Boozy Cherries

RECIPE: Reprinted with permission from French at Heart: Recipes That Bring France Home by Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini. Copyright © 2025 by Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini. Photographs copyright © 2025 by Anson Smart. Published by Abrams, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Photo: Anson Smart

April 04, 2025

Celebrate the simple joys of life the French way with these spirited cherries.

In their book, French at Heart: Recipes That Bring France Home, Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini, mother-daughter duo and founders of cooking school, The Cook’s Atelier, demonstrate how to enjoy the everyday moments of life the French way. One example is their boozy cherries, which are simple to make and perfect for adding a delicious touch to cocktails or desserts.

Ingredients

Yield:1 1/2 quarts

1 1/2 lb. white cherries, such as Napoleon (if using eau-de-vie), or red cherries (if using vodka)
1 (750-ml) bottle eau-de-vie (such as eau-de-vie de marc de raisin de Bourgogne or grappa) or vodka

Tools:1 1/2-quart jar, sterile needle

Preparation

Sterilize a 1 1/2-quart (1.5-L) jar per the manufacturer’s instructions. Rinse the cherries in cold water, dry thoroughly, and remove any debris. Using a clean, sterile needle, begin to prick each cherry on all sides 5 or 6 times, adding them to the jar once they’re pricked. Add the eau-de-vie or vodka until it covers and submerges the cherries. Place in a cold, dark pantry or refrigerator and let sit for at least 6 months, or up to a year. Once opened, keep refrigerated and consume within a month.
NOTEUse pristine fruit that’s not blemished or overripe. Leave the stems on each cherry, to make them easier to extract later.