Vodka Cherries
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Ready for Christmas parties and New Year’s trays, these boozy Christmas cherry bombs (chocolate-covered cherries soaked in vodka!) transform ordinary maraschino cherries into a delicious (and dangerously drunken) party hit.
Why You’ll Love Boozy Cherry Bombs
- Simple ingredients: When it comes to party prep, the easier the ingredients, the better. Vodka-soaked cherries cover all the bases. You get a bite of a deliciously sweet and tart fruit smothered in chocolate and presoaked in your favorite alcohol.
- Easy to make: No baking is required; drunken cherries pack all the punch of a shot but are wrapped up disguised as the perfect dessert appetizer.
- Customizable: Just like many of our holiday recipes (fudge, and Christmas tree cake dip, to name a few), this recipe can be easily mixed for your own tastes and flavors. Experiment with different vodkas, chocolate types, and sprinkle choices.
What are drunken vodka soaked cherries?
Drunken cherries, also known as “boozy cherries,” “atomic bombs,” or “brandy cherries,” are cherries that have been soaked or marinated in alcohol, typically brandy, rum, or vodka.
These cherries are popular as a cocktail garnish, a decadent addition to desserts like ice cream or chocolate cakes, or eaten as a boozy treat. They also make a unique homemade gift.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>It’s important to note that drunken cherries retain the alcohol they’re soaked in, so they should be consumed responsibly.
Boozy Cherry Ingredients
- juicy maraschino cherries pitted with stems on
- Vanilla vodka (small 2-ounce bottle is sufficient)
- white almond bark
- Green decorating sugar and Red decorating sugar
- Christmas sprinkles
RECIPE IS NOT FOR KIDS OR ANYONE UNDER 21. PLEASE CREATE AND EAT RESPONSIBLY.
TikTok Boozy Christmas Cherry Bombs
Check out this video demonstration by @cocktails on TikTok.
@cocktails Tis the season for Boozy Christmas Cherry Bombs! 🎄 🍒 These vodka soaked cherries are dipped in white chocolate and adorned with Christmas sprinkles for the perfect boozy treat! 😍 🎄 #boozychristmascherrybombs #boozy #cherrybombs #christmas #vodka #cherries #christmascocktails #cocktails
♬ original sound – Viral cocktails
How to make Vodka Soaked Cherries
To get the most out of this recipe, especially for a holiday party, plan at least 24 hours in advance. This allows the spiked cherries to soak up the vodka.
Prep the Cherries: Drain the jar of cherries and arrange them in a bowl with the stems standing up.
Pour a small amount of vodka over the sweet cherries to cover them. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.
Dry and Set Up: The next day, drain the cherries of excess liquid and gently pat them dry with a paper towel. Prepare a cutting board or baking sheet with parchment paper and make space in the fridge.
Please note that if cherries are not dried all the way, chocolate and almond bark will not stick. Taking time on this step will ensure success!
Sugar Setup: Divide the green and red sugars and Christmas sprinkles into separate bowls.
Melt the Almond Bark: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the almond bark for 60 seconds at 50% power. Stir until smooth, using additional 30-second bursts if needed. DO NOT OVERHEAT.
Dip and Decorate: Take a cherry, pat it dry, dip it in almond bark, gently remove excess chocolate, then dredge in sanding sugar and/or sprinkles. Place the vodka cherries on parchment paper.
Repeat for all cherries.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the cherries until the coating hardens. Serve chilled or keep refrigerated until ready.
Can you soak up other things with alcohol?
Absolutely. During Halloween, my neighbors soak up gummy worms, gummy bears, and grapes to pass out to the adults. They do not cover them in chocolate, but instead, serve them in mini disposable containers as we walk around.
Yes, our neighborhood is that neighborhood.
Tips and Tricks for Infused Cherries
- Choosing Cherries: Opt for cherries with stems for easy dipping. If unavailable, toothpicks can be a handy alternative, but they are less aesthetic.
