Homemade Cocktail Cherries
In anticipation of my birthday party this Thursday in which I'll be serving Manhattans (and Martini's and foods that can be served with toothpicks), I decided to make homemade cocktail cherries. I found a bunch of really great looking brandied cherry recipes and molded my own recipe based on a few of them. Check out the ingredients and process below and please let me what your go-to recipe is!
INGREDIENTS: 1 lb. sweet cherries, pitted 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 2 tsp. lemon juice, fresh-squeezed Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Pinch of allspice 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 cup bourbon 3 tbsp. luxardo maraschino liqueur
TOOLS: cherry pitter, saucepan, ladle, jars with lids
DIRECTIONS: Wash and pit the cherries. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients except the cherries and bourbon and bring to a rolling boil. When the liquid begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium. Add the cherries and simmer for 7 minutes. Remove from heat and add the bourbon. Let it cool and then transfer the cherries into a clean jar and refrigerate, uncovered until cherries are cool to touch. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to two weeks.