The Fir Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Steve the Bartender | 2022-02-23 12:14:04 |  59,987 Views |
Homemade Maraschino Cherries
While you've likely come across maraschino cherries throughout your life—from the "cherry on top" of a sundae to the garnish in a Manhattan cocktail—you may not have given them much thought like how they get their artificial red color. The fact is commercial maraschino cherries don't get their color from nature; the light-colored cherries are first bleached and pickled then soaked in a bright red dye. While most of us don't eat maraschino cherries by the handful we often only eat one or two at a time knowing the amount of processing they undergo can make these jarred cherries rather unappealing.
Luckily you can make them at home in just a few steps starting with a brine and then letting the cherries sit in a flavorful syrup. As with any canning project it takes some time (mostly idle rest time) but the effort is more than worth it. A jar of homemade maraschino cherries also makes a great gift.
“Making your own Maraschino Cherries is fun and easy and is a great way to use fresh cherries when they are in season. Making your own also means you avoid the red dye and additives that store-bought cherries contain.” —Joan Velush
