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Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe

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5 from 63 reviews

Indulge in the classic homemade treat of Chocolate Covered Cherries, featuring maraschino cherries wrapped in a sweet fondant dough and dipped in rich semi-sweet chocolate. This recipe offers an optional step to soak cherries in brandy or rum for Cherry Cordials, creating an exquisite candy perfect for holidays, gifts, or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Cherries

  • 40–60 maraschino cherries

Fondant

  • 2 cups powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons corn syrup

Chocolate Coating

  • 1 pound dipping chocolate
  • 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon shortening or coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Prep the Cherries: Decide if you want to leave the stems on or remove them according to your preference. Dry the cherries thoroughly using paper towels to remove all excess moisture before wrapping.
  2. Optional Cherry Cordials: For an adult twist, drain the cherries and soak them in brandy or rum for up to 24 hours. After soaking, dry the cherries thoroughly on paper towels before proceeding.
  3. Mix the Fondant: In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup and mix with your hands until smooth. Sift in the powdered sugar and knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough with a consistency similar to new Play-Doh. Chill this fondant dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
  4. Cover the Cherries: Take about 1½ teaspoons of fondant dough per cherry. Roll the dough into a small log roughly the size of your index finger, flatten it, then place a cherry in the center. Roll the log around the cherry, pinching the ends together. Roll the covered cherry gently in your palm to form a smooth ball of even thickness.
  5. Chill the Wrapped Cherries: Place the fondant-covered cherries on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Do not exceed 2 hours to avoid the fondant becoming too soft or breaking down.
  6. Melt the Chocolate: While the cherries chill, melt the dipping and semi-sweet chocolate chips together with shortening or coconut oil in a double boiler over low heat (or use a fondue pot). Stir almost constantly until the mixture is smooth and fully melted.
  7. Dip the Cherries: One at a time, drop each fondant-covered cherry into the melted chocolate. Use a toothpick to lift the cherry out, tap gently to allow excess chocolate to drip off, then transfer it onto parchment paper. Immediately cover the small toothpick hole with a little melted chocolate using a toothpick dipped in the chocolate.
  8. Chill and Repeat: Allow the dipped cherries to set firm on the baking sheet. For a stronger base, gently dip the bottom of each cherry into the chocolate again to build a thicker underside layer, then place back on the parchment. Optionally, place each chocolate cherry into paper candy cups for presentation.

Notes

  • Soaking cherries in brandy or rum imparts a richer flavor but is optional.
  • Ensure cherries are completely dry before wrapping and dipping to prevent fondant from breaking down prematurely.
  • Do not chill fondant-wrapped cherries longer than 2 hours before dipping to avoid fondant softening.
  • Use shortening or coconut oil in the chocolate to create a smoother coating that snaps upon setting.
  • Double coating the cherry bases prevents leaking as the fondant center breaks down over time.
  • Store finished chocolate covered cherries in a cool place to maintain quality.

Keywords: Chocolate covered cherries, cherry cordials, holiday candy, homemade chocolate candy, fondant covered cherries, maraschino cherry recipe

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