By Melissa Clark
- Total Time
- 20 minutes, plus 2 days' macerating
- Rating
- 4(189)
- Notes
- Read community notes
The liquid and cherries glow Kool-Aid red, but they are seductively crisp-textured and steeped with an exotic, piney, floral flavor that is just sweet enough but balanced by a tart tang. Sublime in a manhattan, they are even better over coconut sorbet, and just imagine them on top of an ice cream sundae.
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Ingredients
Yield:About 1 pint
- 1cup maraschino liqueur
- 1pint sour cherries, stemmed and pitted (or substitute one 24-ounce jar sour cherries in light syrup, drained).
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
253 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 32 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 29 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 8 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Step
1
Bring maraschino liqueur to a simmer in a small pot. Turn off heat and add cherries. Let mixture cool, then store in a jar in refrigerator for at least 2 days before using, and up to several months.
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4
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189
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Cooking Notes
Ellen Cassilly
I pit the cherries by putting one on top of an open, empty wine bottle, stem end down, wrapping my hand over/around it, then poking it with the fat end of a chop stick. The pit goes into the bottle still with a bit of cheery meat on it. after a pound of cherry pits are in the bottle I add sherry, or any other liquor, and let sit to make Cherry Sherry.
Alex
The article that goes with this recipe says that there isn't a shortcut for pitting cherries, but in the intervening decade or so, the landscape has changed. A cherry pitter can be had for under $15 (Oxo makes a good one) and is perfect for this recipe. My whole quart of cherries was pitted in 15 minutes.
LindaL
I've made these twice, in late June or early July when fresh sour cherries are available. They've been good for a year in the refrigerator, although they tend to be gone sooner! For a quart of cherries, 1-3/4 cups liqueur is enough.
You will never be satisfied with supermarket "maraschino" cherries again.
Jo
I would like to honor my mom's memory (1915-1999) by sharing her brilliant cherry pitter invention with the world. You put a hair pin (if they still make them) in a wine cork. This nifty invention removes the pit cleanly and almost effortlessly. I've used mine for many decades. We live near Door County, the land of Montmorency cherries. Dad loved picking cherries and thankfully, Mom was kind enough to pit them and make her family scrumptious desserts.
Harriet
I see, the article was published mid-July, when cherries were great!
JB
I would not use the canning method in Saveur. I have never seen any method like this. I cannot find out if it's safe. I tend to say it is not safe.
Kelly
Has anyone ever made these using flash frozen tart cherries from a good grower?
Tim O.
I make these every summer for winter Manhattans. I pit with the Oxo pitter, fill quart canning jars with cherries, tap on counter to pack tightly, fill with Maraschino liqueur, tap again to release air bubbles, close with the lid, and store at room temperature. They're ready after a couple of months and last for years. Each time I make a Manhattan, I add a bit of the "juice" along with a cherry.
Martha
Thanks for the hairpin method and, yes, they still make hairpins. I love my 7 at a time cherry pitter but sours are too delicate. I’ve been using my thumb nail but this seem as if it would leave the cherry more intact. If there’s more at the farmers market this weekend, I’ll grab a quart and make a few jars for gifts.
Christina
For those who want to can, in his wonderful book 'Saving the Season' (p. 116, 2013) Kevin West has lovely, simple canning directions for making Maraschino Cherries: "Pack closely into a scalded pint jar, cover with Luxardo leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Seal the jars, and process in a boiling-water bath for 15 minutes. To reduce venting, allow the jars to rest in the water for 5 minutes before removing."
Emily
The OXO multi cherry pitter is a big disappointment but not as much as this recipe being in both cups and ounces and pints. After attempting to pit a whole tree’s worth of cherries, I am not capable of the conversions.
Trish
These are the best co*cktail cherries! Other recipes add sugar, cinnamon etc but those are just distractions. I’ve kept these in the fridge for a year, no problem. You can use any kind of cherry but tart cherries have the best flavor and texture.
April
Can I use sweet cherries instead? I've got an abundance of those in my freezer from this summer, but no sour cherries on hand.
Kelly
Has anyone ever made these using flash frozen tart cherries from a good grower?
Katie
Yes! I was quite happy with the way they turned out. Possibly a little softer than fresh cherries but I haven’t tried it with fresh cherries so can’t say for certain.
Roxy
I have a six-cherry cherry pitter made by a company called Progressive and it makes pitting cherries go much more quickly than the single cherry pitter.
Cathy
I use a paper clip, same idea as the hair pin. It doesn't make the extra hole in the cherry so you don't lose as much of the juice.
Jo
I would like to honor my mom's memory (1915-1999) by sharing her brilliant cherry pitter invention with the world. You put a hair pin (if they still make them) in a wine cork. This nifty invention removes the pit cleanly and almost effortlessly. I've used mine for many decades. We live near Door County, the land of Montmorency cherries. Dad loved picking cherries and thankfully, Mom was kind enough to pit them and make her family scrumptious desserts.
Ellen Cassilly
I pit the cherries by putting one on top of an open, empty wine bottle, stem end down, wrapping my hand over/around it, then poking it with the fat end of a chop stick. The pit goes into the bottle still with a bit of cheery meat on it. after a pound of cherry pits are in the bottle I add sherry, or any other liquor, and let sit to make Cherry Sherry.
Tim O.
I make these every summer for winter Manhattans. I pit with the Oxo pitter, fill quart canning jars with cherries, tap on counter to pack tightly, fill with Maraschino liqueur, tap again to release air bubbles, close with the lid, and store at room temperature. They're ready after a couple of months and last for years. Each time I make a Manhattan, I add a bit of the "juice" along with a cherry.
Tim
After a few days, I taste the cherries for balance and often find I want a squeeze of lemon juice, which integrates great in a few days. I’m guessing adding this is also one reason I find these last for years, not just months.
Alex
The article that goes with this recipe says that there isn't a shortcut for pitting cherries, but in the intervening decade or so, the landscape has changed. A cherry pitter can be had for under $15 (Oxo makes a good one) and is perfect for this recipe. My whole quart of cherries was pitted in 15 minutes.
Lisa
Will canned tart cherries in water work.?
JennB
If I want to make these for holiday gifts, should they be canned or just stores? Thanks.
Laura
Saveur has a recipe for canning cherries here: https://www.saveur.com/recipes/maraschino-cherry-recipe/
JB
I would not use the canning method in Saveur. I have never seen any method like this. I cannot find out if it's safe. I tend to say it is not safe.
Tessa
Saveur has this heated hotter than a boiling water bath (212 F for the water, 250 for the oven) and it is alcoholic. I would not be too worried about the safety of this method.
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