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Chocolate Covered Cherries

These indulgent Chocolate Covered Cherries are quick and easy to make with maraschino cherries and melted chocolate! They’re a great everyday treat or perfect holiday gifting!

The Easiest Ever Chocolate Covered Cherries!

These chocolate covered cherries are made with 6 simple ingredients. They come together quickly, and you don’t even have to touch your stove or oven! I love throwing these together for special treats!

First, the cherries are coated in a 4-ingredient sugar paste. This adds more flavor and allows the chocolate to stick to the cherries with ease. Then, all you have to do is dip them in the melted chocolate and chill them in the fridge! It couldn’t be easier to make these decadent chocolate cherries.

Chocolate covered cherries on a stoneware plate with the red stems peeking out the top.

Recipe Ingredients

The full recipe is at the bottom of the post in the recipe card with all the measurements!

  • Powdered Sugar
  • Butter: Bring your butter to room temperature before using.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Vanilla Extract: You could also use almond extract, if preferred.
  • Maraschino Cherries: Drain and dry your cherries well.
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherries

This recipe requires a few steps, but they are all so easy. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full instructions, but I’ve taken step by step photos to show you exactly how to do it!

Prep the Cherries: This step is important! Drain and dry your maraschino cherries. They need to be completely dry for the sugar paste (fondant) to stick to. I drain the jar in a wire sieve, and then place them on paper towels to blot off excess moisture.

A mound of white fondant in a red bowl

Make the Sugar Paste: In a large bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, butter, condensed milk and vanilla extract. Using your hands, knead until it forms a thick paste a lot like fondant. Refrigerate for an hour, or until firm and cold.

Coat Cherries in Sugar Paste: When the sugar mixture is firm, scoop out about 2 teaspoons and form it around each cherry, placing them on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet. I find that rolling the mixture into a ball and then flattening it into a disk is the easiest way to cover the cherry.

Why Coat The Cherries In The Sugar Paste? This sweet sugar coating not only gives you that delicious filling for the cherries (the longer the cherries sit, the sugar paste will turn into a sweet syrup) but it also allows the chocolate to adhere to the cherries easily!

Freeze: Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least an hour, or until the coated cherries are firm.

Melt Chocolate: When you’re ready to assemble, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.

Coat the Cherries in Chocolate: Remove the cherries from the freezer and dip them into the melted chocolate, then place them back on the lined baking sheet. Any extra chocolate you can use to drizzle on top of the cherries for a pretty presentation!

Chill: Refrigerate the cherries for about an hour until the chocolate is set and firm. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for Success

  • Drain & Dry Cherries: Make sure your cherries are well drained and dried. I like to drain them and lay them out on a paper towel to dry out while the sugar mixture is chilling. The sugar paste adheres much easier to dry cherries.
  • Don’t Remove Stems: Using cherries with the stems intact makes dipping them into the chocolate much easier!
  • Thin Out Melted Chocolate if Needed: If your melted chocolate is thicker than you’d like it to be, you can add a bit of shortening to thin it out.
Chocolate covered cherries on a plate with one bitten in half showing the inside.

How to Use Chocolate Covered Cherries

These chocolate covered cherries are a tasty and decadent treat on their own. But if you wan’t to serve up something extra special, here are some ideas:

  • Cake Toppers: These cherries make amazing cake toppers! I love putting them on my Easy Homemade Chocolate Cake.
  • Sundae Toppers: The only thing better than ice cream with a cherry on top is ice cream with a chocolate covered cherry on top!
  • Pie Toppers: These chocolatey cherries make the perfect garnish for cherry or chocolate pie.
  • Serve with Coffee: Pair these chocolate covered cherries with a fresh cup of coffee!

How to Store Chocolate Covered Cherries

Store your chocolate covered cherries in an airtight container at room temperature. Try to keep them in a cool and dry place. Your cherries will last for up to 2 weeks!

