Drunken Cherries in Vodka – an Easy Way to Preserve
Cherries are delicious eaten fresh when in season, and equally fantastic to jar and conserve in vodka for the winter. Your special occasions or desserts will taste better with your own homemade cherry concoction! Just be aware… this does not count as one of your 5 a day!
When they are in season, we always regret not being able to eat more of them. Let’s be clear, we are not alcoholics, but preserving fruit in alcohol is easy and the perfect solution to enable you to have some later in the year.
The best thing about making these yourself is, as always, the control over ingredients. You know exactly what you are adding to the fruit! If the fruit is sweet enough by itself, you don’t even need to add additional sugar.
Pitted or unpitted cherries
It is common to pit the cherries beforehand as pits are not typically desirable in the final product. Pitting cherries involves removing the pits from the fruit before soaking them in vodka, allowing them to absorb the flavours of the alcohol and creating a delicious treat. Pitting the cherries can be done using a cherry pitter, a tool specifically designed for this task, or by carefully cutting the cherries open and removing the pits manually.
What is the best alcohol?
In this recipe we use vodka but you can use rum or kirsch, and even brandy. Whatever alcohol you choose, you will need patience while they get a good long soak in a cool dark place. Over the course of a few months, the cherries will absorb the alcohol and the alcohol will turn ruby red.
How to use drunken cherries in vodka?
- Use as a garnish for cocktails
- A topping for your favourite ice cream
- Spoon some over cakes or use in a trifle
- Make adult pies with a boozy touch
- Serve it alongside dried fruits on a cheese board
Drunken Cherries in Vodka
EQUIPMENT (click pictures for details)
Ingredients
- 450 gr fresh cherries
- 75 gr caster sugar
- 300 ml vodka
Instructions
- Wash the fresh cherries and pit the cherries before placing them with sugar in a glass jar.
- Cover the cherries with the vodka up to the top and close it tight.Place the jar in the refrigerator for a minimum of 10 days and turn it upside down everyday for the first 3-4 days to help dissolve the sugar.
Notes
- The minimum required storage is 10 days, but you can keep a jar for up to 1 year in a dark cool place.
- Shake it daily until the sugar is completely dissolved and once a month thereafter.