Homemade Luxardo Maraschino Cherries Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Luxardo cherries? ›

True Luxardo cherries are simply candied cherries in cherry syrup. Luxardo maraschino cherries are made with Marasca cherries, they are a variety of sour cherry.

These are candied cherries soaked in Luxardo marasca cherry syrup. The percentage of marasca cherries in jars and tins is about 50% and so is the percentage of syrup. No thickening agents of any type and no preservatives are used and the dark red color is all natural.

Coat cherries in the syrup and then remove from heat. Stir in the Luxardo liqueur and let mixture sit until cooled. At this point you can store the cherries in the fridge up to one month, or you can can them and store in a cool, dry place.

CHERRIES, WATER, CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), RED 40, SULFUR DIOXIDE (PRESERVATIVE).

Do Luxardo cherries have alcohol? No, Luxardo cherries do not have alcohol in them (or the syrup). You will notice that maraschino cherries do share a name with maraschino liqueur. They share a name since both use marasca cherry juice—just in different ways.

Luxardo cherries and Maraschino cherries are both technically Maraschino cherries, but there is quite a difference between the two. The former is considered artisanal and high-end, perfect for a craft co*cktail garnish; while the latter is bright red and ideal for topping an ice cream sundae.

Unlike the overly sweet, bleached red imitations enhanced with almond flavouring, the Luxardo jar contains no thickening agents or preservatives. The cherries are salt brined, pitted, mysteriously candied, and stored in simple yet iconic glass jars drowned in their syrup.

Brandied Cherry – These are cherries that have been soaked in brandy, sugar, and water to create a uniquely flavored co*cktail cherry. You'll often see Amarena or Luxardo cherries referred to as brandied cherries, but technically that would be incorrect as those usually aren't soaked in alcohol.

In their modern form, the cherries are first preserved in a brine solution usually containing sulfur dioxide and calcium chloride to bleach the fruit, then soaked in a suspension of food coloring (common red food dye is FD&C Red 40), sugar syrup, and other components.

The old-fashioned-looking 400 gram (14.1oz) jars have a shelf life of three years. Once opened, keep the jar closed in a cool, dry place. Despite the label advising against it, we store ours in a refrigerator between uses.

How many cherries are in a 12 lb can of Luxardo cherries? ›

The original Luxardo cherry recipe was first produced in their plant in Zara in 1905, and is still in use today. Made with no thickening agents or preservatives, a jar still has a shelf life of 3 years. This can contains approximately 890 cherries.

Originally, sour marasca cherries from the Dalmatian Coast were soaked in maraschino liqueur, an Italian spirit distilled from the pits, stems, leaves, and flesh of the same cherry.

Maraschino cherries are cherries that have been soaked in a brine solution, then drained and soaked in a solution of sugar syrup and Maraschino liqueur. The cherries are then packed in jars or cans and the juice that is left over is called maraschino cherry juice.

Contrary to popular belief, grenadine is not a cherry-flavored syrup. Maraschino cherries have nothing to do with it. This sweet-tart syrup is actually made from pomegranates, and it is surprisingly easy to make at home. Think of grenadine the way you might consider simple syrup and sour mix.

Cherries have a small, hardened pit that surrounds their seed, also called a kernel. The kernels of cherry pits and other stone fruits contain the chemical amygdalin (2). Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside — a chemical that your body converts into the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide (2, 3 ).