Chocolate Christmas Cherries Recipes

OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towel to dry
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in powdered sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary.
• Wrap each cherry in about 1 tsp of dough. Chill until firm.
• In a microwave-safe bowl melt chocolate chips with oil for about 20 seconds at a time (stirring each time) until chocolate is just melted and completely smooth.
• Dip each cherry in by its stem and place on wax paper-lined sheets. Place in an air-tight container (like a large tupperware) and store in a cool place for TWO WEEKS (yes, it is a long time-- but patience... I promise they taste best if you wait until the fondant softens)!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS CHERRIES

Steps:

• Mix crumbs, sugar and walnuts; set aside. Add boiling water to coffee granules in small bowl; stir until coffee is dissolved. Add margarine and corn syrup; stir until well blended. Add to crumb mixture; mix well.
• Shape about 1 rounded teaspoonful of the crumb mixture around each cherry, leaving stem of cherry uncoated. Place in shallow pan; cover. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Dip cherries, 1 at a time, in chocolate, holding cherries by the stems and turning until completely coated. Place on wire rack set over sheet of wax paper to collect drippings. Refrigerate 30 min. or until firm. Store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CHERRIES

Steps:

• Pat cherries dry with paper towels; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt; mix well. Knead until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , Roll into 1/2-in. balls; flatten each into a 2-in. circle. Wrap each circle around a cherry and lightly roll in hands. Place cherries with stems up on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover loosely and refrigerate for 1 hour., In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding onto the stem, dip each cherry into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Refrigerate until hardened. Store in a covered container. Refrigerate for 1-2 weeks before serving.

CHRISTMAS CHERRIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice and orange zest and mix until combined. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl, then mix again. Add the sifted flour and mix until combined. Transfer the dough to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• When ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Cut about 18 candied cherries in half.
• Roll the dough into small balls and set on the prepared baking sheets. Gently press 1 cherry half cut-side down into each ball. Bake about 20 minutes, removing the cookies from the oven before they brown. Cool on a wire rack.

HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain the cherries; pat dry on paper towels, and set aside.
• In mixer bowl beat butter, corn syrup, and salt until well combined.
• Stir in powdered sugar and knead until smooth (mixture will be very stiff).
• Shape 1/2 teaspoon of sugar mixture around each cherry (make sure the cherries are dry so the sugar mixture will stick).
• Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer until cherries are firm.
• At this point you can place them in a container or freezer bag and return to the freezer for dipping later when it's convenient.
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening in glass heat-proof bowl, stirring often so the chocolate doesn't burn.
• Dip each cherry in chocolate and place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
• A carving fork works great for dipping the cherries.
• Chill until firm and store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES II

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together confectioner's sugar, margarine, milk and almond extract.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the mixture into a large ball. Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten the balls into 2 inch circles. Leaving the stems sticking out, wrap the cherries in the circles by lightly rolling in hands. Place the wrapped cherries on wax paper and chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Holding by the stem, dip the chilled cherries into the chocolate chip mixture. Chill until serving.

CHOCOLATE & CHERRY CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Steps:

• Drain the cherries in a sieve over a bowl. Cut them in half. Peel the pear, then grate it coarsely.
• In a large bowl, combine the cherries, pear, the raisins, sultanas and brandy. Stir well and cover with clingfilm.
• Heat in the microwave on high for 3 mins, then leave to cool for 5 mins to let the fruit plump up. Break the chocolate into squares while you wait.
• Tip the chocolate and butter into the hot fruit. Stir, then leave to melt. Let it cool, uncovered, for about 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, rub 1 tbsp butter around the inside of a 1-litre pudding basin.
• Lay two sheets of foil over each other and butter the one on top. Holding both sheets together, fold a 3cm pleat across the middle of the foil and set aside.
• Beat the eggs together in a small bowl. Sift the flour, sugar, mixed spice and cocoa powder on top of the chocolatey fruit, then add the breadcrumbs, eggs and ¼ tsp salt.
• Stir everything together with a wooden spoon - it will be quite a wet mixture. Tip it into the buttered basin.
• Cover the pudding with the buttered foil (buttery-side down), and scrunch it over the edge of the basin. Tie string tightly under the lip of the basin, and make a string handle to help you lower the basin in and out of the saucepan later.
• Trim the foil so that a frill of about 5cm is left sticking out, then tuck the frill up and under itself neatly. The aim is to keep the pudding watertight beneath.
• Put a heatproof saucer into the very large saucepan, then put the basin on top. Pour in just-boiled water to come halfway up the basin.
• Cover the pan and steam the pudding for 2½ hrs. Test the pudding is cooked by inserting a skewer through the foil - if there is any wet mixture, steam for 15 mins more then check again.The pan should be simmering rather than boiling hard. Top up the water levels as it cooks, if you need to.
• To store, let the pudding cool and leave in a cool dark place to mature. Don't unwrap the foil. You can make this pudding up to two months before eating.
• To reheat, steam in a pan for 30 mins, or microwave on medium for 5 mins. Remove the foil to microwave, covering with clingfilm instead.
• For the sauce, break the chocolate into squares. Put all the ingredients in a small pan and heat gently, stirring, until smooth. Serve the pudding topped with any remaining cherries, the sauce and a dollop of double cream.