Drunken Cherry Chocolates

Since chocolate is great for stress, this is how I spent my “stay-at-home” time.

Ingredients:

1. Cherries: Large, pitted sweet cherries – frozen or fresh (10-12 cherries per tiny liquor bottle works well)

2. Favorite Liquor: Use your favorite. I personally recommend Rum for cherries. Omit liquor for alcohol-free Cherry Chocolates

3. Chocolate for Melting: You have options: Ghirardelli Melting Wafers (as seen in the photo), standard chocolate chips, or small chocolate bars.

Instructions:

1. Soak Frozen Cherries for 24-48 hours in Rum, Whisky, Vodka (or whatever you want really).

2. If not using liquor, be sure to defrost cherries first. Then drain excess juice. Skip to step 4.

3. After soaking the cherries, drain liquor back into the little bottle for a second batch (or into a shot glass – makes an excellent cherry flavored shot while you finish making the candy – lol!)

4. Pat cherries dry and set aside.

5. Melt chocolate in small bowl. Do not add water or they won’t harden properly.

• If melting chocolate in a microwave be careful to start slow. If using a small amount, begin with 20 seconds, then stir. Heat for another 20 seconds, stir again. Repeat with 15 seconds if necessary. Always stir between heating sessions until all are melted. Don’t overdo it or they can scald. OR Follow instructions on the package. Use melted chocolate quickly.
• CAUTION: I have found that if you re-melt “Hershey’s” chocolate bars in a microwave more than twice, the molecular structure of the chocolate changes. Basically, it becomes rubbery and it won’t stick to anything, not even something super dry like a pretzel – it slides right off. So be sure to use the melted chocolate quickly. The Ghirardelli re-melts quite well.

6. Roll cherries around in the chocolate and place them on parchment or wax paper, or put into little paper cups.

7. Let chocolate harden. Store in fridge – that is if they don’t all get eaten – lol!

Variations:

Works great with Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries too!

• Follow the recipe above but substitute the cherries with your favorite berry.
• Roll the small berries around in the chocolate coating them all.
• Drop single or multiple berries in little clusters onto parchment or waxed paper.
• Let chocolate harden.

With regard to liquor choice with Blueberries, I personally prefer Vodka. It has a brighter flavor.

Mostly, just experiment and Have Fun!

Chocolate Cheers!