Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge

Modeled after the ever-classic chocolate covered cherry holiday candies, the wonderful flavors of chocolate, maraschino cherries, and Amaretto liqueur combine to create this rich and delicious Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge. For the chocolate covered cherry lover, it will be your new favorite holiday treat!

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Love chocolate covered cherries? Then you'll flip for this Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge! Yes my friends, modeled after that all-time favorite holiday candy -- it's chocolate and cherries and amaretto liqueur all rolled up into one rich and delicious fudge.

And oh, what a super tasty fudge it is.

Amaretto pairs beautifully with the fudge's semi-sweet chocolate, and adds a wonderful subtle almond flavor along with the maraschino cherries. -- It's a truly wonderful flavor combination, for sure.

As a chocolate covered cherry lover, I just adore the way maraschino cherry halves get a little "oozy" inside the chocolate fudge -- reminiscent of the oozy center of chocolate covered cherries themselves. They're not quite as liquidy as the classic candy, mind you, but a satisfyingly fudgy replication, just the same.

Keep in mind, Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge is a fairly soft-textured fudge, best enjoyed straight out of the refrigerator or after having set out for just a short time. It still tastes great if it's set out for a while, but it will leave some sticky chocolate on your fingers!

Semi-sweet chocolate, maraschino cherries, and amaretto liqueur combine to deliver up amazing flavor in every bite of this delicious fudge.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

In response to the question "What's to love about this recipe?," I truly just want to say three words -- Chocolate. Cherries. and Amaretto. Because oh my, those three words truly speak and stand for themselves! But alas, I'll elaborate a bit more.

• Fabulous flavor - Semi-sweet chocolate, maraschino cherries, and amaretto liqueur combine to deliver up amazing flavor in every bite of this delicious fudge.
• A deliciously boozy treat - Who doesn't love a little boozy chocolaty treat? Each bite of Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge is like enjoying a chocolate covered cherry with a delicious boozy little kick. 
• Oozy cherries - Reminiscent of the liquidy center of chocolate covered cherries themselves, the maraschino cherry halves in the fudge create wonderful oozy little cherry bites all throughout.
• A perfect treat for the chocolate covered cherry lover - Chocolate covered cherry lovers will flip for this delightful chocolate covered cherry fudge.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge Ingredients:

Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge is a delicious mix of semi-sweet chocolate, maraschino cherries, and amaretto liqueur. To whip up a batch, you'll need:

• Granulated sugar - Forms the base of the sugar syrup that's the foundation of the fudge. Boiling granulated sugar (along with butter and milk) for the proper amount of time sets the stage for the fudge's texture. Undercooking will lead to fudge that's too soft, while overboiling creates dry crumbly fudge.

 

• Unsalted butter - Combines with the sugar and milk to create the fudge's sugar syrup base. Do not substitute margarine for the butter.

• Whole milk - Provides liquid and fat for the fudge's sugar syrup base. Stick with whole milk, rather that substituting a lower fat-content milk, for the best and creamiest result.

• Vanilla extract - Enhances and rounds-out the fudge's flavor. Use pure vanilla extract, rather than imitation, for the best result.

• Marshmallows - Provide structure within the finished fudge, helping to create a nice creamy texture. The recipe calls for regular-sized (large) marshmallows, not miniature. For ease of ensuring the proper amount of marshmallow, we do not recommend trying to substitute a different size of marshmallows.

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips - Provides the chocolate element of the fudge.

• Amaretto - The sweet almond-flavored liqueur that brings the flavorful boozy element to the fudge. Keep in mind when enjoying Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge, the amaretto is not cooked and therefore retains its full amount of alcohol.

• Confectioners' sugar - Mixes with the amaretto to create an amaretto "syrup" that's stirred in off-heat to finish the fudge, helping to create a creamy texture and evenly disperse the amaretto throughout the fudge.

• Maraschino cherries - The cherry element of the fudge. Use jarred maraschino cherries, being sure to thoroughly drain them and pat them dry.

