A recent trip to the New Jersey shore gave me a good excuse to get a little creative in the kitchen. Our friends invited us to their beach house, along with another family, and I started thinking about host gifts. I usually have plenty of ideas for the hostess, but gifts for the host can be a little trickier.

This time inspiration struck. We knew Jim M was an Old Fashioned fan. That was my cue: why not try making DIY Luxardo-style cherries?

If you’ve only ever known the neon-red maraschino cherries found in Shirley Temples, Luxardo cherries are a revelation—plump, dark, and syrupy, with just enough complexity to make a cocktail sing. And while the official jarred version doesn’t contain alcohol, I decided my homemade version should include Luxardo Maraschino liqueur (which happily was already in my bar).

Sour Marasca cherries (hence the name ‘maraschino’) from Croatia are used to make Luxardo cherries but I opted for sweet ones. Since fresh cherries weren’t in season in my area, I used frozen cherries from Wegmans—already pitted, stemmed and ready to go straight from the freezer. 

Into the pot went cherries, sugar, lemon juice, a touch of vanilla and almond extracts, and Luxardo liqueur. The secret ingredient? A bit of strong brewed English Breakfast tea (or any strong black tea), which gave the syrup its inky hue and a subtle depth of flavor.

The result was a batch of plump, boozy cherries in a glossy syrup that worked beautifully in cocktails. Jim approved, which made me happy, and I like to think they added a touch of fun to his well-stocked bar.

These cherries are simple to prepare, keep for weeks in the fridge, and make a clever host or hostess gift. You’ll likely have extra syrup—perfect for drizzling or stirring into drinks or over ice cream (remember that it does contain alcohol). 

I did check with another Old Fashioned-loving friend, Elisabeth R, who confirmed that cherries are still in season in Washington state where she lives. Perhaps you have some good fresh cherries to use?

Homemade Luxardo Cherries

 

Homemade Luxardo Cherries

DIY Luxardo cherries, elevated
5 from 1 vote
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Course Drink
Servings 70 cherries (approximately)

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup very strong brewed black tea such as English Breakfast or Earl Grey (see Notes)
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 pound fresh or frozen sweet cherries stems removed and pitted
  • 3/4 cup Luxardo Maraschino liqueur

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan with a lid (3 to 4 quarts), combine the water, black tea, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extract. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • Add cherries (no need to thaw if using frozen cherries). Simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes (for fresh cherries) or 5 to 6 minutes (for frozen cherries) to allow some of the excess moisture to evaporate.
  • Reduce to a low simmer on low heat, cover, and cook for 6 minutes (whether fresh or frozen), stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the lid and cook for another 3 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the Luxardo Maraschino liqueur.
  • Transfer cherries and syrup to a clean jar (1 quart). Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
  • Allow at least overnight for the flavors to meld. Their flavor and color will deepen over the next 2 to 3 days.
  • The cherries will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • I recommend brewing two tea bags in 1/2 cup boiling water for 5 minutes. Use 1/4 cup of the tea.
  • One batch fits in a 1 quart jar (32 ounces). You can divide one batch between a few jars as well.
Homemade Luxardo Cherries