home :: chocolate covered cherries

The Sweet Delight of Chocolate Covered Cherries

Of all the food gifts you can find for a chocoholic, nothing is more sinful or decadent than exquisitely delicious, chocolate covered cherries. Whether they are European imports or domestic production, chocolate covered cherries are a perennial favorite, and can be ordered online, with a higher profile around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, as well as other special occasions.

Because the cherry can be a sweet fruit, or because some chocolate covered cherries come in a sweet liqueur juice, the fruit used in these delicacies are of a tangier variety, and are sometimes coated in semi-dark chocolate, which helps to balance the sweetness against sharper flavors

However, chocolate covered cherries don't always come with the juice or liqueur. For the snacker, you can find delightful gift jars of dried cherries, dipped in semi-dark chocolate, pairing tartness and a touch of sweetness.

If you like the traditional type of juicy, chocolate covered cherries, why not have a go at making your own? The most important ingredient is a jar of approximately three dozen, good quality cherries with stems. The cheaper brands tend to lose all their juices when drained, which is your first step. Then blend 2 ½ cups confectioner's sugar, ¼ cup butter, 1 tbs. of milk, and ½ tsp almond extract. Form into 1" balls, then flatten each one into a 2" circle. Place a cherry on each circle, and mold up around it. Place on a sheet lined with waxed paper and chill four hours or overnight. Melt 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 tbs. shortening in a double boiler or the microwave. Dip each cherry, and set it back on the sheet. When hardened, store in a covered container for 1-2 weeks, to allow the production of juice inside the coating.

For more info please visit: "gourmet chocolate".