How do you make a maraschino cherry?!
How do you make a maraschino cherry?
Any one know, if you do tell me some time before Thursday
Answers:
A maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. The cherries are first preserved in a brine solution (usually sulfur dioxide) or alcohol, then soaked in a suspension of food coloring, sugar syrup, artificial and natural flavors, and other components. Maraschino cherries dyed red are typically almond-flavored, while cherries dyed green are usually peppermint-flavored.
Further steps along this process make glace and crystallized cherries; after soaking, the cherries are drained and then soaked in glucose and air-dried, producing glace cherries; a further stage involves another soaking in glucose which coats them with sugar, creating crystallized cherries
Source(s):
Wiki
Since 1940, "maraschino cherries" have been defined as "cherries which have been dyed red, impregnated with sugar and packed in a sugar sirup flavored with oil of bitter almonds or a similar flavor"
Ummm..I take it you are actually looking for a recipe! So here ya go...I will warn ya, they take a couple of days to make!
Maraschino Cherries
Ingredients:
4 1/2 pounds pitted red cherries
4 1/2 pounds granulated sugar
3 cups water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 ounce almond extract
1 ounce red food coloring
Brine
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon alum
Preparation
Soak pitted cherries overnight in heated brine.
The next morning, drain cherries.
Rinse in cold water.
Combine cherries, water, sugar, lemon juice, and red coloring.
Heat to boiling point.
Let stand 24 hours.
Again boil juices, pour over cherries and let stand 24 hours.
Bring to boil again.
Add almond extract and cherries.
Pack in hot sterilized jars and seal.