Boozy Bourbon Cherries are a great gift for cocktail lovers, and they’re also nice for having on hand to add to cocktails too. Check out the short video below showing you how to make this recipe, then scroll to the bottom of this post and print out the recipe so you can make these at home.
Bourbon Cherries
I have had this Bourbon Cherries recipe bookmarked in The Family Calendar Cookbook for several months now. I knew it was something I’d want to make in the summer… when cherries are affordable and plentiful and delicious! My husband enjoys making the occasional Manhattan or Old Fashioned, and he was very excited to learn of my plans to make some homemade boozy bourbon cherries!
The recipe is so simple, and it has just three ingredients (bourbon, sugar and cherries). I opted to use an average priced bourbon since these are mostly going to be used as cocktail garnishes. It’s a fun recipe to make. And I’m excited to gift one of my two jars to our next door neighbor. What a fun surprise for a summery gift, right?
What kind of bourbon is recommended to make Bourbon Cherries?
You can use any brand of bourbon you’d like for this recipe. Since it calls for 3 1/2 cups, I wouldn’t recommend using anything all that expensive unless it’s super important to you that the flavor of a particular bourbon comes through. If you’re a fan of bourbon, check out my Maple Bourbon Burger with Bacon Mustard Sauce or my Bacon Bourbon Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
There’s no canning experience needed with this recipe. You simple pour the sugary bourbon syrup into the jar with fresh cherries and keep them refrigerated as you use them. And you can keep them refrigerated and use them a little at a time for up to one year!
Can you use frozen cherries to make Bourbon Cherries?
I have not personally tried using frozen cherries, but some of my readers have made this Bourbon Cherries recipe using frozen cherries. If you are not using frozen “sweet” cherries (and they’re more of the sour variety), then you may wish to add a little more sugar to the recipe.
Can Bourbon Cherries be canned?
If you choose to using a traditional canning method to make these cherries, I think that might be totally fine. If you’re experienced with canning fruits, just go with your gut on this. I’m not trained in how to properly can things, so I can’t offer much advice here.
They make an awfully pretty garnish for cocktails! You can snack on a couple here and there too and I won’t tell anyone 🙂
What cocktails would be good for garnishing with Bourbon Cherries?
Use Bourbon Cherries in a Manhattan or a Cherry Bourbon Smash. You may have some additional ideas for cocktails that might be good with a Bourbon Cherry garnish. Or just nibble them on them on their own!
Boozy bourbon cherries :: Make some and impress your friends with this super simple recipe!
Here are a few more boozy fruit recipes you might enjoy:
- Rum-Soaked Pineapple Pops by Domestic Fits
- Vodka- Infused Melon Balls by Healthy Nibbles and Bits
- Tequila- Soaked Watermelon by RecipeGirl
Boozy Bourbon Cherries
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 3½ cups bourbon
- 2/3 cups granulated white sugar
- 4 cups fresh sweet cherries (washed, pitted & stems removed)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring the bourbon and sugar to a simmer over low heat. Simmer and stir until the sugar dissolves, then turn off the heat and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Pack your cherries into two 25-ounce jars (or three smaller ones). Snuggle them into the jars nice and tight without smashing the cherries. Pour the syrup over the cherries in each jar until it covers the fruit completely. If you have any leftover syrup, you can use it to make a cocktail!
- Place the lids on tight and store the cherries in the refrigerator. They should be used within one year.
Video
Notes
- Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints per serving of 3 cherries: 4
- *As the cherries macerate in the bourbon syrup, they will shrink in size. This is normal and they will still taste delicious!
Can these be put in. water bath or canner
I am not super familiar with canning, so I’m not sure.
Does anyone know if you could use same recipe for canned fruit? Like pears!!
Something went wrong… 2/3 cup of sugar? The cherries tasted like a punch of bourbon to the nose. That was it. Just unadulterated alcohol. Willing to give this another try.
Isn’t all the booze simmered out?
Maybe some of it.
I bet almost all of it if you simmer it fit 15 minutes. The alcohol evaporates at like 150 to 175 degrees I think.
Can you use these in place of maraschino cherries?
Depends what you’re making… but sure!
This is the second year we have made these. Always make lots to gift to people as well as our own cupboard for old fashioned cocktails. Very easy recipe.
They are delicious however thought they would be a little sweeter tasting. Anything I can add to them now, after two weeks refrigeration?
