Chocolate Covered Cherry Bites
This Valentine’s Day I wanted to make Chocolate Covered Cherry Bites for my sweetheart, so I whipped up a few of the homemade treats.
I was inspired to make Chocolate Covered Cherry Bites featuring some rather tasty moonshine soaked maraschino cherries that we picked up on our last adventure to Gatlinburg, TN. These have become a staple in our home to garnish numerous cocktail recipes since they pack such an amazing punch, but today I was inspired to place them in the center of my semi-homemade cherry cordials for an unexpected adult treat.I say semi-homemade, because this is not a from scratch style of recipe. It is really more of a quick cooking hack to impress your friends or guests on the fly. Really anyone can make this and it requires minimal cooking skills at all. Honestly, I have always been a fan of Sandra Lee, and her semi-homemade meal hacks, which is where I am inspired to create these types of recipes. I just love the idea that you don’t have to be a a five star chef to make great things for your family.
Keep in mind for this recipe you can always substitute a regular maraschino cherry for a virgin version of this recipe, so you can share with the kiddos, if you want too. I actually made a selection of half and half, and marked the kid friendly ones with sprinkles; which clearly would be more enticing to a younger audience, since the alcohol is only in the cherry it makes this recipes easy to split.
The recipe is also really good with the Trader Joe’s Amarena Cherries which are a darker richer cherry. I just found these recently and really love them for cocktails, like an Old Fashion, and they are really good in this recipe too.
These little treats are perfect for your Galentine’s gathering or even just a little happy goodie bag for your neighbors or friends. They are so rich and decadent it only takes a couple in a cute little bag. They can also be used as a party favor which is adorable. Keep in mind that they last up to a week without refrigeration and stay nice and fresh.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Bites
Ingredients
- 1 box Brownie Mix prepared according to instructions (you can also use store bought if you are short on time)
- 1 can Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- 1 jar maraschino cherries or Old Smokey Moonshine Cherries
- 2 bags Hollow chocolate balls approx. 2 dozen
- 1 jar sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Bake brownies according to box instructions- most box mixes call for eggs, oil, and water so make sure you have all these items on hand. You can also use a store bought pre made brownie if you are not a cook or baker, just get a 12 count.
- Allow brownies to cool a least 1 hour after baking before continuing with the recipe.
- In the meantime, you can prep your hollow chocolate balls, by cutting off the bottom selection, or poking a hole into them. Tip- I learned if trying to cut you may want to warm your knife first.
- Once cooled break up brownies into crumbs and stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate fudge frosting to make a thick batter like consistency.
- Next take a spoon and stuff half the chocolate ball with brownie batter then add your cherry to the center.
- Spoon more brownie batter to fill the ball completely.
- Place upside down into a cupcake or decorative candy holder, so that the hole is on the bottom. This will also hold the bon bon in place too.
- To add optional sprinkles, I used a kitchen torch to heat up the chocolate briefly, then add the sprinkles.
- Finally I places all the bon bon's into the refrigerator until ready to serve.
TIME SAVING,EVEN EASIER HACK- if you really are truly not a baker of any kind, you can purchase brownies from the local bakery and use a bit of the cherry juice to reconstitute them in a bowl to make them soft again. Mold them into a ball, stuff with a cherry and put into a pre made chocolate orb. This a hack on my hack which is even easier! To add the sprinkle melt to tops with a torch and add sprinkles, TADA!
oh yum! Those look great, nice idea!
Oh my this sound delicious!! My mom loves chocolate covered cherries – I think I’m going to have to surprise her and make these for her! Thanks for sharing!
My husband will love these, I’ll be doing this for Valentine’s Day too!
This seriously looks delicious! I love anything with cherries & I can’t believe I didn’t even know you could buy hollowed out chocolate balls like that..such a great idea!
-Madi xo |
Fun! You always impress. What a fun semi homemade treat! It would be fully homemade in my books. Good job!
WOW these seriously look amazing! And pretty easy to make. My man loves chocolate covered cherries, I think I know what I’m making him for Valentines day!
Oh. My. Goodness. I’ve never seen this before. This looks amazing. I have to pin it.
These are so cute, and I love just love brownie batter but add those cherries, whoa mama that’s an adult treat.
Yum what a tasty treat for Valentines Day, I love that you made it so simple with the easy chocolate hack, that is awesome girl!
Seriously looks so delicious. Is it possible to use fresh cherries?
These look so delicious! I can’t wait to try them!
Those look delicious! Plus, I think everyone in my family would actually eat them!
Hey Brie, Great question! I would think so as long as you remove the pits first. They would provide a more tart flavor that would balance nicely with the sweetness of the brownie.
Yum! Chocolate cherries are my fave treat, butI’ve never even considered making them myself!
I didn’t know this is how these were made! Thank you for sharing and I hope to try this recipe.
Oh geez, these will get you in trouble real quick! Ha Ha Ha, but I love the idea and it is all my favorites!
These look great and what an easy way to make them look pretty if you are not a baker.
Wow! This could be one particular of the most helpful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
You actually have made me rethink baking great idea.
Terrific information, for a chocolate brownie fix Thank you.
Amazing lots of valuable information!
Amazing useful knowledge and I love this idea since I am not a baker at all.
Whoa moonshine inside your brownies, I bet that packs a punch.
Incredible a good deal of wonderful tips.
Superb way to make a pretty dessert with out all the hassel, Cheers!
OMG these look A delicious and B so fun to make. Such a perfect treat for Valentine’s. Yummy!
That recipe sounds new to me! I’m curious about the taste
Looks delicious! I and my kids are chocolate lovers, maybe we can do this on weekend.
These look so enticing and yummy. It’s a recipe I’d love to try.
these look extremely delicious. will try out the recipe
In the end it is the Mon Cheri concept, but can I admit that I like your recipe better? Yummy!
Oh I love this! So fun and yummy!
These look so delicious! Will def try this yum recipe!
These look so cute and delicious, I need to make them for valentine’s day
Yes please, I’d eat so many of these. I am all about chocolate.
What a decadent treat! Fun to make and eat!!
Umm this is a GENIUS idea! Cannot wait to make them!
These look absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to make some of these! They’re so pretty too!
These look delightful, such a nice treat for Valentine’s Day. I do appreciate a simple recipe without all the extra steps sometimes; keeping it simple is best.
Yum these look great, I love chocolate anything and to add in some moonshine cherries, woohoo!Now its a party!
These look absolutely delicious! A perfect sweet treat with a fun and festive twist.
These Chocolate Covered Cherry Bites sound divine! Love the idea of using moonshine-soaked cherries. I’m curious, how did your sweetheart react to this unique Valentine’s treat? And do you think the Trader Joe’s cherries add a whole new level of flavor? 🍒
Great question, he enjoys any and all baked goods to be honest. I do think the Amarena cherries are a nice addition to this recipe verses a standard maraschino, which would work just fine, but the Amarena cherries have a richer flavor profile which pares nicely which a darker chocolate in my humble opinion.