If you love chocolate and cherries, this is an ideal recipe to prepare for your next gathering. The combination of boozy cherries and smooth fondant makes an elegant confection that’s simpler to make than it looks.
Begin by soaking the cherries in cherry brandy. If you need soaking directions, refer to the earlier post titled “How to Make Spiked Cherry Cordials – Soak in Kirsch” for detailed guidance.
After soaking, the cherries are coated in fondant. Store-bought fondant works, but I prefer making my own to avoid additives and keep the ingredient quality consistent with the high-quality cherries I’m using. Fortunately, homemade fondant is straightforward and yields a silky finish.
Make the Fondant
- Drain the soaked cherries and gently pat them mostly dry with a paper towel so excess liquid is removed.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside for the dipped cherries.
- In a medium saucepan, combine:
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
Stir briefly to combine the ingredients before heating.
- Rub a small amount of butter along the inside top lip of the pan to help prevent the mixture from boiling over, as you would when making jam.
- Place the pan over medium-high heat and cook without stirring until the syrup reaches the soft-ball stage (about 238°F / 114°C). Avoid stirring while the mixture cooks to ensure proper crystal formation.
- Remove the pan from heat and pour the hot syrup into the bowl of a food processor. Allow it to cool until it registers roughly 150°F (65°C). If you want to color or flavor the fondant, add food coloring or extracts at this point.
- Process the mixture in the food processor for 1–3 minutes, or until it turns opaque and thickens into a fondant texture.
- Transfer the finished fondant to a bowl, dip each cherry into the fondant so it is evenly coated, and place the coated cherries on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet to set.
If the fondant begins to firm up while you’re working, gently warm it in the microwave in 40-second bursts until it returns to a smooth, dip-ready consistency. Be careful not to overheat.
See the Other Steps
For completing the cordials, follow the next steps: Dipping in Chocolate and the soaking instructions in “Soaking in Kirsch.”
Full disclosure: This recipe used cherries provided by Northwest Cherry Growers.