Your guests will love the smooth flavor
of this festive drink that tastes like a chocolate-covered maraschino
cherry!
Chocolate-Covered
Cherry Martini
- 4 (16-ounce) jars or 1
(1/2-gallon) jar maraschino cherries
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle
Vanilla Vodka
- 2 cups chocolate liqueur,
such as Godiva Dark or
Crème de cacao
- Additional maraschino
cherries, for garnish
- Drain cherries, reserving
juice. Put 3/4 cup juice in a 1-gallon pitcher or other container.
Save the rest of the juice for another use, such as a topping
for ice cream or a flavoring for milk.
- Add vodka and chocolate
liqueur to the cherry juice; mix well. Add maraschino cherries.
The liquid must cover cherries. If not, add more chocolate liqueur.
Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 12 hours. If not using
within 12 hours, refrigerate mixture. It will keep up to one
week, if cherries are covered with liquid and mixture is in a
sealed container.
- To serve beverage, pour
liquid into a drink shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour
into martini glasses or other drink glasses. Garnish with a fresh
maraschino cherry.
Makes 15 to 20 drinks.
Cook's Tip: After drink
liquid is used, cherries can be drained and covered with melted
chocolate.
Chocolate-Covered Cherries: Melt 2 cups semisweet chocolate
chips in the microwave for approximately 2 minutes. Dip cherries
in melted chocolate; let set on waxed paper for about 30 minutes.
Use as gifts or favors, or use as a garnish for the Chocolate-Covered
Cherry Martini.
Recipe and photograph provided
courtesy of National Cherry Growers
& Industries Foundation, through ECES, Inc., Electronic Color
Editorial Services.
