CHOCOLATE COVERED DRUNKEN CHERRIES

Chocolate Covered Drunken Cherries image

Chocolate covered cherries are wonderful on their own but get an extra kick by using maraschino cherries soaked in Moonshine! If you can't find Moonshine Cherries at your grocery, then make your own using Everclear. These are not just for the holidays, enjoy them all year long - they make great party treats! Some images borrowed...

Provided by Donna Graffagnino

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 qt jar maraschino cherries in moonshine or everclear
2 lb confectioner's sugar
1 can(s) sweetened condensed milk
1 stick butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
12 oz chocolate chips, mini
crisco or paraffin cooking wax

Steps:

1. *If you have moonshine cherries, pour the juice into another container and save for another use. Place cherries on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels. If the cherries have stems leave them on.
2. Use paper towels to dry off cherries as much as possible.
3. In large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter until light and fluffy. Add salt and vanilla. Gradually add some of the sugar and condensed milk, beating after each addition. Continue until all sugar and milk are incorporated. Chill well.
4. Place a small amount of sugar mixture in the palm of your hand and flatten into a small circle. Place a cherry in the center and shape into a ball covering the cherry with sugar mixture.
5. Place each cherry on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. When desired number of cherries are wrapped put cookie sheet into the freezer while you melt the chocolate for dipping. (Freeze for at least 30 minutes.)
6. Melt chocolate according to package directions. The cold cherries will cause the chocolate to thicken so add some crisco or cooking wax, a little at a time, to thin the chocolate for easy coating.
7. Hold cherries by the stem, or using a fork, toothpick, or spoon and dip the cherries in chocolate and put back on waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
8. If you like a thick chocolate coating, dip cherries a second time after the first coat has hardened.
9. Make your own drunken cherries by pouring the cherry juice out of the jar and saving it for another use. Pour Everclear into jar and cover cherries. Let sit for 2-4 months. It can sit longer if desired. After using cherries reserve Everclear cherry juice for another use or add more cherries.