Brandy Spiced Cherries with Mexican Vanilla
Fresh cherries are only in season for a short time each year, making them worth celebrating. Pair them with rich brandy, warm baking spices, and real Mexican vanilla beans, and you’ve created something truly special.
Over the next six weeks, the cherries slowly soak up the flavors of the brandy, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and vanilla, becoming rich, juicy, warmly spiced, and unmistakably boozy. At the same time, the brandy transforms into a beautifully infused cherry liqueur that’s every bit as delicious as the cherries themselves.
Whether spooned over vanilla ice cream, served alongside chocolate desserts, or enjoyed straight from the jar, these Brandy Spiced Cherries are a delicious way to preserve the flavors of cherry season long after summer has passed.
Ingredients
● 1 pound fresh sweet cherries, washed, stemmed, and pitted
● 3 cups brandy
● ½ cup cherry juice
● 1 cup dark brown sugar
● 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks
● 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
● 2 whole nutmegs, crushed
● ½ ounce Mexican vanilla beans, split lengthwise (or 1 tablespoon pure homemade vanilla extract)
Instructions
1. In a saucepan, combine the brandy, cherry juice, and brown sugar over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture just begins to simmer. Remove from the heat before it reaches a full boil and allow it to cool.
2. Place the cherries into a clean glass jar.
3. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole allspice berries, crushed nutmeg, and split Mexican vanilla beans.
4. Pour the cooled brandy mixture over the cherries, making sure they are completely covered.
5. Seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for 6 weeks.
6. After 6 weeks, strain out the spices if desired. The cherries are ready to enjoy, and the infused cherry liqueur is ready to use. We leave the vanilla in to keep extracting as you use it.
Ways to Enjoy Brandy Spiced Cherries
These cherries are delicious:
● Spooned over vanilla bean ice cream or gelato
● Dipped in dark or milk chocolate for an indulgent boozy cherry treat
● Served with brownies, chocolate cake, or cheesecake
● Alongside a charcuterie or cheese board
● Garnished in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan
● Over pancakes, waffles, or French toast
● Folded into homemade ice cream
● Straight from the jar as a grown-up treat
Don’t Forget the Cherry Liqueur
Once the cherries are gone, don’t discard the remaining liquid. The brandy has been infused with cherries, warm baking spices, and Mexican vanilla, creating a rich cherry liqueur that’s too good to waste.
Use it to:
● Stir into your favorite cocktails
● Drizzle over vanilla ice cream
● Brush onto cakes for extra flavor
● Add to whipped cream
● Spoon over fresh fruit
● Enjoy as an after-dinner sip
Every drop captures the flavors of the cherries, spices, and vanilla.
A Few Tips
● Mexican vanilla beans complement the warm spices beautifully, but Madagascar vanilla beans are also an excellent choice if that’s what you have on hand.
● If using homemade vanilla extract instead of whole beans, stir it into the cooled brandy mixture before pouring it over the cherries.
● These cherries make wonderful homemade gifts for the holidays or any special occasion and become even more flavorful as they rest.
From the first cherry to the last drop of liqueur, this recipe is a delicious way to savor cherry season long after the harvest has ended.
Keep making life a little sweeter one recipe at a time!
