I have a fondness for all things chocolate and all things cherry, so it's not surprising I have a fondness for this chocolate covered cherry cocktail.
The Three Olives Cherry Vodka is really important in this recipe, it's the best cherry vodka I've found. I use Hiram Walker's Creme de Cacao but there are other brands available. Don't skip the Woodford Reserve Chocolate Bitters, they add extra depth of flavor and balance the sweetness.
The
CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY
COCKTAIL
(Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe Below)
INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 Oz. Three Olives Cherry Vodka
1 Oz. Creme de Cacao
1 Oz. Half & Half
2 Dashes Woodford Reserve Chocolate Bitters
1 Cup of Ice
Garnish: Fresh Chocolate Covered Cherry (Recipe below.)
Tools: Cocktail shaker
Glass: Cocktail (Martini or Coupe)
DIRECTIONS
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish and serve.
HOW TO MAKE THE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES:
Melt your semi-sweet chocolate chips in a double boiler or you can use a regular sauce pan with about 1-1/2 inches of water and place a stainless steel bowl over that as a make-shift double boiler.
Wash and dry your fresh cherries, leave the stems on.
When the chocolate is completely melted and nice and creamy, grab your cherries by the stems and dip up to where the stem starts.
Gently move the cherry to a flat surface covered in wax paper or parchment paper.
Cool the cherries in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Want to really amp up the garnish? Soak your fresh cherries in some cherry brandy, cherry vodka or bourbon overnight before dipping them in the chocolate.
Be sure to warn your guests there is a pit in that cherry. Or you can take the extra time to remove the pit from the bottom of the cherry. That part will be completely covered in chocolate anyway.
I also created a classic non-creamy center version:
