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January 3rd is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day #ChocolateCoveredCherryDay. This is a #Holiday I wish my parents were here to take part in because they loved Chocolate Covered Cherries. For Christmas every year I would purchase them a box of Chocolate Covered Cherries.
Now they are gone but David also loves Chocolate Covered Cherries and he always purchase a box of Chocolate Covered Cherries at Christmas in memory of my mom and dad. This year David found Chocolate Covered Cherries with Coconut which has become David’s favorite.
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day is celebrated on January 3rd allowing us to celebrate that combo that just naturally seems to go together, Cherries and Chocolate. Just as the holiday festivities are behind us and a New Year begins, we look forward to the confection that puts a smile on people’s faces and brightens our outlook for whatever waits for us in the New Year ahead
Chocolate Covered Cherries, also known as Cherry Cordials, have been enjoyed by Americans and indeed the world for generations. Early settlers from Europe were so fond of Cherries they made sure that some were stashed among the cargo when they sailed the Atlantic Ocean to reach America in the 1600s.
Although there are a variety of Cherries now considered to be native to North America, the common belief is that Cherries originated in Turkey. Cherries are known to be one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world and it seems as though our love of Cherries is deeply ingrained in human culture.
Did you know the English began soaking sweet Cherries in Kirsch, which is a Cherry Brandy, and covering them with Chocolate in the 1700s. These Cordials, as they were known, were savored for their intoxicating effects, and reserved for holidays.
The French created a similar confection called Griottes around the same time using a Sour Cherry called a Griotte, which they also soaked in Kirsch and smothered in Chocolate. Both English Cordials and French Griottes made their way to America in the 1700s and immediately became in demand to no one’s surprise.
Americans began making Cordials using a strong, Sugary Syrup liqueur by crushing whole Cherries, cooking them in Sugar and Brandy, then covering with Chocolate. These became known as Cherry Cordials, but other Fruits were also made into Cordials using the same Brandy and Sugar method.
Cherry Cordials were the most popular and usually reserved for holidays and special festivities. Eventually, the Alcohol was removed from the recipe during prohibition, and Cherry Cordials were instead made with Cherry flavored Sugar Syrup. By 1929 the first Chocolate covered–Cherries made with Sugar Syrup and no Alcohol began to be mass–produced in America to meet the increased demand.
Today we celebrate–Chocolate covered Cherries of all persuasions including Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, even White Chocolate varieties. People love to savor a Cherry Cordial after dinner made with sweet liqueurs and the nip of Kirsch Brandy but are always eager to indulge in a sweet Sugar Syrup centered Chocolate–Covered Cherry as a late afternoon delight. Whichever you prefer, make sure you treat yourself on National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day Activities
- If you have the means and the opportunity today you should invite your friends and family over to sample a “flight” of Cherry Cordials, paired with different Wines or Spirits. Include a variety of Cordials including Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, and White Chocolate. Some of the Cordials with liqueur, some without. To get everyone in a jovial Chocolate-covered mood we suggest watching the classic television sitcom “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel get jobs wrapping Chocolates in a candy factory. I just wish David were home to watch this show with me. Or Suzzane because she was a huge #ILoveLucy fan. How about you?
- Purchase a up box or two of Cordials or Chocolate Covered Cherries from a local confectioner for the office or family. Few people can resist the temptation of a Cherry smothered in Chocolate, nor will they forget who shared the treat with them.
- Urban legend has it that America’s first president, George Washington, chopped down a family Cherry Tree as a child, much to his father’s dismay. When confronted, little George admitted to the terrible deed with “I cannot tell a lie.” We have no idea whether this story is fact or fiction or what would provoke George to do such a thing. But now that we know how cherished Cherries were in Colonial America, we finally understand why this odd story made its way into elementary history books. We think the story is a good enough reason to plant a Cherry Tree on National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, in memory of the Tree little George chopped down.
Facts About Cherries
If you like Sour Candy then you would want to use Sour Cherries which have higher levels of antioxidants and vitamins than Sweet Cherries.
Cherries derive their name from the Turkish town of Cerasus.
Washington State grows more Sweet Cherries than any other region in America.
Did you know Cherries are related to Plums and more distantly to Peaches and Nectarines?
Darker cherries have higher antioxidant and vitamin levels than lighter ones.
Ingredients
Original recipe (yields 60 servings)
- 60 maraschino cherries with stems
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 1 pound chocolate confectioners’ coating
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
- Stir together butter and corn syrup in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Mix in confectioners’ sugar and knead to form a dough.
- Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon dough. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.
- Melt confectioners’ coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat.
- Holding onto the stem, dip each cherry into coating and place on waxed paper-lined sheet trays. Chill in the refrigerator until coating is set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
