🍒 Boozy Cordial-Style Cherries (Yes — Even With Dried Cherries!)

If you love those classic holiday cordial cherries — the ones that burst with sweet cherry syrup inside — you’re going to love this homemade version.

And the best part?
You can make them with dried cherries.

After a good overnight soak, they plump up beautifully, turning juicy, soft, and downright luxurious — especially when tucked inside a homemade fondant and dipped in smooth chocolate almond bark.

The original recipe called for fresh cherries, but I had already bought dried cherries — so I decided to experiment. I’m so glad I did, because once they’re soaked, they become beautifully plump and work perfectly.

I decided to make these because my husband absolutely loves cordial cherries, and I wanted to see if I could recreate that nostalgic treat for him.

I made a batch today using almond-bark trays I had already poured, and they taste wonderful. They’ll need about 7 days to fully cure so the fondant melts into that signature liquid center… but trust me, they’re worth the wait.

---

🍒 What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• Dried cherries
• Alcohol for soaking: rum, brandy, bourbon, or amaretto
• Chocolate almond bark

Fondant Filling

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp softened butter
• 1–2 tbsp alcohol (from soaking) or cherry juice
• Pinch of salt

---

🥃 Step 1 — Soak the Cherries in Alcohol

Place your dried cherries in a bowl or jar and cover completely with your alcohol of choice.

Soaking times:

• 4–6 hours → lightly boozy
• Overnight → BEST, plump, juicy, and rich

After soaking, drain well and pat them completely dry.
They should feel soft and full — almost like fresh cherries again.

---

🍥 Step 2 — Make the Fondant (This Becomes the Liquid Center!)

In a mixing bowl:

1. Combine powdered sugar + softened butter
2. Add 1 tbsp of your soaking liquid
3. Add tiny splashes more until the fondant turns:

• Soft
• Dough-like
• Easy to shape
• NOT sticky — more like Play-Doh

This is the secret to that oozy center.

---

🎁 Step 3 — Wrap Each Cherry

Pinch off a small piece of fondant.
Flatten it in your palm.
Place one soaked cherry inside and gently roll to seal all the way around.

Set them on parchment and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes so they firm up before dipping.

---

🍫 Step 4 — Dip Them in Chocolate Almond Bark

Melt your almond bark in 20–30 second intervals in the microwave.

Dip each fondant-wrapped cherry with a fork, letting excess drip off.

Place on parchment until set, then refrigerate another 10–15 minutes.

---

✨ What If You Already Poured Your Almond Bark Into Trays?

That’s exactly what I did today — and it worked beautifully.

If your almond bark is in silicone trays or candy molds:

1. Scoop out a shallow center (leave a thin chocolate layer).
2. Place your fondant-wrapped cherry inside.
3. Cover with more melted bark.
4. Chill until firm.
5. Pop out perfect molded cordial candies.

They taste delicious right away…
but for true cordial magic, they need time.

---

⏳ Step 5 — Let Them Cure (This Is Where the Magic Happens)

Just like store-bought cordial cherries, homemade ones aren’t liquid inside right away.
The fondant begins to dissolve and transform into syrup over time.

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for:

2–7 days

By day 3, you’ll start seeing that classic oozy center.
By day 7, they’re perfection.

(I’ll be checking mine each day — but already, the flavor is amazing.)

---

🌟 Fancy Touches

• Drizzle with white chocolate
• Add a tiny piece of cherry inside the fondant
• Use amaretto for a marzipan-cherry flavor
• Dust with edible gold
• Package in tins for gifting

These are beautiful for Christmas trays, hostess gifts, and homemade candy boxes.