Christmas Drunken Cherries
If you ask me what my favorite recipe is to make for Christmas, besides all the classics, I will definitely name these Christmas Drunked Cherries. The perfect boozy bite treats made with vodka-infused maraschino cherries, dipped in white chocolate, and coated with red, white, and green sanding sugar.
I love the holidays because they inspire me to get all creative, experiment in the kitchen, and make the most decorative and fantastic desserts possible. An extensive collection of Christmas-themed desserts can be found on my blog, including classic, foolproof Christmas Sugar Cookies and M&M Cookie Bars made with just four ingredients.
Table of contents
Christmas Drunken Cherries are a great way to entertain the guests. They are super simple and easy to make. First, you soak them in alcohol, drain them, and then pat them dry. Gently drying them with paper towels is key to getting the chocolate to stick to the cherries. Any liquid can seize your chocolate and sugar coating, so be sure to do this step. Perfect to be made in advance, I fix them a day ahead and pop them in the fridge.
After soaking them in alcohol, it takes just a few minutes to prepare them. Once coated in chocolate, I let them rest in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. This colorful treat can pass as a dessert or a nice addition to a holiday-themed cocktail. No matter how I choose to serve, these disappear in the blink of an eye. The moment I serve them, they instantly become the highlight of the party.
Why you will love this recipe
- They are fabulous for the holidays: Perfect party favors that look as festive as they make everyone feel!
- Just a few ingredients: I only need a few ingredients to make these simple treats, but they are delightful to serve and to taste.
- Easy to make: These little cuties are so easy —no baking or cooking required. The best part is that they can be served as dessert or as an accessory to a holiday-themed cocktail.
- Versatile: Instead of Christmas, these cherries can be decorated with other colors for different holidays.
What you will need
- Cherries: I like to use both red and green maraschino cherries with the stems to make them easy to pick up.
- Booze: My booze of choice is vodka because it has a clean, neutral flavor.
- Chocolate: I use the finest chocolate (my favorite is Ghirardelli) and chop it into pieces to melt.
- Sanding sugar: Red, white, and green sanding sugar make the cherries look very festive.
How to make
Soak the cherries: First, I soak the cherries in alcohol for 12 hours in the fridge, then prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Dry the cherries: After that, I remove them and pat them dry with paper towels, then place them on paper towels to rest while I melt the chocolate.
Melt the chocolate: I place the chocolate in the microwave and heat it for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until it is melted.
Dip the cherries: Next, I dip each cherry 2/3 into the melted chocolate, twisting it slightly to help it stick.
Coat: Then lightly roll it into one of the sanding sugars to cover half the chocolate. It goes onto the prepared baking sheet while I finish the other cherries.
Chill and serve: When they are all done, I put them in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Expert tip
Pitting or not the cherries
Maraschino cherries do not have pits. But, for those using fresh cherries, I would not pit them. Leave the pits in place to keep them from becoming damaged. I do not know any way to remove a pit without damaging a cherry. The pit actually holds the cherry together, making it more stable, so it doesn’t fall apart when it is being soaked in alcohol.
More tips to consider:
- Do not oversoak the cherries. If they soak too long, they will no longer taste like cherries and may become soft.
- Make sure the cherries are not overripe if getting fresh ones.
- Be sure the cherries are patted dry after soaking, then dip them in the melted chocolate. Otherwise, it will run right off. I pat mine dry with paper towels, then place them on clean paper towels to let them sit while I melt the chocolate.
- For milder cherries, use half cherry juice and half booze, and only soak them for half the time.
- Keep the alcohol used to soak the cherries. It will make an excellent addition to a cocktail or dessert.
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Use extract: To add different flavors to these yummy cherries, I sometimes use my favorite extracts like vanilla, almond, or mint. I let it soak with the alcohol for the best flavor.
- Different alcohol: You can basically soak the cherries in any alcohol you desire. I recommend choosing between rum, champagne, vodka, flavored vodka, brandy, bourbon, or cognac.
- Other berries: Instead of (or in addition to) cherries, I sometimes use strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
- Different fruits: In fact, I have even chopped up other fruits—peaches, pears, apples, pineapple, and grapes — to soak in booze and make a fruit salad.
- No chocolate: If chocolate is too much for you, try dipping them in just the sanding sugar or use powdered sugar. For less sugar, use honey instead, then dip them in sprinkles.
