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Easy Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherry Cordials

A stack of homemade chocolate covered cherries, one cut open revealing the white filling and bright red cherry center.
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Make classic chocolate covered cherries at home using maraschino cherries wrapped in simple fondant and dipped in rich chocolate. This recipe yields an impressive, decadent treat perfect for gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained well
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup milk, plus more if needed
  • 1 pound dark chocolate, chopped (or use melting wafers)

Instructions

  1. Place the drained maraschino cherries on a paper towel-lined plate and pat them completely dry. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter and vanilla extract.
  3. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, alternating with the milk, mixing until a stiff fondant dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add milk a half teaspoon at a time.
  4. Take a small piece of fondant (about 1 teaspoon) and flatten it in your palm. Place one dried cherry in the center and wrap the fondant completely around the cherry, rolling it into a smooth ball. Place the wrapped cherry on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with all cherries.
  5. Chill the fondant-wrapped cherries in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until firm. This step is important for successful dipping.
  6. Melt the chopped chocolate using a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
  7. Dip each chilled cherry into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated. Use a fork or dipping tool to lift the cherry out, allowing excess chocolate to drip off.
  8. Place the dipped cherries back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  9. For a thicker shell, allow the first layer to set slightly (about 15 minutes at room temperature or 5 minutes in the refrigerator), then dip them a second time.
  10. Allow the chocolate to set completely before serving or storing. For a liquid center, store them at room temperature for several days; the sugar in the fondant will draw moisture from the cherry, creating the cordial center.

Notes

  • Patting the maraschino cherries very dry prevents the fondant from becoming too soft or weeping.
  • If you want a guaranteed liquid center, you can skip the fondant step and simply dip the dried cherries directly into the chocolate, but the texture will be different from a classic cordial.
  • Use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor in your gourmet chocolate gifts.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/chocolate-covered-cherries-recipe/