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Did you get more cherries than usual this year? It would be a shame to just let them fall or freeze most of them when you can make an excellent cherry liqueur from them. Once you try it, you’ll eagerly look forward to the first cherries each year and anticipate its delicious flavor. Choose only well-ripened, undamaged fruit. You will need:
- 3 kg fresh cherries
- 1 kg granulated sugar
- 1.5 l vodka
How to make the liqueur?
Wash the cherries, pit them and sprinkle them with sugar. Leave them in a sunny spot for about two days covered with gauze so air can circulate. Stir the cherries several times a day so they release their juice and the sugar can dissolve. When this happens, pour vodka or another strong spirit, for example rum, over the cherries. Seal the entire mixture in an airtight container and let it rest in a cool place for one to two months.
When the liqueur has rested well, it’s time to filter it into bottles. The filtered cherries can be used again for another batch of liqueur, but bear in mind that they will not have as pronounced a cherry flavor as the first batch. You can also experiment by adding vanilla sugar or cinnamon, or any other spice you like.
Try blackberries or peaches too
You can make this liqueur with fruit other than cherries. It’s excellent, for example, with blackberries. That is best prepared by layering granulated sugar and fruit until the jar is full. Then pour everything over with the prepared alcohol, let it rest the same way as the cherry liqueur, and then filter it into bottles or another clean container.
Of course, there are no limits to your imagination—you can add peaches or raspberries, or combine fruits to taste. It’s important that the fruit is not overripe or rotten. Pit stone fruits and cut larger pieces into smaller ones. Such a homemade liqueur also makes a great gift for your loved ones when you want to cheer them with a tasty and healthy little treat.
