Jump to content

Cookbook:Maraschino Cherry

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Maraschino Cherry

Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Ingredients

Maraschino cherries are a sweet confection of flavored cherries in syrup.[1]

Production

[edit | edit source]

Historically, Maraschino cherries originated in Europe, where sour marasca cherries were preserved in a cherry liqueur.[1][2][3][4] They were eventually imported to the United States, the production method was changed in the early 20th century to yield modern-day maraschino cherries. The modern method of maraschino cherry production requires several steps. The fresh cherries are first pitted and cleaned, and they are then typically bleached in a solution of sodium metabisulfite, citric acid, and calcium chloride.[4] They are then boiled and bleached in another solution consisting of sodium chlorite and acetic acid.[4] Following the bleaching process, the cherries are soaked in a sugar syrup, brightly dyed, and flavored (e.g. with almond oil).[3][4][5][6][7]

Characteristics

[edit | edit source]

Modern maraschino cherries are often made from light-colored cherries such as Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold.[1][4][7][8] The most common color is a bright red, but other colors exist such as green and orange.[7] Additionally, "natural" varieties may be colored with vegetable-based dyes like beet juice.[7] Maraschino cherries are very sweet, with a flavor profile similar to candy. Some specialty varieties of maraschino cherry (e.g. Luxardo) may be more similar to the historical version,[6][7] being preserved in their own juice—these are typically darker and more sour than the modern version.[7]

Selection and storage

[edit | edit source]

The high sugar content of maraschino cherries makes them keep very well. Once opened, they should be kept in the fridge. Freezing may negatively affect their texture.

Maraschino cherries are used in a variety of beverages and desserts. They are common as a garnish for cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages like Shirley Temples.[4][5][7] They also frequently top ice cream, pastries, milkshakes, and cakes, and they may be incorporated in various batters.[4][5][7] The syrup they are packaged in can be used as a flavoring and sweetener.

Recipes

[edit | edit source]
[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. a b c Kipfer, Barbara Ann (2012-04-11). The Culinarian: A Kitchen Desk Reference. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-544-18603-3.
  2. McGee, Harold (2007-03-20). On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4165-5637-4.
  3. a b Davidson, Alan (2014-01-01). Jaine, Tom (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199677337.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-967733-7.
  4. a b c d e f g "Maraschino Cherries | Baking Ingredients | BAKERpedia". 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  5. a b c Rinsky, Glenn; Rinsky, Laura Halpin (2008-02-28). The Pastry Chef's Companion: A Comprehensive Resource Guide for the Baking and Pastry Professional. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-00955-0.
  6. a b Werner, Tommy (2015-10-16). "The Original Maraschino Cherry". Epicurious. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  7. a b c d e f g h "What Are Maraschino Cherries and How Are They Made?". Allrecipes. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  8. The Chefs of Le Cordon Bleu (2011-12-02). Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie and Baking Foundations. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-4390-5713-1.