Chocolate Dipped Cherries Food

ELEGANT DIPPED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Pat cherries dry with paper towels and set aside. In a large bowl, combine butter, corn syrup, unsweetened chocolate and cream. Stir in confectioners' sugar., Knead until smooth. Roll into 18 balls; flatten each into a 2-in. circle. Wrap each circle around a cherry and lightly roll in hands. Place cherries, stem side up, in a shallow waxed paper-lined container. Cover and freeze at least 2 hours., The day before serving, remove the cherries from freezer. In a microwave, melt white baking chips and 1-1/2 teaspoons shortening; stir until smooth., Holding onto the stem, dip each cherry into white baking chips, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. , Melt chocolate chips and remaining shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over candies. Refrigerate until firm. Store candies in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED BING CHERRIES

Steps:

• Pour the sugar into a shallow dish. Drop two drops of vanilla at a time into the dish in 24 separate places to form lumps of vanilla sugar. Set aside to allow the lumps to harden.
• Pit the cherries carefully from the bottom. I use a small curved dental tool. Make sure the stem stays intact.
• When the lumps of sugar have hardened, insert them into the cherries where the pits were; set aside. Melt chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
• Hold cherries by the stem and dip into the chocolate leaving the very top uncovered. Set on waxed paper to dry. Refrigerate overnight to allow the sugar lumps to dissolve.

DARK CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Dip the bottoms of cherries in chocolate. Let excess drip off.
• Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate about 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. Pat cherries dry with paper towels.
• Melt chocolates separately in stainless steel bowl set over pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth.
• Holding stem of cherry, dip cherry into melted chocolate to coat. You can coat half of cherry in white chocolate and half in semisweet chocolate, if desired. Transfer chocolate-dipped cherry to prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cherries and melted chocolate.
• Refrigerate for about 40 minutes, or until set.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, butter, milk and extract. Knead until smooth and pliable. Shape into 1-in. balls and flatten each into a 2-in. circle. , Wrap one circle around each cherry and lightly roll in hands. Place with stems up on waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. , In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding on to the stems, dip cherries into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper until set. Store in a covered container. Refrigerate 1-2 weeks before serving.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain the cherries, reserving 1/4 cup of the cherry juice.
• Place the cherries on paper towels and pat to dry.
• Place the powdered sugar, butter and 3 tablespoons of cherry juice in the bowl of a mixer; beat to combine until the mixture forms a dough.
• If the mixture seems too wet or sticky, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• If mixture is too dry, add 1 teaspoon of cherry juice at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Take two teaspoons of the cherry dough and flatten it into a disc shape.
• Place one cherry onto each disc and wrap the dough around the cherry to form a ball. If the dough sticks to your hands, try coating your hands in cooking spray first.
• Place the balls onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and freeze for 20 minutes.
• While the balls are chilling, melt the candy melts by placing them in a microwave safe bowl and cooking them in the microwave for 30 second increments until melted.
• Stir the candy melts until smooth.
• Place one ball on a fork and use the fork to coat the ball in chocolate. Gently tap the fork against the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
• Place each dipped ball onto a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat the process with the remaining balls and candy melts.
• Place some of the melted candy in a resealable bag and snip off one corner of the bag to use as a piping bag.
• Use the piping bag to drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of the dipped cherries.
• Let the chocolate coating harden, then store the cherries at room temperature for up to one week.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRIES WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place the pistachios in a shallow bowl and set aside. Place chocolate in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Pour hot cream over chocolate and let sit for about 30 seconds; stir until the chocolate melts completely.
• Holding by the stem, dip the bottom of a cherry in the chocolate mixture, lightly shake off excess chocolate, and dip the cherry in the chopped pistachios.
• Transfer to the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with remaining cherries, refrigerate for 10 minutes, and store in a cool, dry place. Cherries will keep for several hours. Enjoy!

