Drunkin’ Cherries
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Published
Drunkin’ Cherries are an easy no-cook treat made by soaking maraschino cherries in vodka until they’re sweet, bold, and full of boozy flavor. This simple recipe uses just cherries and vodka, and it’s great for parties, cocktails, and fun adult desserts. Ready after an overnight soak, these vodka cherries make a bright, sweet, and slightly fiery bite that fits any celebration.
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Liquor-soaked edibles are always a hit at parties, and these drunkin’ cherries are no exception. I first made them when I was serving Dirty Shirleys, and they ended up being the surprise garnish everyone talked about. I love how simple they are to prepare. You just drain the maraschino cherries, cover them with vodka, and let them chill overnight until they soak up that sweet, boozy flavor. Sometimes I use vanilla or cake-flavored vodka for a dessert-style twist, and I almost always set out a bowl of them on the bar so guests can help themselves.
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Soak the cherries long enough. Marinate the cherries for at least 8 hours to let the vodka soak all the way in. If you want a bolder bite, give them the full 24 hours.
- Cover fully. Make sure every cherry is fully covered with vodka so they absorb the flavor evenly from top to bottom.
- Keep the cherries chilled. Keep the jars in the refrigerator the entire time. Once the seal is broken, they can’t sit out, plus chilling helps the cherries hold their shape and keeps the texture firm instead of mushy.
- Pat dry. You can pat the cherries dry and dunk them in melted chocolate and sprinkles for a festive treat. If you do plan on dipping them, make sure the cherries are completely dry beforehand. Any moisture will cause the chocolate to slide off or seize.
- Use rum. You can swap the vodka for rum or bourbon for a warmer flavor.
Drunkin’ Cherries
Ingredients
- 11 ounce jar maraschino cherries, without stems (Mezzetta® brand has them)
- 1 cup vodka, or more to cover. Try vanilla, whipped, or cake-flavored vodka for dessert versions or use plain.
Instructions
- Drain the cherry juice from both jars.*
- Fill the jars with the vodka to cover.
- Seal with the lids and place in the fridge for several hours, preferably 8 hours-overnight. The longer the better to absorb the vodka.
- Drain the cherries.*
- They’re best enjoyed chilled. It's fun to serve them in a champagne coupe glass or bowl, and also threaded on party skewers.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Drunkin’ Cherries Step by Step
Gather all the ingredients together.
Prepare the cherries: Open an 11-oz jar of maraschino cherries (I buy the kind that don’t have their stems attached) and drain all the cherry juice from both jars. Save the juice to use it later.
Add the vodka: Pour 1 cup of vodka into the jars, adding more if needed to fully cover the cherries. You can use plain vodka, vanilla vodka, or cake-flavored vodka.
Chill and soak: Seal the jar with its lid and place them in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight, so the cherries can absorb the vodka.
Drain and serve: After soaking, drain the cherries and save the infused vodka for use in cocktails. Serve the cherries chilled in a champagne coupe or bowl, or thread them onto party skewers.
Serving Suggestions
These Drunkin’ Cherries are so fun to serve at parties because they work in so many ways. I like to pile them into a chilled champagne coupe for a pretty presentation, but they’re also great threaded onto cocktail skewers for easy grabbing. I love popping them on piña coladas or floating them on top of vodka soda for a boozy pop of sweetness. Dress them with chocolate and they’re a great surprise on holiday dessert boards with eggnog cake balls and hot cocoa cookies.
How to Store Leftovers
Store the Drunkin’ Cherries in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Keep the leftover vodka from the jar chilled as well, since it’s now infused with cherry flavor and can be used in cocktails for up to one month.
These cherries are not ideal for freezing because the texture becomes mushy once thawed. If you want to make them ahead, soak the cherries 24 to 48 hours before serving so they have plenty of time to absorb the vodka.
More Boozy Party Treats to Try
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