How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge:

The first step in making a pan of Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge is to boil granulated sugar, butter, and whole milk together to create a sugar syrup that forms the foundation of the fudge. -- And it's a very important step to get right. If the sugar isn't boiled enough, the fudge will be too soft. And if the sugar's boiled too much, it will create a dry, crumbly fudge. -- Follow the recipe directions carefully for this first step.

To make the boiled sugar syrup, place some granulated sugar, butter, and whole milk in a large pot. (The mixture froths up quite a bit as it boils and can easily boil over in a small pot.) Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring it constantly. Continue stirring and boil for 3 minutes ~ this is important for the fudge to set up properly, so time it for the full 3 minutes!

Remove the sugar syrup from the heat and add vanilla extract, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Stir together until the marshmallows and chocolate are completely melted and blended into the sugar mixture. Then stir in an amaretto/confectioners sugar mixture and maraschino cherries.

Pour the fudge mixture into a 9x9" pan that's been lined with greased foil. Then refrigerate the fudge until it's fully chilled. 

  

Once chilled, cut the fudge into small squares. Then enjoy the cherry-chocolate deliciousness!

Loaded with deliciously rich chocolate, maraschino cherries, and amaretto liqueur, Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge may just become your new favorite cherry-chocolate holiday treat.

Check out these other super tasty chocolatey treats:

• Salted Dark Chocolate Bourbon Fudge
• Chocolate Kahlua Fudge
• Classic Chocolate Fudge
• "Cheater" 3-Ingredient Microwave Chocolate Fudge
• Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge
• Oreo Balls
• Cherry Oreo Balls
• Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
• Homemade Chocolate Marshmallows
• Brownie Mix Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• More cookie & candy recipes

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

cherry chocolate fudge, amaretto chocolate fudge, chocolate fudge with cherries, chocolate fudge with amaretto

Candy

American

Yield: 16-20 pieces

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge

Modeled after the ever-classic chocolate covered cherry holiday candies, the wonderful flavors of chocolate, maraschino cherries, and Amaretto liqueur combine to create this rich and delicious Chocolate Covered Cherry Amaretto Fudge. For the chocolate covered cherry lover, it will be your new favorite holiday treat!

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 20 Min

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2 c. unsalted butter
• 1/2 c. whole milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 13 large marshmallows, torn in half
• 1 c. (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 c. confectioners sugar
• 1/4 c. + 2 T. amaretto
• heaping 1/3 c. well-drained maraschino cherries, cut in half and patted dry with a paper towel

Instructions

1. Line a 9x9" pan, bottom and sides, with foil. Rub foil with butter or lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners sugar and amaretto. Set aside.
3. Place granulated sugar, butter, and milk in a large pot. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring and boil for 3 minutes ~ this is important for the fudge to set up properly, so time it!
4. After the 3 minutes, remove from heat.
5. Add vanilla, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Stir until marshmallows and chocolate are completely melted and blended into the sugar mixture. Add amaretto mixture to the pot and stir until blended in. Gently stir in maraschino cherries.
6. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate until fully chilled.
7. Once chilled, cut into small squares. Store fudge in the refrigerator.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. Do be sure to use a large pot for the sugar/butter/milk mixture. The mixture froths up quite a bit as it boils and can easily boil over in a small pot.
2. When boiling the sugar mixture, make sure to stir it constantly, and keep the mixture at a full rolling boil. If the mixture froths up too much, turn the heat down just a little bit. Or, I also sometimes lift the pot off the burner, still stirring, for just a second or two to reduce its heat.
3. This is a fairly soft-textured fudge, best enjoyed straight out of the refrigerator or after having set out for just a short time. It still tastes great if it's set out for a while, but it will leave some sticky chocolate on your fingers!

Similar Recipes

Salted Dark Chocolate Bourbon Fudge

Chocolate Kahlua Fudge

Classic Chocolate Fudge

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