Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

by Alli

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries was sponsored by delicious Dell’s Maraschino Cherries. All opinions are my own. 

When I was growing up, my dad received a box of chocolate-covered cherries every year during the Christmas season. He’s crazy about them but I don’t much like those store-bought things. I think they’re way too sweet. 

Nevertheless, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without chocolate-covered cherries. They evoke such great childhood memories. Good thing I learned to make them homemade. Homemade is so much better!

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ingredients for Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries (Full Recipe Card At The End Of This Post)

  • powdered sugar
  • softened butter
  • pure vanilla extract
  • milk
  • Maraschino Cherries Without stems, well-drained
  • 1/2 package Candiquik (chocolate candy coating) OR Chocolate Chips 

Now that I’m all grown up (debatable), homemade is the only way to go. I usually have all the ingredients on hand, including Dell’s Maraschino Cherries.

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Interesting Info About Dell’s Maraschino Cherries

For over 67 years, Dell’s Maraschino Cherries has earned its reputation for delivering the crunchiest, tastiest and sweetest maraschino cherries sourced from the finest farms around the world.

Dell’s was founded by Arthur Mondella, Sr., and his son Ralph in 1948 in a small storefront in Brooklyn, New York. It grew and expanded under the leadership of Ralph’s son, Arthur.

Today, it’s still family-owned and operated and is one of the largest processors of maraschino cherries in the country.

Dell’s Maraschino Cherries is now a woman-owned business under the leadership of Arthur’s daughters, Dominique Mondella, and Dana Mondella Bentz.

Dell's Cherries - Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

I’m proud to support family-owned businesses and especially businesses led by women.

Let’s make Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Yield: About 2 Dozen

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries are so good and easy to make.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tablespoon milk
  • 1 jar (10 oz) Dell's Maraschino Cherries, well drained
  • 1/2 package Candiquik (chocolate candy coating)

Instructions

  1. Mix sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk in a small bowl. Knead until smooth.
  2. Shape into 1" balls and flatten each into a 2" circle.
  3. Wrap each cherry with a circle and lightly roll to cover.
  4. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Melt Candiquik according to package directions.
  6. With a fork, dip cherries into Candiquik chocolate candy coating.
  7. Let set on waxed paper.
  8. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

If you don't have Candiquik, you can use the same amount of chocolate chips. Microwave chocolate chips at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted.

Nutrition Information

Yield

30

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 43Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 4mgSodium 13mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 7gProtein 0g

Did you make this recipe?

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Helpful Hint: If the powdered sugar mixture is sticky, sprinkle some powdered sugar on your hands while you knead the mixture.

These pretty candies will keep in the fridge for several weeks. They actually get better the longer they sit. Trust me, they taste much better than the store-bought kind. Sorry, dad. 🙂

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

If you like this recipe, you’ll love Caramel, Pecan & Chocolate Turtles

Caramel Pecan Turtles in a square glass container with a red and white striped towel in background

 

23 comments

Cai Cansino December 7, 2016 - 6:14 am

These look so tempting! Hard not to resist.

Reply
Dawn Gibson-Thigpen December 7, 2016 - 7:19 am

yummmm. i would totally love these.

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candy December 7, 2016 - 7:48 am

This is something I have not tried yet and I do mean yet. Love making everything from scratch. Can’t wait to try these.

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Shirley Wood December 7, 2016 - 8:44 am

I could eat cherries straight out of the jar but I share your opinion of the chocolate covered ones.My hubby on the other hand loves them very much so I’ll be sharing your recipe with him. I gave my mother a box of chocolate covered cherries every year for Christmas for so many years. Now we still give them to my mother-in-law.

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Franc Ramon December 7, 2016 - 11:32 am

This looks like a really tasty treat. It looks like one of those expensive chocolates and I’m sure it taste just as good.

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Vera Sweeney December 7, 2016 - 11:37 am

These look so good! I never would have thought to make these at home like this, they would be a favorite of my family.

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Jenn @ EngineerMommy December 7, 2016 - 2:31 pm

I love chocolate covered cherries. I had no idea how easy it was to make them from scratch! What a great idea. Looks delicious.

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Doria December 7, 2016 - 2:47 pm

Oh my goodness, I love chocolate covered cherries and I’ve never even considered making them myself before, but now I have to try!!!

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Sarah Bailey December 7, 2016 - 3:08 pm

Oh now I don’t think I have ever tried anything like this before, but yum they sound amazing – I definitely need to try it in the future!

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Dawn McAlexander December 7, 2016 - 8:23 pm

Mmmm…those look great. They look even better than what you get store bought. I would love to try some of these.

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Stephanie of The TipToe Fairy December 8, 2016 - 2:39 am

I have never made anything like this before, but you make it look so easy! I’d love to try!

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Rebecca Swenor December 8, 2016 - 8:12 am

Homemade chocolate covered cherries is something I would love to make. These you can give out for gifts too. I am for sure making these. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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Angela Harris December 8, 2016 - 10:08 am

Chocolate covered cherries is one of my most favorite candies of all. I never thought they could be homemade. Yum!!

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Bonnie @wemake7 December 8, 2016 - 7:27 pm

Those look sooo darn good! I love chocolate covered cherries. Would love to make these.

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Dee December 8, 2016 - 8:00 pm

This has always been my holiday delight! I love chocolate covered cherries! I am so glad that someone has come up with a recipe for it. I am going to have to try it out.

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Kita Bryant December 8, 2016 - 9:08 pm

My grandma loves these! I’ve never attempted them homemade before!

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Ali December 9, 2016 - 5:41 am

My Grandma always made chocolate covered cherries for the Holidays. These bring back such wonderful memories. I will have to give this recipe a try!

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LaShawn December 10, 2016 - 7:27 am

These look delicious! I’ve never attempted to make these before, will have to give them a try!

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Jasmine Eclipse December 10, 2016 - 5:34 pm

What a yummy holiday treat! I’m going to lots of holiday potlucks this year, this gives me inspiration for my next dish to bring!

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Christina Aliperti December 11, 2016 - 8:51 pm

Chocolate covered cherries have always been a special treat for me. As a child I always loved when I would see my mom buy a box of them from the store it’s great to know that now I can make them homemade.

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zan December 11, 2016 - 10:24 pm

Well that looks so easy and so very tasty – I think I will enjoy this much better than the other kind too. I do not like the gooey things around store bought kind.

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Patchm00 December 7, 2021 - 2:47 pm

Hello, i don’t see in the recipe what kind of chocolate you used. Also, I see milk as an ingredient but do not see where you used that as well. thank you, would love to try these

Reply
Alli December 7, 2021 - 3:03 pm

The chocolate is listed as “Candiquik” and the milk is added with powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. Thanks for catching that. I added it to the recipe card. Candiquik is a chocolate candy coating found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores and Walmart. You can also melt chocolate chips (morsels) instead of the chocolate candy coating.

Reply

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