Homemade co*cktail Cherries are a delightful and easy-to-make treat. Use them for garnishing co*cktails, serve them on ice cream sundaes or bake them into a cake. They also make a great gift for co*cktail loving friends and family.
Around here, co*cktail hour is a ritual. I love playing around with different flavours and mixing up both classic and re-imagined co*cktails. While I am thrilled with a properly made Old Fashioned, I also love experimenting with smoke, shown here in this Smoked Saskatoon Rye Whisky Flip co*cktail and fire like in this Friday Flame Tiki co*cktail.
co*cktail Cherries for the Connoisseur
Have you ever made yourself the perfect Manhattan co*cktail, then had to hunt around for an acceptable garnish? Don’t settle for store bought Maraschino cherries; the red dye makes them taste like a chemical experiment gone horribly wrong.
The good news is that co*cktail Cherries are simple to make and contain loads of real cherry flavour. They are a bit boozy on their own so be warned…they are incredibly addictive straight out of the jar!
The OG Maraschino Cherry: Luxardo co*cktail Cherries
When searching for a garnish for your co*cktail, consider the difference between Maraschino Cherries from grocery stores and premium Luxardo Maraschino Cherries. There really is no comparison.
One is bright, sickly sweet, and pumped full of chemicals. The other is made in Italy using locally grown Marasca cherries and a liqueur that takes four years to make. The original Luxardo family recipe has been used for over 200 years!
Which Cherries Make the Best co*cktail Cherries?
I’ve made several batches of co*cktail cherries using both sweet and sour cherries. I like mine with a bit of a sour edge to them but sweet varieties such as Bing or Lapin work nicely too. Keep in mind that the sweeter varieties will be slightly larger than sour varieties.
Sour cherry varieties such as Morello, Montmorency, Amarena, and Marasca work well for co*cktail cherries if you can find them. Here on the prairies, both Evans and Nanking varities are perfect for preserving.
Using Frozen Cherries to Make co*cktail Cherries
Since fresh cherries (both sweet and sour) freeze really well, freezing is a great way to preserve them for later use. Just place the pitted cherries in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and carefully place in the freezer.
Once frozen, transfer the cherries to a freezer bag and store for up to a year. Simply thaw and use as directed in the recipe below.
Note: Some stores may carry frozen pitted sour cherries. If you find them, snap them up because pitting tiny sour cherries is a fiddly and time consuming activity. You have better things to do, like drink co*cktails!
Roasted co*cktail Cherries
To add a bit of tartness to sweet red cherries, I sometimes roast them with a bit of balsamic vinegar before preserving them in alcohol. This extra step adds a whole other flavour dimension!
To roast sweet cherries, pre-heat the oven to 450 F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Place 4-6 cups pitted cherries on the parchment and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until they become softened.
Enjoy the roasted cherries on ice cream, crostini, or preserve as co*cktail cherries.
Which Alcohol Should I Use?
Classic Luxardo premium co*cktail Cherries are preserved in fermented Marasca cherry juice liqueur. However, changing up the booze used in this recipe is a great way to preserve the cherries to suit your own taste preferences.
For this recipe I used Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and Brandy but Bourbon and Kirsch also work well. Other ‘brown’ alcohols such as Scotch, Tequila, Rye, Rum or Anejo Tequila also offer interesting flavour options.
Preserving Cherries for co*cktails
Making your own co*cktail cherries couldn’t be easier. Break the process down into three steps (more detailed instructions are located in the recipe card). Begin by inspecting, washing, and sterilizing the jars, lids, and rings. Keep them hot.
Next, make the syrup by assembling the water, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, and cloves together in a saucepan. Heat the mixture until boiling then remove it from the heat and add the alcohol. Keep it hot, but do not allow the syrup to boil again.
Using a jar funnel, fill the hot jars with cherries then pour in hot syrup, leaving 1 cm head space. Wipe the rim before placing a hot lid on the jar and tightening the ring.
Allow to cool and listen for the characteristic lid ‘pop’ which means the jars have sealed. Do not disturb for 12 hours.
How to Store co*cktail Cherries
Store sealed jars of co*cktail cherries in a cool, dark basem*nt for up to a year (if you find a jar that hasn’t sealed, it will be fine in the fridge). Once opened, store for up to a year in a refrigerator. Do not consume if the cherries have any visible mold, ‘off’ smell, or effervescence. When in doubt, throw it out.
Yield: 6 half pint (250 ml) jars
co*cktail Cherries
Homemade co*cktail Cherries are a delightful and easy-to-make treat. Use them for garnishing co*cktails, serve them on ice cream or baked into a cake, They also make a great gift for co*cktail loving friends and family.
Prep Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (907 g) sour cherries; pitted (or sweet cherries)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur
- 1 cup brandy or bourbon
- 1 lemon; juiced & peeled into 6 strips
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves
Instructions
Canning Preparation
- Wash and sterilize jars by placing them upside down in a tray of water and leaving them in a 225 F oven for at least 10 minutes.
- Wash and place jar lids, rings, funnel and measuring cup in a large saucepan and cover with hot water. Bring to a slight boil, keep warm.
Preparing the Cherries
- Meanwhile, place the water, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, and cloves in a large saucepan. Heat to allow sugar to dissolve. Add small amounts of additional water if needed.
- Add the cherries to the syrup and allow to simmer for one minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in Luxardo and Brandy/Bourbon. Turn heat back on and heat until just about simmering. Do not allow to boil.
Canning the Cherries
- Once you are ready to jar the Cherries, take two hot jars out of the oven. Using a measuring cup and funnel, fill them and top up with a bit of syrup. Leave about 1 cm of head space.
- Tap the jars on the counter top to remove any air bubbles and add more syrup if needed. Quickly top with a lid and fasten the ring just slightly, not too tightly.
- Let the jars to cool undisturbed for 8-12 hours. Check each jar to see if it has sealed. If not, store them in the refrigerator.
- Allow the jars to sit in a dark, cool spot for two weeks. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 103Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 0g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
As an enthusiast and expert in mixology, co*cktail crafting, and preserving techniques, I'm well-versed in the art of making homemade co*cktail cherries and their versatile use in enhancing drinks and desserts. My expertise in mixology extends to experimenting with various flavors and crafting both classic and innovative co*cktails.
In the realm of co*cktail cherries, I understand the nuances between store-bought Maraschino cherries and premium options like Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, emphasizing the latter's superior taste derived from locally grown Marasca cherries and a liqueur with a rich heritage spanning over two centuries.
Regarding cherry selection, I have hands-on experience using different varieties for co*cktail cherries, appreciating the balance between sweet and sour cherries like Bing, Lapin, Morello, Montmorency, Amarena, Marasca, Evans, and Nanking cherries, each imparting distinct flavors to the final product.
Additionally, I'm well-acquainted with preserving techniques, including freezing cherries for later use, enhancing flavors by roasting cherries with balsamic vinegar before preservation, and selecting a variety of alcohols such as Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Brandy, Bourbon, Scotch, Tequila, Rye, Rum, or Anejo Tequila for preserving cherries, each offering unique taste profiles to the end product.
The process of canning co*cktail cherries is within my expertise, from sterilizing jars and preparing syrup to properly jarring the cherries while ensuring an appropriate sealing process for long-term storage.
The recipe provided for homemade co*cktail cherries is comprehensive and covers every step needed, from ingredient measurements to canning instructions and nutritional information.
Overall, my knowledge and experience in mixology, cherry selection, preservation methods, and following detailed recipes affirm my proficiency in this subject matter.
