🍰 Dessert
Homemade Amarena Cherries – Traditional Italian Recipe
Homemade amarena cherries, a traditional Italian recipe, perfect for desserts or cocktails.
🥘 Ingredients
sour cherries (griottes) — 500 g (1.1 lb)
white sugar — 400 g (2 cups)
water — 200 ml (0.85 cup)
bitter almond extract — 1/2 teaspoon
lemon juice — from 1/2 lemon
👨🍳 Steps
1Wash the cherries thoroughly and remove the stems. Pit them using a cherry pitter.
2In a saucepan, heat water and sugar over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely. Add lemon juice and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes.
3Pour the hot syrup over the pitted cherries. Let them cool, then refrigerate.
4Over the next 6 days, each day: remove cherries with a slotted spoon, boil the syrup for 2-3 minutes, return cherries to syrup, and let cool completely before refrigerating again.
5On day 3 or 4, stir in the bitter almond extract.
6After 6 days, place cherries in sterilized jars and cover with hot syrup.
7Seal jars airtight. Store in a dark place for months, or refrigerate for 3-4 weeks after opening.
🛒 Shopping List
500g fresh sour cherries, 400g white sugar, 20 cl water, 1 coffee spoon bitter almond extract, 1/2 lemon