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homemade cocktail cherries
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Homemade Cocktail Cherries

Author Bernice Hill

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs sour cherries or sweet cherries, pitted
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur
  • 1 cup brandy or bourbon
  • 1 lemon, juiced and peeled into 6 strips
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 5 whole cloves

Instructions

  • Begin by inspecting, washing, and sterilizing the jars, lids, rings, and jar funnel.
  • Assemble the water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, lemon peel and cloves together in a large saucepan and allow sugar to dissolve over low heat (add small amounts of additional water if needed).
  • Add the cherries to the syrup and allow to simmer for one minute. Remove the cherries from heat, then stir in the alcohol. Turn heat back on and heat until just about simmering (do not allow to boil).
  • Fill the jars using the funnel, then top up with syrup as needed. Refer to pickled carrots recipe for the same jar filling method. Work quickly so that every aspect (fruit, syrup, jars and lids) remains very hot (fingerprints…who needs them?).
  • Once the lids are on, no need to advance to the hot water bath stage. Simply listen for the pop and refrigerate any jars that haven’t sealed.

Notes

Makes 6 – 250 ml (half pint) jars