A little sweetener– simple syrup?
How long do they need to refrigerate until ready to consume?
You can use them immediately, if you’d like.
Can you use a sugar substitute?
I have not tried that, so I’m not sure.
Question. Can I make this recipe with Trader Joe Frozen cherries? Cherries are out of season and I wanted to make this for Christmas gifts. Your thoughts please.
I haven’t tried this myself, but I believe others might have. It’s worth a shot!
Sounds like these would be an awesome cheesecake topping.
Would these work as a cherry pie filling?
Interesting question- I have no idea!
Could you use frozen cherries instead of fresh?
You can try!
Wondering how long I can start using the cherries.
Years ago I had some cherry soup and it was delicious. You have a recipe for cherry soup?
No cherry soup recipe, but you can start eating the bourbon cherries right away!
I don’t understand why all the fuss over cooking, the various ingredients, etc. My family has been making these since I was a little girl and all we ever did was wash the cherries, leaving the stems on. Gently dry on a towel then place them in glass jars. Fill jars with cherry brandy and place lid on tight. Store on a shelf for a couple of months to allow the cherries to absorb the brandy then enjoy as a garnish for drinks, using the stem to hold them. They were also placed, as is, in shot glasses with a bit of the brandy as a holiday toast.
Just made these… Slight modification by adding twice the sugar and 3TBS of whole cloves. These are gonna be so good!
Do they firm up in the cold liquid? How vigilant should one be to keep them submerged? How do you know if they’ve gone bad?
Firm? I don’t think the texture changes. You can use them a little at a time for up to a year.
I don’t want to wait a year to open the jar of cherries. Can I just open them after a month ? Or less?
You can eat the cherries right away… use them within a year’s time 🙂
I wondered if you could cover them with a dark chocolate? If so, how could they be stored?
Oh gosh, I have never thought of doing that. I have no idea!
Can you use bing cherries for this recipe?
Probably!
I used bings. They are perfect. I also have Rainier cherries and May make a small jar with Rainiers just to test out.
Can I leave the stems and seeds on the cheeries?
I guess so?
Thank you for the recipe. I live in the Okanagan Valley in Canada and I just picked bing cherries from my tree. I found your recipe and bought a bottle of Jim Beam bourbon today and made the cherries. I had a shot glass of bourbon left over after I filled my jars, so I had a little nip! 🙂
This was a great way to preserve my cherries, and I’m sure I will love them. I can see myself making these for Christmas gifts in the years to come.
Could you use honey instead of sugar?
I have not tried using honey.
Hmmm I wonder if these would be good covered in chocolate?
You could certainly try!
I chopped them up and put them on vanilla ice cream. This is a great recipe. I’m trying taquilla and crown royal. Hopefully just as good.
Hello, I assume these are good for a long time since they are in the bourbon. Is there a standard use by date. Thanks
Eaten within a year’s time is probably best.
I went to the liquor store this evening to buy some burbon cherries for a drink I was trying to replicate from a restaurant. The cherries were $18 dollars for a very small jar – so I say “nope” to buying them. I had some frozen cherries that I had put in the freezer last summer, so I decided to give the recipe a try. I must say, it is extremely simple and my cherries look beautiful! I’m certain they will be every bit as good as the $18 jar!
That’s so great to hear!!!
What kind of bourbon should I use?? My bf loves bourbon, but I don’t drink a ton of it so I don’t want to have a bottle of expensive bourbon just in my house. Any suggestions would be wonderful!!
I’m not a bourbon drinker either… so I just pick up something kind of middle priced. No suggestion on brand!
I love this idea for gifts I will be creating it. I will also try canning since my summer ‘s are spent putting my garden up for the winter. Again thank you
I would like to know how to can them for shelf life where they don’t have to be put in the fridge until opened.
How long would you water bath the pint jar and would it cook the bourbon out of it?? Would love to give these to my son for his birthday in July.
I don’t understand how these would still taste like bourbon after being simmered. Is there a pronounced bourbon flavor? thanks in advance.
The sugar dissolves rather quickly, so the simmering is just for a couple of minutes. They have a good bourbon flavor!
I see some cocktails with these being served at my cocktail party!
This was really fun to make and so delish!
I have some people in my life who would love this as a gift!
THIS is how I love my Old Fashioned!
Oh YUM! I love these cherries!
These were fabulous in an old fashioned! So much better than anything I’ve ever bought!
