Boozy Chocolate Covered Cherries
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If you’ve never made vodka-soaked cherries, you’re in for a treat. These boozy cherries are sweet, a little tart, and pack a punch. Whether you dip them in chocolate or serve them as-is, drunken cherries are perfect for holiday trays, cocktail garnishes, or an adult-friendly dessert table.
The best part? You can prep them ahead, and they’re totally customizable — from flavored vodka to different chocolate coatings.
What Are Drunken Cherries?
Drunken cherries (also called vodka cherries, boozy cherries, or cherries soaked in vodka) are simply maraschino cherries soaked in alcohol. Vodka is the most popular choice, but you can also experiment with rum, whiskey, or flavored spirits.
You can enjoy them plain or dip them in chocolate to make them extra festive. Either way, they’re sweet, juicy, and infused with your favorite liquor — a great way to give cherries a grown-up twist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Maraschino cherries, pitted, with stems on (for easy dipping and eating)
- Vodka — plain or flavored (vanilla vodka is my go-to, but whipped cream vodka or cherry vodka are great, too)
Optional for chocolate-covered version:
- Almond bark or white chocolate — for dipping
- Sprinkles or sanding sugar — to decorate
How to Make Vodka-Soaked Cherries
Soak the Cherries
- Drain the cherry juice from the jar (but save it! More on that below).
- Place cherries in a bowl or back into the jar.
- Pour vodka over the cherries to fully cover them.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours — the longer they soak, the stronger they’ll be. I usually aim for 24–48 hours.
Tip: The cherry juice you drained makes a fantastic grenadine substitute for cocktails — don’t toss it!
Optional: Dip in Chocolate
If you want to turn your vodka cherries into a chocolate-covered treat:
- After soaking, drain and pat cherries dry thoroughly (this step is super important — if they’re too wet, the chocolate won’t stick).
- Melt almond bark or white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Dip each cherry into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off, and then sprinkle with sprinkles or sugar, if desired.
- Place on parchment paper to set. Refrigerate until firm.
How to Use Boozy Cherries
I love how versatile boozy cherries are — they’re great for more than just snacking (though I definitely eat a few straight from the jar). I like to use them as a cocktail garnish on drinks like Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, or spiked punch. For holidays, I like to dip them in chocolate and sprinkles to make them festive for Christmas, New Year’s, or Valentine’s Day.
They also make fun homemade gifts if you pack them in a cute jar — just make sure people know they’re spiked! No one wants grandma falling over…haha!
If you love cherries like I do, I also highly recommend this cherry cobbler recipe with canned cherries. DELICIOUS.
Flavor Variations and Fun Add-Ins
Want to mix things up? Here are a few ways I’ve experimented with different boozy cherry flavors. I would say to head out to your local liquor store and walk down the aisle. There are always crazy new things you would never have thought of!
- Flavored vodka: Try vanilla, whipped cream, cherry, or citrus vodka for a twist.
- Rum-soaked cherries: Use spiced rum for a warmer, deeper flavor — great for fall or winter.
- Whiskey cherries: Bourbon or cinnamon whiskey (like Fireball) is fun if you like a bolder flavor.
- Tequila-soaked cherries: For summer or a margarita-inspired garnish.
- Different chocolate coatings: Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or candy melts all work , just mix and match!
How to Store Vodka Cherries
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Plain vodka cherries will last up to 2 weeks, but for the best texture, they are best enjoyed within a week. Chocolate-covered cherries are best eaten within a few days to keep the chocolate coating fresh. You can also keep them in mason jars for a little bit of longevity.
Can You Make Non-Alcoholic Soaked Cherries?
Yes! If you love the idea but want a kid-friendly version, you can soak cherries in Sprite, 7-Up, or cherry soda instead. They’ll still be juicy and sweet but totally safe for everyone to enjoy.
Important tips when soaking cherries
From experience, I definitely recommend using cherries with stems — it makes them so much easier to dip and eat without getting messy. If you plan to dip them in chocolate, take the extra time to dry the cherries really well after soaking, because if they’re too wet, the chocolate just won’t stick properly.
Also, don’t rush the soaking process. Letting them sit in vodka for at least 24 hours really helps them soak up the flavor and gives that perfect boozy bite. And finally, serve them chilled! They taste so much better cold, and if you’ve dipped them in chocolate, keeping them cool helps the chocolate stay nice and firm.
Whether you call them drunken cherries, vodka cherries, or boozy cherry bombs, these little treats are a huge hit at any adult gathering. You can make them as simple or fancy as you want — plain, soaked, dipped, and decorated — and they’re always a conversation starter.
If you’ve never made them, I highly recommend trying a batch for your next party. And if you’ve tried fun flavor variations, I’d love to hear what works best for you!
Boozy Cherries (With or Without Chocolate)
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
Drunken Cherries
- Drain cherry juice from the jar and place cherries in a bowl or back into the jar. Cover cherries with vodka and seal the container.
- Refrigerate for at least 24 hours to soak (up to 48 hours for stronger flavor). Preserve the excess vodka/cherry juice for other recipes.
How to make Chocolate covered Boozy Cherries
- After soaking, drain cherries and pat dry completely with a paper towel. This is an important step because chocolate will NOT stick if the cherry is wet.
- Melt almond bark or white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Dip each cherry into chocolate, let excess drip off, and roll in sprinkles or sugar if desired.
- Set cherries on parchment paper and refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
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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