This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
This chocolate covered cherries recipe is great for the holidays, especially if you’re a maraschino cherries fan! You don’t need many ingredients to make these chocolate covered cherry cordials and they’re simple to prepare as well. You can customize them by adding amaretto or another liqueur and also choose your favorite kind of chocolate to use.
One of the best candy recipes for cherry fans, these chocolate covered cherries are so good, boasting the flavors of chocolate, cherries and amaretto in every treat.
Also try mini caramel apple cheesecakes, chocolate brownies, raspberry truffles, red velvet marble loaf, or maybe Rudolf the reindeer donuts.
Why You’ll Love Them
Festive: If you’re looking for chocolate-covered homemade treats for the holidays, this maraschino cherry recipe is perfectly festive. Why not make some to gift too?
Delicious: A wonderfully contrasting treat, these cherry cordials offer the sweetness of cherries and amaretto liqueur balanced out with much less sweet dark chocolate. It’s impossible to eat just one of these!
Easy to make: Candy isn’t always simple to make, especially when pans of boiling mixtures and candy thermometers come into play. However, you don’t need any specialist knowledge or equipment to make these chocolate-covered cherries. Even a relative newbie in the kitchen shouldn’t have any issues with this straightforward recipe.
Nostalgic: A box of chocolate-covered cherries from Cella’s, Queen Anne’s, and Brach’s was a staple in homes during the holidays. Now you can make your own!
Ingredients for Chocolate Cherries with Amaretto
You need maraschino cherries to make chocolate covered cherries, along with butter, corn syrup, powdered sugar, and either semi sweet or dark chocolate for this chocolate cherries recipe.
You can also add chocolate almond bark and sprinkles (here or here) if you want. The amaretto liqueur is also option but well worth including!
How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherries
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the maraschino cherries: Drain the cherries and dry on a paper towel.
Make the dough: Whip the butter and corn syrup in a large bowl, and then mix in the amaretto followed by as much powdered sugar as you need for a Play-Doh like consistency.
Wrap the cherry cordials in the dough: Wrap each maraschino cherry in some of the powdered sugar mixture then arrange on parchment paper or wax paper.
Coat them in melted chocolate: Melt chocolate in the microwave, then dip each cherry in it and let the cherry cordials set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (here) for at least an hour.
The finishing touches: You might like to sprinkle some festive sprinkles over the chocolate coating before it sets (so they will stick) or you could drizzle extra chocolate on top.
Substitutions and Variations
Swap the amaretto liqueur for cherry brandy if you prefer or another liqueur. A few drops of vanilla extract or almond extract would also be good in the dough mixture.
You might like to melt some white chocolate chips or milk chocolate and drizzle that over the finished cherry cordials for a color contrast, or get creative with edible glitter, sprinkles or anything else you want.
Another idea would be making little green holly leaves and red berries out of fondant and pressing those on top. It depends how creative you’re feeling!
How to Serve this Cherry Cordial Recipe
These can be enjoyed with anything from a cup of coffee to a Christmas beverage like Santa hat cocktails. If you’re making other treats, you might also like mint chocolate puppy chow or rainbow cookies.
How to Store Cherry Cordial Chocolate Treats
Store: These will keep for a couple of weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator, maybe longer.
Freeze: You can also keep them in the freezer and they should last for months in there.
Chocolate Covered Cherry FAQs
Only very slightly. If it seems too sticky, add more powdered sugar, either directly to the dough or on your hands. You want the texture to be similar to that of Play-Doh.
The easiest way is to use a fork for dipping and then another fork to slide the Christmas treats off the first fork and on to the waxed paper. You could also use toothpicks.
If you can resist eating them immediately, you will find that the longer they sit, the more the center will liquefy. Make them up to 2 weeks ahead and store in an airtight container if you want to serve them with a runny center.
If you have a warm kitchen, this can happen. After wrapping the cherries in the dough mixture, place them on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove 3 or 4 at a time to dip in the chocolate.
Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Ingredients
- 20 Ounces maraschino cherries, stemless, approximately 75
- 4 Tablespoons butter, salted
- 4 Tablespoons corn syrup, light
- 2 Tablespoons amaretto liquor, optional
- 4-5 Cups powdered sugar
- 10 Ounces dark chocolate, or semi sweet
- 4 Ounces almond bark, chocolate
- sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Drain the maraschino cherries (the liquid can be saved for other recipes or drinks). Let the cherries dry on a paper towel.
- In a bowl combine the softened butter and corn syrup, whip together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add in the amaretto liquor and whip again.
- Add in two cups of the powdered sugar, mix until combined. Continue to add additional powdered sugar until the dough becomes a soft Play-Doh consistency.
- Take a small ball of the dough, a little bit bigger than a cherry, and flatten it into the palm of your hand. Place one of the dry cherries into the middle of the dough, wrap the dough around the cherry making sure it is fully covered and sealed. Roll the ball of dough with the cherry in it gently between your hands to get a nice round shape, then set the wrapped cherry aside on a piece of parchment paper. Continue to do this until all of the cherries have been wrapped.
- Melt the dark chocolate with the chocolate almond bark in a microwave safe bowl, heating in 15 to 30 second intervals until smooth and combined.
- Carefully dip each of the wrapped cherries into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip off then set onto a sheet lined with parchment paper.
- After all of the cherries have been dipped and have hardened, you may decorate the tops with your favorite accents. For these I have drizzled the tops with the leftover dipping chocolate and sprinkled with festive sprinkles and edible glitter.
Nutrition
Chocolate covered cherries are a versatile snack. They’re nice with coffee after dinner, and also great with festive cocktails. As they keep for weeks, you can always pop some in the freezer in case you have unexpected guests. Another idea is to give some as a gift. Whatever you do with the chocolate covered cherries, you’re going to find them delicious. Try limiting yourself to just one – it’s almost impossible!
Other Recipes to Try
- You’ll love these Pecan Sugar Cookies, featuring a delightful crunch of pecans in every bite.
- Red Velvet Sugar Cookies are so good they’re nearly addictive!
- These Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies blend the sweetness of cherries with the richness of chocolate.
- Amaretto Cream Pie with Almond Crust boasts a velvety texture with a hint of almond flavor.
- For a whimsical dessert, whip up some Chocolate Covered Strawberry Reindeer, perfect for adding a touch of festive fun to any occasion.
- Get into the holiday spirit with Gingerbread Linzer Cookies.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
There was no leftovers. It was so good!
I made it this Christmas and it was a hit with the family! I love the chocolate and cherry comb. Never goes wrong!