Last Updated November 17th, 2025 at 02:22 pm by Lisa
Cherry Balsamic Pork Roast is an elegant, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for family dinners, holiday meals, or entertaining. With about 10 minutes of active prep, this pork loin recipe is simple to make and serves a large group.
Serving a roasted pork loin is one of my favorite ways to entertain: it looks beautiful on the table, requires basic ingredients, and comes together quickly at the last minute. The cherry-balsamic glaze adds a festive, flavorful finish that guests always enjoy.

Why This Recipe Works
- Pork loin is ideal: It slices neatly for serving, is affordable, and delicious.
- Simple, accessible ingredients: Everything you need is available at most grocery stores.
- Keep ingredients on hand: Having these pantry staples ready makes entertaining stress-free.
- Versatile for any season: Cherries, rosemary, and orange make it festive for holidays, but it’s equally good any time of year.
- Balanced flavor: Tart-sweet cherries, rich balsamic, warm allspice, and optional rosemary and orange create a harmonious glaze.

Reader Comments
“This recipe is delicious!! I’ve made it with both frozen and fresh cherries. My entire family loves it! Making it tonight for my parents. :)” — Helene
“Could this be easier and come out more amazing? I’m not the most coordinated cook so this recipe makes me pretty happy. It is dinner party-worthy and did not cause me dinner party stress. The glaze makes the dish, as does the super easy but totally amazing and rustic presentation.” — Courtney
“FANTASTIC!!! Made it last night major hit!!!” — Pam

How to Make This Pork Loin Recipe
I love how easy these ingredients are to source. Keep them on hand and you can pull this roast together whenever you need an impressive, last-minute main course.
- 4-lb pork loin (boneless)
Cherry balsamic glaze ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped brown onion
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 oz cherry preserves
- ¾ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 16 oz bag frozen or fresh pitted cherries
Optional Garnishes
- Rosemary sprigs
- Fresh or dried orange slices

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Step 2: Trim excess fat from the pork loin and place it in a shallow roasting pan. Pat the loin dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Roast the pork loin for 30 minutes to develop a golden color.
Meanwhile, make the cherry balsamic glaze
Step 4: In a medium bowl, combine the chopped onion, balsamic vinegar, cherry preserves, allspice, olive oil, sea salt, pepper, cayenne, and cherries. Mix well and set aside. (You can prepare this ahead and refrigerate.)
Step 5: After the initial 30 minutes, remove the pork from the oven and spoon the cherry glaze over the roast and into the pan. Return to the oven and continue roasting about 30 minutes more, for a total cooking time of about 60 minutes.
Step 6: Transfer the pork to a platter and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve warm with the cherry pan sauce.
PRO TIP: For a thicker sauce, pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and gently simmer on low until reduced to your desired consistency.
Pork loin is a wider, thicker cut from the back of the pig, available boneless or bone-in and ideal for roasts.
Pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, very tender cut taken from the central spine area. Tenderloins are smaller, typically ¾ to 1½ pounds.
For this recipe, a 4-lb boneless pork loin roasted at 425°F cooks about 60 minutes. As a general guideline, cooking at 350°F typically takes about 8–11 minutes per pound for a whole boneless pork loin—always verify doneness with an internal thermometer.
What Temperature For Pork Loin?
Cook boneless pork loin to an internal temperature of 145°F to 160°F, measured with a digital cooking thermometer. Because pork today is leaner, avoid overcooking to keep it juicy and tender.
More Pork Loin Recipes
Here are a few favorite pork loin recipes that are great for entertaining and holidays:
Oven-roasted pulled pork prepared low and slow yields tender, easily shredded pork with caramelized edges—great for sandwiches or tacos.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork made with pork loin and a touch of cola stays juicy; serve with coleslaw, pickles, and barbecue sauce on a soft bun.
Pulled Pork Sliders inspired by the Cuban sandwich are baked on Hawaiian rolls brushed with Dijon butter for a sweet-savory treat.
Tater Tot Nachos (“Totchos”) topped with pulled pork and a creamy tomatillo sauce make a fun, casual option for game day or relaxed gatherings.
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Oven Roasted Pulled Pork
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
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Pulled Pork Sliders
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Tachos Tater Tot Nachos
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Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lb pork loin (boneless)
Cherry Balsamic Glaze
- 1 cup finely chopped brown onion
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 oz cherry preserves
- ¾ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 16 oz cherries, pitted (frozen or fresh)
Optional garnish
- Rosemary sprigs
- Fresh or dried orange slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Trim pork loin of excess fat, place in a shallow roasting pan, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 30 minutes to develop color.
Meanwhile, make the cherry glaze:
- Combine onion, balsamic vinegar, cherry preserves, allspice, olive oil, sea salt, pepper, cayenne, and cherries in a medium bowl. Set aside or refrigerate if making ahead.
- After 30 minutes, remove the pork and spoon the cherry glaze over the roast and into the pan. Return to the oven and roast about 30 minutes more (about 60 minutes total).
- Transfer to a platter, let rest for 10 minutes, then carve and serve with the cherry pan sauce.
- Optional: To thicken the sauce, pour pan juices into a small saucepan and simmer gently until reduced.
Notes
Cherry sauce:
Cherries:
You can use frozen or fresh cherries; both work well.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 16 g |
Protein: 34 g |
Fat: 7 g