Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries are a pop of delicious flavor in your mouth! Dye-free, preservative-free maraschino cherries are dunked in melted chocolate for a special treat for the holidays or anytime. (Optional: soak cherries in rum, brandy or vodka first for extra flavor pop! 21 and older please.)
I woke up today and it felt like any other recent fall day. Rainy and overcast. (We’ve had a lot of rain around here.) But later things brightened considerably when Jon presented me with a bunch of bright red tulips! Tulips are my favorite. Tulips and peonies.
Special occasion? YES!!! Today is the 4th anniversary of Through Her Looking Glass. Somehow I’d forgotten, and glad he didn’t.
He also gave me a winner card that said “When I think about what it means to be brave, I think of you.” And that was very kind and generous. Because I distinctly remember feeling considerably less than brave while pushing the publish button on that first post. And subsequent ones. Wondering if this thing would soar, or crash and burn.
His card reminds me of Piglet. “It is very hard to be brave,” said Piglet, sniffing slightly, “when you’re only a Very Small Animal.” Piglet was always a wise little animal. I guess it was A.A.Milne who was truly the wise one.
So it’s hard to believe the holidays are nearly here. YAY! (I think.) This is always my favorite time of year. I’m making lists and checking them twice.
Maybe I’m just getting older, but it seems the days race by and Thanksgiving and Christmas come just a little faster every year.
Do you remember those delicious foil-wrapped Chocolate Covered Cherries? We used to have them around the holidays at our house. Some kind, generous soul (with good taste!) would gift us with a box.
Once they were open, they were nearly impossible to resist. That Black Forest combination of chocolate and cherries is the bomb!
Last year I made some adorable little chocolate mice with chocolate kisses and homemade chocolate covered cherries. They are the perfect treats to add to Santa’s milk and cookies on Christmas Eve.
I had no idea how easy chocolate covered cherries are to make until I made those tempting little mice.
Try natural maraschino cherries:
Even though I love them, I had stayed away from maraschino cherries for years, knowing the preservatives and dyes used to make them are unhealthy at best.
But recently I discovered some amazing natural maraschino cherries at Whole Foods. These Merry Maraschino Cherries by Tillen Farms have no preservatives or dyes or corn syrup.
You can also buy them on Amazon. So now I’m happily using maraschino cherries in baking and treat making again. No guilt.
TIPS FOR MAKING CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES:
- Use stem-on Merry Maraschino Cherries by Tillen Farms, free of corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, dyes and preservatives. (I got mine at Whole Foods for about $7.)
- If you don’t have coconut oil, use vegetable shortening or butter.
- Drain cherries, then place on paper towels to air dry for a bit.
- Make sure the cherries are dry before dipping in melted chocolate. (Lightly blot with paper towels if needed.)
- Melt chocolate and coconut oil over very low heat on the stove top so it doesn’t seize or burn. Or melt in the microwave on high power for 15 second increments, stirring well after each increment.
- Be careful not to get any water in the bowl with the chocolate or on any of the utensils you’re using. (It will cause your chocolate to seize up.)
- If you want thinner chocolate for dipping, add more coconut oil to the chocolate. (I suggest adding in 1 teaspoon increments, then stirring thoroughly after each addition until you get the consistency you want.)
- Let dipped chocolate covered cherries dry on parchment paper, stem up.
- To make chocolate covered cherries with liquor, soak cherries overnight in rum, brandy or vodka. ( 21+ please!)
- Store at room temperature for up to a week.
- Optional: Soak overnight in rum, brandy or vodka for a delicious alcoholic version.
Other recipes you might like with chocolate and cherries: Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones, Chocolate Cherry Fudge Bundt Cake and Chocolate Cherry Skillet Cookie. Or try this classic Cherry Garcia Ice Cream!
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries (w/or w/out alcohol)
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet milk or dark chocolate chips or other good quality chopped chocolate
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or more for consistency
- 24 stem-on maraschino cherries
- I used Merry Maraschino Cherries, free of artificial colors, flavors, dyes, corn syrup or preservatives
- Optional: 1 cup brandy rum or vodka for soaking cherries
Instructions
- If using alcohol, soak cherries overnight in brandy, rum or vodka.
- Drain maraschino cherries and gently blot with paper towels.
- Lay cherries out on paper towels to air dry a bit.
- Separately, in the microwave or on the stovetop on very low heat, melt chocolate chips or chopped chocolate together with coconut oil.
- Stir until smooth.
- Hold dry cherries by the stem and dip into the chocolate mixture.