Are these still alcoholic or does the simmering remove the alcohol?
There will still be alcohol in these. They only simmer to dissolve the sugar, so not very long.
I took all the pits out of my cherries and the look like a rough chop. Can I still make this recipe using chopped cherries instead of whole ones.
That would be fine- they just won’t be as pretty! Same flavor!
Do you let the syrup cool or pour it over warm?
You can pour it over warm.
I have a cherry tree but the cherries are not sweet even when red and ripe. Do you know what kind of cherries to use for this recipe?
Sweet Bing Cherries!
I was wondering if you could use another form of alcohol such as Rum to use in summer drinks? You can email at my address if you’d like. I love this recipe, sorry just not a whiskey fan. Also feel free to send me the recipe as i found this waiting for my plane in the airport and not sure if I’ll find it again. Thank you, hope to hear from you.
I haven’t tried rum with the cherries, so I’m not sure!
How long should they macerate before you can use them?
You can begin using them right away!
I have been making these for years and there is no need to refrigerate. Alcohol is a preservative and as long as the fruit stays submerged it will be fine stored in a cool dry area.
Oh no, no no. This is essentially cherry bounce, an age old recipe in Wisconsin that we make with door county SOUR (hence the sugar) cherries. Don’t cook the booze out. Let it sit for 3 months to meld the flavors…voila, ready to tailgate.
Just made these but won’t taste them until Christmas! I’ll be wrapping them in homemade vanilla fondant and dipping them in chocolate for a remake of my usual Brandied Cherries. I also added cinnamon sticks to the syrup while it simmered and then tucked one in each jar of cherries before adding the syrup. I’m so excited to try these! OH, and I dropped and shattered a bottle of aged whiskey while at the store. Geesh! But it smelled wonderful!
I made these today. 2lbs of fresh cherries, pitted with a cool little tool that was a sinch to use, nothing fancy just a simple one, filled 7 4oz squatty mason jars with cherries. I had 3 mid range bourbons that were on the shelf, so i mixed them together to make a “small batch”. Heated 1/2 cup of the bourbon with the sugar to melt the sugar. Then added the remaining bourbon to the syrup. Topped each jar with bourbon mixture & sealed with the caps & rings. They looked great! Stored them in the refrigerator & have plans for Manhattans & Old Fashions for July 4th (maybe sooner!!!) Yum!
Thank you!!! Great Gifts for special friends
Excellent!
I’m with you Miss Betty! Heat a small amount to just disolve the sugar…yummminess!!!
someone mentioned about the alcohol being cooked off, I wonder if you could just heat like 1/2 cup of bourbon with the sugar, then once dissolved add the rest of the alcohol?
i just came across this recipe on pinterest & i’m sooooo obsessed with this! my hubby LOVES old fashioneds (we’re from wisconsin!) & this will be a perfect last-minute valentine’s day treat!
In what kind of drink would you use the bourbon cherries with?
thnx
My husband uses them for Old Fashioned.
So if we us fresh cherries they you just leave the seed in them or use seedless?
4 cups fresh sweet cherries, washed, pitted, and stems removed
Doesn’t this cook out the alcohol in the bourbon?
Probably not all of it.
Just made a bunch of jars of these! During cherry season there are always so many around I run out of ways to eat them but this is perfect! Thanks for a great idea! I don’t think they will last long 🙂
Hi Lori – What is the wait time before all the boozy syrupy goodness has soaked into the cherries?
You can actually eat them right away!
Hi, Lori. Just made these last night, but cut down the recipe by a third to accommodate a smaller container. They turned out great.
LOVE these boozy cherries!
Now all we need are some cocktail recipes using the boozy cherries and maybe one for the tipsy pineapple too!
Can’t wait to try!
These look soooo good, Lori! Love!
These are so perfect as a garnish for cocktails! I also love that these will stay good for a whole year! It would make a great gift for my family in the UK because they don’t get as many cherries as we do here in California. Thank you so much for linking to my vodka melon balls!
Would it work if I pitted the cherries?
yep, you definitely need to pit the cherries!
3 ingredients, and one is bourbon? That is DEFINITELY what I want to be munching during the mid-week slump. I just bought a bunch of cherries, so I know what I am doing today! Pinned!
I will be going to the store for some bourbon today! Can’t wait to try these.
Oh, these will never make it to a glass as a garnish – I will be eating ALL of them before they make it that far!