Infused with vanilla beans and orange liqueur, once you make these bourbon-soaked cherries, you will never buy store-bought again! Not only do these cherries make a great addition to your holiday bar cart, but they also make a wonderful gift! Package them up in a pretty little glass jar and tie with a ribbon- and you will be sure to impress any foodie or cocktail connoisseur with these delicious treats!
Ingredients:
· 1 pound Frozen Sweet Cherries, Thawed (pitted and stems removed)
· ½ Cup Water
· ½ Cup Honey (or Maple Syrup)
· 1 Cup Bourbon
· 1 Vanilla Bean (Scraped and Seeded)
· 1 Cinnamon Stick
· 1 Orange Peel
· 1.5 Ounces Orange Liqueur (Such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
· Freshly Grated Nutmeg (Optional)
Directions:
1. Let the frozen cherries defrost and come to room temperature. Place on paper towels and dry off any liquid.
2. Divide the cherries into 2-3 mason jars and equally disperse. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the honey, water and vanilla (beans + seeds). Stir in the cinnamon stick, orange peel and nutmeg. Bring mixture to a simmer and let simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and slowly add in the bourbon.
5. Using a ladle, pour the bourbon mixture evenly over the cherries and let sit at room temperature before securing the mason jar lids.
Chef’s Notes:
· You can use these cherries for a variety of different things. Add them as garnish on a scoop of ice cream or serve them on top of a warm slice of apple cobbler (don’t forget to add the cherry juice!)
· If you prefer using fresh cherries, you can do so!
· Store cherries in a mason jar and refrigerate for up to two months.
· If you don’t have vanilla beans, you can substitute with two teaspoons of vanilla extract instead.
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