After sitting for a few days, the cherries will start to become more gooey. So, if you like chocolate covered cherries with a liquid-y center, this is a great dessert to make in advance!

Chocolate covered cherries on a parchment lined baking sheet with drizzled chocolate.

Can These Be Frozen?

If you freeze your chocolate covered cherries, it’s likely that they’ll expand in the freezer and can ruin the chocolate coating. For this reason, I don’t recommend freezing your cherries. If you want to eat them cold, store them in the fridge instead!

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A chocolate covered cherry bitten in half on a plate showing the cherry, white sugar coating and chocolate shell.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Shelly
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 36 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Microwave
  • Cuisine: French

Description

These indulgent Chocolate Covered Cherries are quick and easy to make with maraschino cherries and melted chocolate! They’re a great everyday treat or perfect for holiday gifting!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
  • 2 (8- ounce) jars maraschino cherries, drained and dried 
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, butter, condensed milk and vanilla extract. Using your hands, knead until it forms a thick paste. Refrigerate for an hour, or until firm and cold.
  2. Make sure the cherries are well drained and pat them dry. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Set aside. 
  3. When the mixture is firm, scoop out about 2 teaspoons and form it around each cherry, placing them on the prepared baking sheet. I find that rolling the mixture into a ball and then flattening it into a disk is the easiest way to cover the cherry. 
  4. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least an hour until firm.
  5. When ready to assemble, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
  6. Remove the cherries from the fridge and dip into the melted chocolate, placing back on the lined baking sheet. 
  7. Refrigerate the cherries for about an hour until the chocolate is set and firm.

Notes

Store airtight in a cool, dry place, or the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I like to drain the cherries and lay them out on a paper towel to dry out while the sugar mixture is chilling. The sugar paste adheres much easier to dry cherries. If your cherries are wet, you will have a mess and it will be difficult to work with.

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15 comments on “Chocolate Covered Cherries”

  1. I am making these for my son and husband. I don’t like maraschino cherries as I find them much too sweet for me. They on the other hand love them. I bought some store made ones but I am also doing these because I want to try my hand at them as see if they like these better. I also do gift boxes for the homeless and I am going to put some in them for Christmas.






  2. These were amazing! I made mine with cherries I soaked in brandy. I have to admit mine were not nearly as pretty. I didn’t let the dough sit in the fridge long enough though. It does need to get firm so you can roll it into nice balls.






  3. I made your recipe as written, but found your measurement of 2 tsp of dough to each cherry too much- I used approximately 1 tsp and the recipe made 30 cherries. 🙂 I am hoping if I leave the cherries to sit for a week or two they get gooey!






  4. Shelly, really! I just promised myself that I will stop this pandemic dessert eating and you send this recipe for chocolate-covered cherries. One look at the recipe and I decided that resolutions are for January 2021. Will make these next week. Oh, yum!

  5. I realize you won’t publish this comment; but…

    This recipe is beneath anything I’ve seen from you before.
    Chocolate Covered Cherries are neither Cookies nor Cups. They’re a candy. If you don’t run a high-quality candy kitchen then don’t try. Stick to what you know and what you can do without specialized equipment.

    Maybe tomorrow will be better!

    Thanks for what you do!

    1. My website is full if recipes that aren’t either cookies or cups… lol. I don’t subscribe to the idea that only professionals in “high quality” kitchens can make good food. This website is for home cooks who are looking for recipes to make in their own kitchens. You can buy your chocolate covered cherries if you prefer, but for everyone else this is a fantastic recipe to make at home!

    2. This definitely isn’t my place to respond but I’m gonna. HB@Savannah, what would possess you to say something like that to her? “High quality candy kitchen” gtfo of here. Honestly, would you say that to her face? Or you just feel safe hiding behind your screen?
      Also, what specialized equipment is necessary for this recipe???

  6. this looks amazing. definitely going to make them next week so they will be good for Christmas. thank you thank you! g






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