Homemade Chocolate-Covered Cherries Recipe: A Sweet Treat Made Easy

Chocolate-covered cherries are a delightful treat that combines the sweetness of cherries with a rich chocolate coating. Although making them can be a bit time-intensive, the results are absolutely worth it! Follow this easy step-by-step guide to make your own homemade chocolate-covered cherries.

Ingredients for the Dough

• 2 lbs powdered sugar
• 1 stick butter (room temperature)
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Making the Dough

1. Combine the powdered sugar, butter, and sweetened condensed milk in a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix until smooth and well-combined. This recipe yields about 100 cherries, depending on how much dough you use per cherry.
3. For consistency, weigh the dough. I use 12-13 grams per cherry, which gave me 115 cherries.

Tip: Keep a damp towel over the dough to prevent it from drying out.

Wrapping the Cherries

1. Take a small amount of dough, roll it into a ball, and flatten it in your palm.
2. Place a cherry in the center of the dough, wrap it completely, and roll it into a smooth ball.
3. Place the wrapped cherries on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Refrigerate or freeze overnight to firm up the dough.

Chocolate for Dipping

For the chocolate coating, I use a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate for the perfect balance of sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 bags milk chocolate chips
• 6 squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1/2 bar paraffin wax (optional for a shiny finish)

Melting the Chocolate

1. If you don’t have a double boiler, use a DIY version with two kettles: one filled with water and the other placed on top.
2. Melt the chocolate slowly over low heat, stirring frequently. Be careful to avoid getting water in the chocolate, as it can cause it to seize.

Dipping the Cherries

1. Remove the chilled cherries from the fridge.
2. Drop one cherry at a time into the melted chocolate.
3. Use a fork to lift the cherry, tapping gently to remove excess chocolate.
   • Pro Tip: A fork with missing tines works perfectly to slide the cherry off easily.
4. Place the dipped cherry onto a parchment-lined tray to set.

Storing Your Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Once the chocolate has hardened, store the cherries in an airtight container in a cool place. Ideally, keep them in a room with a stable temperature of 66-68°F.

If you have leftover chocolate, cover it tightly and use it for another batch later in the week.

Final Thoughts

Making chocolate-covered cherries is a rewarding process that’s perfect for gifting or enjoying as a sweet treat. With a little patience and these tips, you’ll have beautiful, delicious cherries that are sure to impress!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later and share it with your friends who love homemade treats!