Although many people do not think about it, there is a big difference between gourmet chocolate covered cherries and
gourmet chocolate dipped cherries. Gourmet chocolate dipped cherries are simple to make and require little
more effort than dipping cherries into melted gourmet chocolate. While, gourmet chocolate covered cherries are more
like candies and are considerably more complicated to make. Put simply, gourmet chocolate covered cherries are best
when made by a professional.
Gourmet chocolate dipped cherries are relatively simple to make. The first step in making gourmet chocolate dipped cherries
is to pick out a gourmet chocolate. Cherries go well with almost any type of gourmet chocolate whether it be milk chocolate,
dark chocolate, white chocolate, sweet chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate or bitter sweet chocolate. You may even want to choose
a couple of different types of gourmet chocolates to use. One popular way of making gourmet chocolate dipped cherries is to
double dip them, using a gourmet milk chocolate as the base and then dipping them again in a white chocolate. If possible,
use gourmet chocolate chips as they are easier to melt. Six ounces of gourmet chocolate should make about 30 to 40 gourmet
chocolate dipped cherries.
Next we need some cherries. Maraschino cherries are best. Before you begin melting the chocolate, drain the cherries and
discard the juice. Do not remove the stems. Then, place the cherries on paper towels and let then them stand until they
have dried completely.
Since this article is about easy homemade gourmet chocolate dipped cherries, we will use the easiest way to melt gourmet
chocolate; the microwave. If you purchase a gourmet chocolate chips then simply place them in a microwave safe bowl.
Otherwise, you will need to chop the gourmet chocolate up into small bits. Next, place the bowl in the microwave and heat
them on medium (50%) for 1 minute. Stir the gourmet chocolate well and continue to microwave it in 30 second intervals
until it is completely melted.
Now for the fun part of making gourmet chocolate dipped cherries, take each cherry by the stem and dip them into the melted
gourmet chocolate. Coat them thoroughly but be careful to not swirl them too much while they are in the chocolate as this
can cause the stems to break off. Once coated, remove the cherries and give them a gently clockwise twist to remove any
excess gourmet chocolate.
At this point, you can do all sorts of fun things to make your homemade gourmet chocolate dipped cherries just a little
bit special. You can roll them in crushed almonds or candies. You could also dip the homemade gourmet chocolate dipped
cherries into a different type of chocolate. Although, you will need to wait until the gourmet chocolate dipped cherries
have dried from the first dipping before doing so.
To dry the cherries, simply place them on a baking sheet that has been lined with wax paper. Once the gourmet chocolate
dipped cherries have hardened you may serve them. Or, you can place them in the refrigerator to preserve them for later use.
If refrigerated properly, gourmet chocolate dipped cherries will last a couple of days.
Please note, you could also use a double boiler or a chocolate melter to melt the gourmet chocolate but otherwise the
process is exactly the same. This recipe makes great homemade gourmet chocolate dipped cherries but if you are feeling
adventurous then you should check out article on
Gourmet Chocolate Covered Cherries. Enjoy!
