional cobbler is a baked, deep-dish fruit dessert that is topped with a biscuit crust instead of pie pastry. This version is lighter, has less fat than the original cobbler but still tastes great. Try it and see.

Filling Ingredients: 

1. 6 cups fresh Bing cherries
2. 1/3 cup sugar
3. 2 Tbsp cornstarch
4. 1 tsp grated lemon rind

Topping Ingredients:

1. 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 Tbsp sugar
3. 3/4 tsp baking powder
4. 1/4 tsp salt
5. 1/4 tsp baking soda
6. 5 Tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
7. 1 cup fat-free sour cream
8. 3 Tbsp 1% reduced-fat milk
9. 1 tsp sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare filling, combine cherries, 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch and grated lemon rind. Place in 11 x 17-inch baking dish.
3. To prepare topping, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add in small pieces of butter and mix together well. Stir in sour cream to form a soft dough.
4. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto cherry filling to form 8 dumplings. Brush dumplings with milk; sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar.
5. Place baking dish on a jelly roll pan. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until dumplings are light golden brown. Serves 8.

Bing Cherry Salad (Source: Suite101) 
Ingredients:

1. 1 cup pitted Bing cherries, drain and reserve juice
2. 1 cup crushed fresh pineapple, drain and reserve juice
3. 1 3-oz package black cherry gelatin
4. 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (unsalted)
5. 1 cup marshmallows, chopped finely
6. green leaf lettuce
7. optional; cream cheese or a poppy seed salad dressing

Directions:

1. Combine fruit juices and bring to a boil. Add to gelatin; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Cool.
2. Stir in fruit, nuts and marshmallows. Pour into a 5-cup mold. Chill until firm.
3. Remove from mold onto a bed of lettuce and top with cream cheese or salad dressing, if desired.

Unbaked Cherry Cheesecake Recipe (Submitted by Carol N., Source: www.indobase.com)
Preparation Time: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 12

Ingredients:

1. Cracker Crust
2. 1 1/4 cups Cracker Crumbs
3. 1/4 cup Margarine (softened)
4. 1/4 cup Sugar
5. Filling
6. 8 oz. package Cream Cheese
7. 1 cup Powdered Sugar
8. 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
9. 1 cup Heavy Cream (whipped)
10. 12.5 oz. Cherry Pie Filling

How to make Unbaked Cherry Cheesecake:

1. Mix together cracker crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated and crumbly. Press into a pie plate, going up the sides as much as possible.
2. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and spreadable.
3. Whisk whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth. Pour cream cheese into prepared crust.
4. Smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top, and refrigerate until serving. 

Cherry Cookies Recipe (Submitted by Carol N., Source: www.indobase.com) 

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup cherry flavored chips
2. 1 1/2 cups Flour
3. 1/2 cup Rolled Oats
4. 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 
5. 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
6. 1 cup Butter
7. 1 cup Powdered Sugar

How to make Cherry Cookies:

1. Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Mix vanilla, powdered sugar and butter.
3. Beat the mixture until it turns fluffy.
4. Add baking soda, flour and oats. Mix well.
5. Add flavored chips to it.
6. Drop the mixture with a teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Flatten them lightly with fingers. 
8. Bake it for about 10 minutes.
9. Cool on a wire rack.
10. Cherry Cookies are ready 

Cherry Milk Shake (Submitted by Carol N., Source: www.indobase.com)

Ingredients:

1. 8 Maraschino Cherries
2. 4 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
3. 3/4 cup Cold Milk
4. 1/4 cup Chocolate Syrup

How to make Cherry Milk Shake:

1. Combine chocolate syrup, ice cream, milk and cherries.
2. Put in a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Garnish with cherries.
4. Cherry Milkshake is ready to serve. 

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake (Submitted by Carol N., Source: www.indobase.com)

Ingredients:

1. 2 cans of cherry pie filling (21 ounces each)
2. 1 box of chocolate cake mix
3. 2 sticks of butter, sliced into 12 pieces each
4. 2.25 ounce bag of chopped pecans
5. 1/8 cup white sugar 

How to make Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. In a 9 x 13 cake pan:
3. Dump the 2 cans of cherry pie filling into the bottom of the pan.
4. Sprinkle the box of chocolate cake mix evenly on top of that.
5. Distribute the butter slices on top of the cake mix.
6. Spread the pecans evenly over the butter and cake mix.
7. Finally, sprinkle the sugar over all.
8. Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes and serve warm.