Best Liqueur Soaked Chocolate Maraschino Cherries Recipes

DRUNKEN CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain liquid from the jar of cherries. (Tip: reserve the liquid to use for shirley temple drinks or cocktails.)
• Pour alcohol in the jar to fill. Replace cap and soak for at least 24 hours. The longer they soak, the stronger they'll be.
• Drain the alcohol from the jar. (Tip: reserve it for cocktails!) Strain the cherries, then place them on layers of paper towels and pat dry. You want them as dry as possible before dipping to avoid ruining the chocolate. (Water and chocolate don't mix.)
• Work in batches: melt 2 ounces of chocolate in a small bowl. (I like using paper bowls for easy cleanup.) Melt according to package directions. Dip each cherry in the white chocolate, then dip in sprinkles and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill to set. Working in batches of chocolate allows you not to waste any, plus allows for the chocolate to seize from the liquid without ruining the whole batch. Use a new bowl for each batch of chocolate you melt.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

LIQUOR-INFUSED CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Pour cherries, with their juice, into a glass bowl. Cover cherries with rum. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerate for 1 week.
• Drain and dry rum-infused cherries.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup butter, milk, and maple syrup together in a bowl until smooth and pliable. Wrap each cherry with sugar mixture. Arrange on baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Combine chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate, 2 tablespoons butter, and paraffin wax in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring, until melted, about 5 minutes.
• Dip each wrapped cherry into the melted chocolate mixture using a toothpick. Return to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cherries. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill until set, about 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED MARASCHINO CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries,place on paper towels and pat well.
• Set aside.
• Place sifted powdered sugar in bowl.
• Combine melted butter,evaporated milk vanilla,and salt.
• Pour over powdered sugar and mix well.
• May need to use hands to form a stiff,not sticky dough.
• Add more powdered sugar slowly,if need to form dough.
• Now pinch of a small amount,flatten into a disc and form around each cherry.
• Pinch off any excess dough.
• Place cherry on wax paper lined cookie sheets and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening over boiling water in double boiler.
• Dip cherries in chocolate,scraping off excess.
• Refrigerate until chocolate is hard.
• (I cheat sometimes and just use the chocolate flavored Almond Bark or candy coating).

CANNED MARASCHINO CHERRIES

Steps:

• Brine cherries by bringing 6 cups of water to a boil and adding 3 tablespoons of sea salt; use a salt with no additives to ensure glossy-looking fruit (table salt can have all kinds of things in it). Remove brine from heat. Halve and pit the cherries, adding them as you go to the still-warm liquid, then let the cherries sit in liquid overnight, at least, in the fridge.
• Once the cherries are brined, bring the sugar, lime juice, and 3 cups of water to a simmer in a saucepan. Add the mashed cherries for a deeper, natural color (however, the cherries look pretty cool and slightly alien without it). Let this mixture reduce by a third, then cool. Drain the cherries and rinse them of brine. In a large, airtight jar, add the sugar mixture and the drained cherries. Top with at least a cup of Maraska maraschino liqueur, available at many downtown liquor stores, or substitute a spirit like bourbon or brandy. Because the cherries are preserved in alcohol, a snap-shut glass jar with a rubber gasket works just fine. They will easily keep in your refrigerator for a few months.