One recipe.
Two methods.
Both create an incredible Cherry Chocolate Vanilla Extract, but the best choice depends on the type of cherries you're using.
The biggest difference isn't the cherries.
It's the water.
Our Cherry Chocolate Vanilla Extract begins the way all of our extracts do—with vanilla.
From there, rich cacao beans and sweet cherries create a beautifully balanced extract that's delicious in brownies, chocolate cake, buttercream frosting, cookies, ice cream, coffee drinks, whipped cream, and so much more.
Whether you choose fresh cherries or freeze-dried cherries, you'll create a delicious Cherry Chocolate Vanilla Extract. Fresh cherries capture the bright, juicy flavor of the season, while freeze-dried cherries give you the unique ability to build an even deeper, more concentrated cherry flavor over time. The only difference is the path you take to get there.
Why Fresh Cherries Need Overproof Alcohol
Fresh cherries are one of our favorite ways to preserve the season.
Whether they came from your own cherry tree, a neighbor's generous harvest, a local orchard, or the farmers market, there's something special about capturing those few short weeks when cherries are at their peak.
But fresh cherries come with one important consideration—they're full of water.
As they steep, they slowly release their juices into the extract. That extra moisture lowers the overall alcohol percentage inside the jar.
To account for that dilution, we recommend starting with an overproof alcohol, such as Everclear®. Beginning with a higher-proof spirit helps ensure the finished extract remains in the proper alcohol range after the fruit has released its juices.
The reward is an extract that captures the bright, vibrant flavor of fresh summer cherries.
Why Freeze-Dried Cherries Can Use Vodka
Freeze-dried cherries are a completely different ingredient.
During the freeze-drying process, nearly all of the water has already been removed while much of the fruit's flavor and aroma remain.
Because you're not introducing significant moisture into the jar, regular vodka works beautifully.
It's a wonderful option when cherry season has passed or fresh cherries simply aren't available.
One Big Advantage of Freeze-Dried Cherries
Freeze-dried cherries have another unique advantage.
Once they've given up most of their flavor, you can remove them and replace them with a fresh batch of freeze-dried cherries.
Because you're not introducing additional water into the extract, your vanilla beans continue extracting while each new batch contributes another layer of rich cherry flavor.
Over time, those additional change-outs allow you to build an even more concentrated cherry flavor that's difficult to achieve with fresh cherries.
Fresh cherries don't offer this same flexibility. Each new batch releases more juice into the jar, gradually reducing the alcohol concentration, which is why we don't recommend repeatedly replacing fresh fruit.
Fresh Cherries
Best for:
- Preserving the season while cherries are at their peak.
- Those with access to their own trees, generous neighbors, local orchards, or farmers markets.
- Capturing the bright, juicy flavor of fresh cherries.
- An affordable way to make a seasonal extract.
Considerations
- Requires an overproof alcohol to account for the extra water released during extraction.
- Because fresh cherries release additional water into the extract, you're limited in how much fresh fruit you can add. Repeatedly replacing the cherries with fresh batches continues to dilute the alcohol, so we don't recommend multiple change-outs.
- Fresh cherries are only available for a short time each year.
Freeze-Dried Cherries
Best for:
- Making extracts year-round.
- Using regular vodka.
- Building a more concentrated cherry flavor through multiple change-outs.
- Enjoying the taste of cherry season long after the harvest has ended.
Considerations
- Generally more expensive than fresh cherries.
- May need to be ordered online depending on where you live.
- Each additional change-out means purchasing another batch of freeze-dried cherries, so creating a highly concentrated cherry flavor can become more costly over time.
Our Philosophy
At VanillaPura, we don't believe one method is better than the other.
We believe in using what's available to you.
If your cherry tree is overflowing, preserve the season.
If your neighbor leaves a bucket of cherries on your porch, preserve the season.
If the farmers market is bursting with beautiful fruit, preserve the season.
And if it's January and all you have is a bag of freeze-dried cherries in the pantry, preserve the season anyway.
Because homemade extracts aren't just about ingredients.
They're about capturing the flavors we love and enjoying them long after the season has passed.
Keep Making Life a Little Sweeter.