- Add herbs and spices: Want to add more flavor? Be natural about it and use herbs and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, rosemary, mint, and allspice.
Serving suggestions:
I like to use these cherries as toppings for my favorite holiday cocktails, like this candy cane chocolate martini made with chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, vanilla vodka, and crème de menthe. I also like to toss a couple in a glass of my Christmas punch. This recipe is so easy to make in just five minutes with cranberry juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, pomegranate juice, and vodka.
But these drunken cherries are also perfect to eat as appetizers, so I serve them along with my Santa Claus cheese board, which is one of my most popular party trays. It has Brie, prosciutto crudo, pepperoni, cheese, crackers, pretzels, olives, fruits, berries, and more. One more way I like to serve these is on top of any chocolate cake or pie, especially this Baileys poke cake. The rich chocolate sauce and Bailey’s liquor go so well with the boozy cherries.
How to store leftovers:
- Making them in advance: If you have already coated the cherries with chocolate and dusted them with sugar, it’s best to store them in the fridge; they will be suitable for 5 days. Alternatively, you could freeze the cherries soaked in alcohol in a jar for a few months.
- Refrigerate: They can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for several days, but after that, they will start to get soggy.
- Freezing: Not recommended because the cherries will become too macerated.
Frequently asked questions
I like to use vodka for my Christmas drunken cherries because it has a smooth, crisp flavor without an overpowering scent. Flavored vodka is also good, such as peppermint or chocolate vodka. But other good choices include champagne, which is perfect for a fancy dinner party, or brandy, which goes well with the fruity flavor. Bourbon has a warm taste, and rum has a rich, complex flavor that many people enjoy. Cinnamon whiskey gives them a spicy kick, and tequila makes them extra boozy.
Absolutely! There is no reason to leave anyone out! Several things can be substituted for the booze. For example, alcohol-free booze works for those who like the flavor of alcohol. For the kids, I would go with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda. Sparkling cider is also a great choice. Or use fruit juice and the rest of the ingredients minus the booze.
They have been soaked in alcohol for too long. Do not soak them for longer than 24 hours. I only soak mine for six to eight hours. Although soaking them longer intensifies the flavor, it can also cause them to break down and become mushy. Also, please do not remove the pits before soaking them because this can damage the fruit. The pit gives them a nice structure, keeping them firm.
Maraschino cherries are the best for this recipe. I like to use both red and green colors to make them more festive, but using just red is fine. Sometimes it is hard to find the green ones. For those who want to use fresh cherries, the most common choice is to use Bing cherries, but Rainier cherries are fine too. Whichever you prefer the taste of, do not pit them because the seed helps hold the structure.
More Christmas recipes:
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Christmas Drunken Cherries
Ingredients
- 1 jar red maraschino cherries with stems
- 1 jar green maraschino cherries with stems
- 2 cups vodka champagne or bourbon
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- red, white, and green sanding sugar
Instructions
- First, soak cherries in your favorite alcohol—vodka, bourbon, or champagne—for 12 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Then, remove cherries, drain, and gently pat dry with a paper towel. Make sure the cherries don't have any liquid on them.
- Place the white chocolate chips in a bowl and heat in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between until thoroughly melted.
- Dip each cherry two-thirds of the way into the melted white chocolate, twisting it slightly to help the chocolate stick.
- Next, dip the cherry in red, green, or white sanding sugar, coating it halfway up the white chocolate coating.
- Chill in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Pitting or not the cherries
Maraschino cherries do not have pits. But, for those using fresh cherries, I would not pit them. Leave the pits in place to keep them from becoming damaged. I do not know any way to remove a pit without damaging a cherry. The pit actually holds the cherry together, making it more stable, so it doesn’t fall apart when it is being soaked in alcohol.More tips to consider:
- Do not oversoak the cherries. If they soak too long, they will no longer taste like cherries and may become soft.
- Make sure the cherries are not overripe if getting fresh ones.
- Be sure the cherries are patted dry after soaking, then dip them in the melted chocolate. Otherwise, it will run right off. I pat mine dry with paper towels, then place them on clean paper towels to let them sit while I melt the chocolate.
- For milder cherries, use half cherry juice and half booze, and only soak them for half the time.
- Keep the alcohol used to soak the cherries. It will make an excellent addition to a cocktail or dessert.