Chocolate Covered Cherries
User Reviews
5
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Description
This recipe transforms maraschino cherries into a classic confection by first draining and drying them, then encasing each cherry in a dough formed from powdered sugar, softened butter, and some preserved cherry juice. The dough is adjusted for consistency by adding sugar or juice as needed and chilled to set, which helps it hold shape during further handling. Each cherry is wrapped individually to form smooth balls that freeze briefly before coating.
After chilling, the cherry balls are dipped in melted dark candy melts, which create a thin, glossy, and firm chocolate shell once cooled. The use of candy melts simplifies melting and coating compared to traditional chocolate chips, which sometimes need shortening added for smoothness. This method ensures the cherries keep their round shape and do not melt during dipping.
Chocolate Covered Cherries are enjoyed as a sweet treat or dessert. The combination of a chewy, sweet cherry inside a tender sugar dough and an outer chocolate layer offers distinctive textures and flavors. The process requires careful chilling at stages to maintain form and ease of handling.
Ingredients
- 10 ounce jar maraschino cherries
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 16 ounces dark candy melts if using chocolate chips, you will also need to add 2 teaspoons of shortening to the recipe during the chocolate melting process, or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Drain the cherries, reserving 1/4 cup of the cherry juice.
- Place the cherries on paper towels and pat to dry.
- Place the powdered sugar, butter and 3 tablespoons of cherry juice in the bowl of a mixer; beat to combine until the mixture forms a dough.
- If the mixture seems too wet or sticky, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- If mixture is too dry, add 1 teaspoon of cherry juice at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Take two teaspoons of the cherry dough and flatten it into a disc shape.
- Place one cherry onto each disc and wrap the dough around the cherry to form a ball. If the dough sticks to your hands, try coating your hands in cooking spray first.
- Place the balls onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and freeze for 20 minutes.
- While the balls are chilling, melt the candy melts by placing them in a microwave safe bowl and cooking them in the microwave for 30 second increments until melted.
- Stir the candy melts until smooth.
- Place one ball on a fork and use the fork to coat the ball in chocolate. Gently tap the fork against the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
- Place each dipped ball onto a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat the process with the remaining balls and candy melts.
- Place some of the melted candy in a resealable bag and snip off one corner of the bag to use as a piping bag.
- Use the piping bag to drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of the dipped cherries.
- Let the chocolate coating harden, then store the cherries at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- Wrap cherries in the powdered sugar dough and chill them fully to keep their shape when dipping in chocolate.
- Use dark melting wafers like Ghirardelli for smooth melting and a shiny chocolate shell.
- Freeze the wrapped cherries briefly before dipping to help maintain their round form and prevent melting.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 20Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 209 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 209kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 42g | 14% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 9mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 36mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 2mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 40g | 80% |
| Vitamin A | 125IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.2mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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