Name: Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 - 16 oz. jar maraschino cherries with stems; 1 cup bourbon ((or liquor of your choice)); 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1 Tbsp. coconut oil

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Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries are soaked in bourbon overnight, then dunked in semi-sweet chocolate for a boozy holiday treat!

chocolate bourbon cherries on a white plate.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you feel like celebrating, this candy is for you! Not only is it quick and easy to make, it’s an adult-only treat your friends will love. I guarantee if you give these drunken cherries as gifts, you’ll be the hit of the Christmas party!

You’ll love the explosion of bourbon flavor followed by the bitterness of semi-sweet chocolate. If you’re a wine lover, these cherries taste divine with a glass of dry red wine.

candy on a scalloped white dish. — Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries

Ingredients You’ll Need

There are only 4 ingredients in this recipe, and chances are you already have them in your pantry!

maraschino cherries – (ad) purchase the stemmed variety
bourbon – or another liquor of your choice
semi sweet chocolate chips – can use dark chocolate if desired
coconut oil – helps the chocolate harden when cooled

How to Make Them

Drain cherry juice from jar and place in an airtight container. Pour bourbon over cherries and refrigerate overnight.
Drain alcohol from cherries and reserve for a nice bourbon cocktail or cake recipe. Pat cherries with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in 30 second intervals until smooth, stirring each time. It usually takes up to 3 minutes.
Hold the stem of the cherries and dip into the chocolate. You can also use a wooden pick if you can’t find stemmed cherries. Use a spoon to help cover the cherries with chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip into the bowl.
Place chocolate covered cherries onto a parchment lined baking sheet to cool. Refrigerate cherries for one hour to allow chocolate to set.

maraschino cherries in a white colander.

a bottle of bourbon and cherries in a blue bowl.

cherry being dunked into melted chocolate.

melted chocolate with cherry dripping into it.

candy after being dipped on a sheet pan.

Can I Use a Different Type of Alcohol?

Sure! These cherries absorb alcohol really well, that’s why they’re often called tipsy or drunken cherries. You could try vodka, rum, or tequila, but I recommend bourbon because the flavor is hard to beat.

Flavored vodkas are fun to use, especially the white chocolate variety. However you make them, Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cherries are delicious!

Can I Make This Candy Without Alcohol?

Yes, if you have small children at home, I recommend making this candy without alcohol or it will be hard to resist. The alcohol is simply for flavoring and isn’t necessary if you want to make a ‘shirley temple’ version.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

Dry cherries before dipping them or the chocolate won’t stick.
Make sure you heat the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring each time. Longer heating times can cause scorching.
The coconut oil helps the chocolate set, but it also thins it slightly which allows easier coverage.
If the chocolate starts to get cold and thicken, just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to create the proper coating consistency.
Refrigerate candy after dipping in chocolate to help it set. Store cherries in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if you have any left over!
When serving this candy, be sure not to stack it in a bowl. It works best in single layers.

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