Chocolate-Covered Cherry Martini

Your guests will love the smooth flavor of this festive drink that tastes like a chocolate-covered maraschino cherry.

Recipe Ingredients:

4 (16-ounce) jars or 1 (1/2-gallon) jar maraschino cherries
1 (750-milliliter) bottle Vanilla Vodka
2 cups chocolate liqueur, such as Godiva Dark or
Crème de cacao
Additional maraschino cherries, for garnish

Cooking Directions:

1. Drain cherries, reserving juice. Put 3/4 cup juice in a 1-gallon pitcher or other container. Save the rest of the juice for another use, such as a topping for ice cream or a flavoring for milk.
2. Add vodka and chocolate liqueur to the cherry juice; mix well. Add maraschino cherries. The liquid must cover cherries. If not, add more chocolate liqueur. Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 12 hours. If not using within 12 hours, refrigerate mixture. It will keep up to one week, if cherries are covered with liquid and mixture is in a sealed container.
3. To serve beverage, pour liquid into a drink shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into martini glasses or other drink glasses. Garnish with a fresh maraschino cherry.

Makes 15 to 20 drinks.

Tip: After drink liquid is used, cherries can be drained and covered with melted chocolate.

Chocolate-Covered Cherries: Melt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave for approximately 2 minutes. Dip cherries in melted chocolate; let set on waxed paper for about 30 minutes. Use as gifts or favors, or use as a garnish for the Chocolate-Covered Cherry Martini.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of National Cherry Growers & Industries Foundation, through ECES, Inc., Electronic Color Editorial Services.