- Place chocolate dipped cherries stem up onto waxed or parchment paper to dry.
- Reheat remaining chocolate mixture if needed.
- Allow to air dry or place in the refrigerator for a few minutes to hurry up the process.
- Store at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
You may also like: Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice
Julie Hipke says
4 years?! How I remember the many walks around the pond hearing your ideas, pondering the trouble-spots, and dreaming big with you… My friend, the world is a lovelier place through your looking glass. Thanks for sharing a little piece of you in every post. xo J
Allie says
4 years ago feels like yesterday and an eternity. I well remember those walks, your listening ear, problem solving and encouraging words. Thankful for your friendship and knowing I can always count on you. And now to think you’re on your own farm complete with barn and lovely ladies in your amazing chicken coop… wonderful to see both our dreams realized. You are one of God’s greatest gifts in my life. xo
Ernest Contreras says
Love your blog and your skills in the kitchen,these cherries look wonderful I have done many of these for buffets and brunches they are always a hit ,yours of course look perfect.
Thanks for you great photos
Chef Ernie
Susie Mandel says
I love maraschino cherries! And I’m thrilled to hear that I can get some that are free of all that bad stuff. You always have the best ideas for holiday treats. 🙂
Allie says
Awww…thanks Susie. Hope you enjoy, and happy Thanksgiving! XOXO
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
What a sweet hubby! Congrats on 4 years! These chocolate covered cherries are the way to celebrate! They look scrumptious!
Kathy says
Allie, These look delicious and so easy! I didnt know there were healthier maraschino cherries, so thanks for sharing! YES, time is flying by. Hope you and your family enjoy the holidays! And CONGRATULATIONS on your 4-year blog anniversary!!!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
How very sweet of Jon to give you flowers on your blog’s anniversary. I look forward to many more years of delicious posts from you. I did love those chocolate covered cherries and will definitely be try these…marinated overnight in some delicious liquor.
Carol says
Happy, Happy 4th anniversary! I truly believe the world is a much better place with people like you in it to inspire, inform and teach more than even your wonderful recipes that you so kindly share with everyone. Talk about “me,too” moments. Many of your posts sure hit home with me and I don’t know what it was that made me start reading all your posts but I feel so fortunate to have found them.
OK so now you are going on about these beautiful(and shall I say, my favourite sweet) maraschino cherries. I am going to look them up on Amazon ASAP, because I too don’t care for polluting my body with harmful things, and after that I will hope to make these beautiful chocolate cherries. Did I mention that they are my favourite? Give me a Cherry Blossom bar and you have one happy person! I also remember reading somewhere that this chocolate coating is great for making hard shell ice cream creations with coconut oil.
We are enjoying a wonderful extended fall here and I hope snow is holding off in your wonderful part of the world, too. I am seeing the news at times and looks like west Canada is snow laden already.
Have a great weekend Allie! Many more years of lovely posts from you too!
Denise Quattrochi says
Doug is going to go crazy for these. I buy him chocolate covered cherries every Christmas. I can’t wait to see his face when I make them for him.
Adina says
Happy blog anniversary, I had my 4th anniversary in September as well and completely forgot it… I’ve just realized it now while reading your post… 🙂 My husband didn’t remeber it either, he is mega supportive when it comes to the blog, but he’s terrible when it comes to remember special dates. Two years ago, on my daughter 5th birthday we were supposed to be on holiday in England and had tickets to a Harry Potter studios there, tickets which he bought himself. nonetheless he also bought some festival tickets for himself and a friend on the same day, so three dates in one day in two different countries… He was lucky he was able to sell the festival tickets to another friend. 🙂 The cherries look so beautiful, I have never had anything like it, but I know I would like them. 🙂
SHASHI AT SAVORYSPIN says
Oh Allie – Happy 4 year blogiversary!!! That hubby of yours is so sweet – what a lovely card – and Tulips and peonies are pretty darn magical – eh?!
And, speaking of magical – so are these milk chocolate covered maraschino cherries! I love the idea of soaking the cherries in some booze first too! These look so much better than those store bought ones. My only complaint is darn – how do I put the brakes on popping one after the other of these into my piehole?!
Hoping you are ready for Christmas and you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and holiday break! Stay warm, sweet friend! xoxo
banazer noor says
The best cake recipe I love it, my kid, like this as well love
The awesome recipe I try at home kids loves it.
Liz Sanvig says
Made these for my husband as he loves chocolate covered cherries. He loves them. I don’t care for maraschino cherries or dark chocolate but these are scrumptious. Had a little chocolate left so spread on graham crackers.