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Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

Bourbon-soaked cherries are a delightful treat that combines the sweet, tart cherry flavor with the smoky, woody taste of bourbon. The combination is simply divine! These bourbon cherries are an excellent addition to many recipes, but they are exquisite in your favorite whiskey cocktail.

Cherries and cinnamon in bourbon in two jars on a table
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Soaking the cherries in bourbon enhances their flavor and gives them a unique edge that takes your taste buds on a flavorful journey. If you haven’t already, it’s time to discover the fantastic world of bourbon-soaked cherries!

I especially enjoy the taste of these cherries in an old-fashioned cocktail and a Manhattan!

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I look forward to cherry season every single year so I can make my many jars of bourbon cherries.

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Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe

  • Fresh cherries – I use Bing.
  • Bourbon
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Maple syrup – this is optional. I love the depth of flavor it adds to the bourbon. You can also swap it out with pure vanilla extract.
Helpful
Tips
  • Wash your cherries before immersing them in the bourbon. I usually place the fruit in a sieve, run cold water over them, add a little unscented, natural soap to your palms and pick the cherries up and rub them between your hands. Continue until you’ve touched every cherry. Run cold water over them again and let the cherries drain.
  • You don’t need to pit the cherries, but I prefer to, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting when you bite into the fruit and chipping your tooth.
  • If you do want to take the pit out of the cherries, do yourself a favor and use a cherry pitter tool like this. It makes it fast and enjoyable. I stand by my compost bucket and pit the cherries right over it. I also wear an apron to protect my clothing since cherry juice would stain them.
  • Sometimes I don’t use maple syrup. What I add instead is pure vanilla extract. You choose or make two batches: one with pure maple syrup and one with vanilla.
  • I do not can these jars of cherries but do so if you prefer. I usually keep the jars in the fridge and use them within a few months.
  • Wash the jars with soapy hot water and rinse and dry thoroughly before using.

How to make bourbon-soaked cherries

Pre-step

The way I determine how many cherries to use is by filling two Ball jars with them.

Once I have my quantity set, I put them in a strainer, remove the stems and wash them. After I wash them, that’s when I pit the cherries. (See helpful tips on how.)

Step one

Gather the ingredients – bing cherries, bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks.

Cherries, cinnamon sticks, bourbon and maple syrup on a colorful table
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step two

Place the clean, pitted cherries back in the jars.

Step three

Place a cinnamon stick in each jar.

Step four

And now it’s time for the bourbon.  It takes a little over a cup of bourbon to fill both jars. But you don’t have to measure it. Just pour it in to cover the cherries.

Step five

Add 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup to each jar. (Or if you prefer, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.)

Step six

Place the lids on the jars and place them in the refrigerator.

And now comes the hard part.

Waiting

You must wait three days for the cherries to marinate in the bourbon.Three days!  So be patient!

I know you can do it!

Cherries and cinnamon in bourbon in two jars on a table
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

They are pretty, are they not? They taste delicious, in or out of a cocktail.

I hope you enjoyed this bourbon-soaked cherries recipe.

Other delicious fruit recipes

And may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Cherries and cinnamon in bourbon in two jars on a table - square

Bourbon Soaked Cherries

Add a little zest to your life with this simple recipe for bourbon-soaked cherries! Garnish your cocktail with a few bourbon cherries, or add them in yogurt or ice cream.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: Cocktails
Keyword: bourbon cherries, bourbon soaked cherries
Prep Time: 5 minutes
resting time: 3 days
Total Time: 3 days 5 minutes
Servings: 2 Jars
Calories: 148kcal

Ingredients

Approximates

  • 3 cups cherries to fit in two Ball jars (de-stemmed, washed, and the pits taken out)
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup total (1/2 teaspoon in each jar)
  • bourbon to fill the jars (approximately a cup)

Instructions

  • Fill the jars with the washed, pitted cherries.
  • Stick a cinnamon stick in each jar.
  • Cover the cherries with bourbon.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup to each jar.
  • Place a lid on each jar and set them in the refrigerator for 3 days.
  • Make a cocktail with these cherries as a garnish. Or eat a cherry!
  • Smile
  • Enjoy

Equipment

2 cup ball jar
2 cup ball jar (2 of them, each 2 cups)
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

Notes

Cherries will last at least 2 months in the refrigerator
Helpful tips
  • Wash your cherries before immersing them in the bourbon. I usually place the fruit in a sieve, run cold water over them, add a little unscented, natural soap to your palms and pick the cherries up and rub them between your hands. Continue until you’ve touched every cherry. Run cold water over them again and let the cherries drain.
  • You don’t need to pit the cherries, but I prefer to, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting when you bite into the fruit and chipping your tooth.
  • If you do want to take the pit out of the cherries, do yourself a favor and use a cherry pitter tool like this. It makes it fast and enjoyable. I stand by my compost bucket and pit the cherries right over it. I also wear an apron to protect my clothing since cherry juice would stain them.
  • Sometimes I don’t use maple syrup. What I add instead is pure vanilla extract. You choose or make two batches: one with pure maple syrup and one with vanilla.
  • I do not can these jars of cherries but do so if you prefer. I usually keep the jars in the fridge and use them within a few months.
  • Wash the jars with soapy hot water and rinse and dry thoroughly before using.

Nutrition

Serving: 3Cherries | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 2g | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 14.5mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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14 Comments

  1. Fresh cherries are so delicious. Bourbon…well that just makes everything better. I would use these on a Black Forest Cake….yum!!!!

  2. Oh my yes!!! Cherry pitter is a needed investment and making these are on a MUST to do list!!

  3. This sounds amazing! I love cherries and they are in season now. Such a great idea to have handy during the summer parties 🙂

  4. I had my cherry pitter in my drawer waiting for this recipe. This year I will buy the cherries and make this recipe, hoping my husband will wait 3 days. Next year I will have plenty of cherries from our own cherry tree…I am glad I bought the cherry pitter.

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