DOUBLE DIPPED CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CHERRIES

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper and place in the freezer.
• Place washed and dried maraschino cherries in a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a medium stainless steel bowl placed over a small pot of simmering water, melt the chocolate and coconut oil until melted and completely smooth. Remove bowl from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 3-5 minutes.
• Remove parchment lined cookie sheet from the freezer and set on your work surface. Hold a maraschino cherry by the stem and dip, submerging cherry completely into the melted chocolate mixture. Lift the cherry from the melted chocolate and allow the excess to drain completely back into the bowl. Place the cherry on the cold parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining maraschino cherries.
• Place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the chocolate has set, about 7-10 minutes. While chocolate sets, make the caramel mixture.
• Melt the caramel: In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the caramels. Once melted, add heavy cream and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Alternatively, you can transfer the mixture to a zip sandwich bag, cutting a small hole in one corner.
• Remove cherries from the freezer. Hold a maraschino cherry by the stem and dip, submerging cherry completely into the melted chocolate mixture. Lift the cherry from the melted chocolate and allow the excess to drain completely back into the bowl. Place the cherry on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining maraschino cherries. Place the cherries on the parchment lined cookie sheet and place back in the freezer to set, another 7-10 minutes.
• Once the chocolate has set, to secure the cherries on to a serving platter, pipe a dab of caramel to the plate then place the cherry on top. Then pipe mounds of caramel right above the stems of every other cherry.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED LUXARDO CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together sugar, corn syrup, 1 tablespoon water, and butter until a dough forms. Transfer to a work surface lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar and knead until smooth, dusting dough with more sugar as necessary, until no longer sticky. Scoop 1 teaspoon of dough into your palm and flatten into a 1-inch round. Place a cherry in center of round and wrap dough around cherry, pressing with your fingers, if necessary, to enclose. Gently roll between your palms until smooth. Repeat process with remaining dough and cherries. Make a small loop in one end of each length of wire, then insert a looped end into center of each cherry (loop will prevent wire from slipping out when dipping). Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet. Let stand, uncovered, until hard and dry, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Using wire stems to hold them, dip each cherry into chocolate, then lift and let excess chocolate drip back into bowl. Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet and let stand until chocolate is hard and dry, about 1 hour. Serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.

CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS CHERRIES

Steps:

• Mix crumbs, sugar and walnuts; set aside. Add boiling water to coffee granules in small bowl; stir until coffee is dissolved. Add margarine and corn syrup; stir until well blended. Add to crumb mixture; mix well.
• Shape about 1 rounded teaspoonful of the crumb mixture around each cherry, leaving stem of cherry uncoated. Place in shallow pan; cover. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Dip cherries, 1 at a time, in chocolate, holding cherries by the stems and turning until completely coated. Place on wire rack set over sheet of wax paper to collect drippings. Refrigerate 30 min. or until firm. Store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the dry ingredients first: whisking together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, lemon zest and butter until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until incorporation and scraping down the sides in between.
• Add the flour mixture and beat until just blended, then stir in the cherries and (optional) pistachios.
• Form the dough into 12" long x 3" wide logs on the parchment paper. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until light golden. Cool for 30 minutes.
• Place the log on a cutting board and use a serrated knife to cut diagonally, 1/2"-3/4" slices. Lay the slices on the baking sheet and bake for another 15 minutes, or until they are a pale golden color. While they are cooking, get a pot of water boiling for your double boiler. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Place the chocolate chips in a small pot set over the pot of simmering water. Stir constantly to avoid burning the chocolate. When the chocolate is completely melted, dip the ends of the biscotti in and set them on a parchment sheet to set. Place all the biscotti in the refrigerator for about a half hour, until the chocolate firms up.
• They can be made ahead, or frozen for up to 3 weeks.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Place chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of pan to touch water); stir until melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from over water. Holding cherry stem, dip 1 cherry halfway into chocolate. Place cherry, chocolate side down, on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining cherries and chocolate. Chill until chocolate is firm, at least 15 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Finely chop 1/2 pound dark chocolate. Combine three-quarters of the chocolate and 1 teaspoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted; stir in the remaining chocolate until smooth. Dip 1 pound fresh cherries in the chocolate by the stems and set on parchment paper. Let harden at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRY-HAZELNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in top third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Using handheld electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in very large bowl until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time just until blended. Mix in orange peel, baking soda and salt. Add 3 cups flour, hazelnuts and dried cherries; stir until well blended. Add 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring until well incorporated.
• Transfer dough to floured work surface. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Knead each piece until dough holds together well. Form each piece into 9-inch-long by 3-inch-wide log. Place 2 logs on each of 2 large ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 3 inches apart (logs will spread during baking). Bake until logs are golden and feel firm when tops are gently pressed, switching and rotating baking sheets halfway through baking, about 55 minutes. Cool logs on baking sheets 15 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• Using long wide spatula, transfer logs to cutting board. Using serrated knife, cut warm logs crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange slices cut side down on 2 baking sheets. Bake biscotti 10 minutes. Turn biscotti over; bake until light golden, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer to racks and cool completely.
• Stir chocolate in large bowl set over saucepan of boiling water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Dip 1 cut side of each biscotti into melted chocolate to about 1/4-inch depth. Gently shake off excess chocolate. Place biscotti, chocolate side up, on baking sheets. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes. Dip pastry brush in cocoa, then lightly brush cocoa over chocolate on each biscotti. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight containers up to 4 days, or wrap in foil and freeze in resealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.)