- Vodka Varieties: Feel free to experiment with different vodka flavors, like whipped cream or vanilla. Alternatively, try soaking with cinnamon whiskey, tequila, fireball, rum, brandy, champagne, or any of your favorite ways to drink shots.
- Chocolate: While almond bark does heat very quickly, and the white chocolate coating is a great choice, you can also use melted chocolate, chocolate almond bark, or any variety of candy melts. Just note that when you use real chocolate, which is very yummy, take your time slowly melting it. We suggest a double boiler. Chocolate burns super easily.
- Cherry Juice Use: Don’t discard the maraschino cherry juice; it’s a fantastic grenadine substitute in holiday season cocktails.
Storage of Boozy Christmas Cherry Bombs: These chocolate-dipped cherries are best enjoyed fresh and are the perfect festive treat, but they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container.
Tip: Love the idea but want to skip the alcohol for a more kid-friendly version?
Soak in Sprite or 7-Up for a kid version.
Vodka Cherries (Cherry Bombs)
Equipment
- paper towels
- microwave safe bowl for almond bark or chocolate melting
- assorted bowls for sanding sugar and sprinkles
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 10 ounces maraschino cherries pitted with stems
- Vanilla vodka small amount, 1-2 two-ounce shooters recommended
- 3 ounces white almond bark
- Green decorating sugar
- Red decorating sugar
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Vodka Cherries – Drain the cherries and arrange them in a small bowl, ensuring the stems are upright. Pour just enough vanilla vodka over the cherries to cover them. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight for infusion.
- Drying: The next day, remove the cherries from the refrigerator. Drain off the vodka and gently dry each cherry on paper towels, ensuring they are not overly wet.
- Setting Up for Coating: Lay out parchment paper on a cutting board or baking sheet. This is where the coated cherries will set. Make sure there's enough room in your refrigerator for this setup.
- Prepping Sprinkles and Sugars: Divide the green and red decorating sugars, along with the Christmas sprinkles, into three separate bowls for easy access during the coating process.
- Melting Almond Bark: Place the white almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it for 60 seconds at 50% power. After the time is up, stir the almond bark until it becomes smooth. If it's not completely melted, continue microwaving in 30-second increments at 50% power, stirring each time until it reaches a smooth consistency.
- Coating Cherries: Take a cherry and pat it dry on a napkin or piece of paper towel if needed. Dip the cherry gently into the melted almond bark. Carefully wipe the bottom of the chocolate-coated cherry on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate. This prevents pooling at the bottom.
- Applying Sprinkles: Immediately dredge the chocolate-coated cherry into one of the bowls of sprinkles or sugars, ensuring an even coating.
- Setting Cherries to Harden: Place the coated cherry on the prepared parchment paper. Repeat the process with all the cherries. Once all are coated, refrigerate the cherries on the parchment paper to allow the chocolate to harden.
- Serving: Serve immediately after the chocolate has set, or loosely cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
- Prep Time: approx 20 minutes + overnight soaking
- Servings: Approximately 20 cherries per jar (this varies greatly depending on the jar you purchase)
- Estimated Calories (per cherry): 50-70 calories – this varies greatly depending on the size of the cherry, alcohol type, and the chocolate covering used. Refer to your apps to find the most up-to-date nutritional value.
Important Notes:
- Despite their alcohol content, these cherries are not overly potent in taste, making them subtly strong.
- Use smaller cherries with stems for convenience. Larger cherries often lack stems, requiring toothpicks or skewers.
- A minimal amount of vodka is necessary. Purchasing small bottles is sufficient.
- Carefully wipe off excess chocolate from the cherries to prevent it from pooling at the base.
- Experiment with different vodka flavors, like Smirnoff whipped cream or vanilla.
- The drained cherry juice can be repurposed like grenadine, and the vodka used for soaking (about a shot) can also be reused.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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