Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries are one of those easy little treats that feel just fancy enough without requiring much effort. Made with dried cherries, dark chocolate, and flaky sea salt, they are perfect for gifting, snacking, or setting out next to a plate of Dark Chocolate Truffles and pretending you planned dessert.
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries At A Glance
- ⏱ Total Time: 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 min set)
- 🍒 Yield: About 12 pieces
- 🇺🇸 Cuisine Type: American
- 🍫 Flavor Profile: Sweet dried cherries coated in rich dark chocolate with a touch of flaky sea salt for balance
- 🥗 Dietary Info: Naturally gluten-free
- 🥡 Storage Notes: Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: A simple, two-bite chocolate treat made with just a few ingredients. Perfect for gifting, entertaining, or keeping on hand when a chocolate craving hits
These Chocolate Covered Cherries are also a great recipe to keep around when you want something sweet without making a full dessert situation out of it. If you like easy, snackable chocolate treats, my Chocolate Mixed Nuts and Chocolate Bark hit that same simple, make-ahead sweet spot.
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They also fit nicely into that chocolate-and-fruit category that always feels a little more special than it should for how little work is involved. If that is your kind of dessert, my Cranberry bars and Chocolate Trifle both bring that same rich, slightly nostalgic energy in a different way.
Key Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make these chocolate cherry treats:
- Chocolate - The chocolate is the primary flavor in this recipe, so quality matters. Through testing, dark chocolate in the 60-70% range produced the smoothest coating and best snap once set, while still letting the sweetness of the cherries come through. Chocolate that's too sweet can overwhelm the fruit, and lower-quality chocolate tends to set softer and dull. I use the highest quality chocolate I can find. I like Valhrona, Ghirardelli, or Callebaut chocolate.
- Sea Salt - A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt makes a noticeable difference. It sharpens the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness of the dried cherries without overpowering them. Fine salt tends to disappear, while flaky salt gives subtle pops of contrast, so a small pinch is all you need. I use a really good flaky sea salt like this one from Jacobsen Salt.
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Variations
Though these chocolate cherries are simple, they're also easy to vary if you want to switch them up.
- Dried fruit - use any dried fruit mixture you want or stick to just one kind depending on what you have on hand. Cherries and chocolate tend to be a very rich and indulgent taste while something like dried apricots or strawberries are more refreshing and uplifting.
- Nuts and seeds - if you want a bit of healthy fats in the mix, sub half the dried fruit for equal amounts of chopped nuts. Nuts like pistachios, whole almonds cut in half, or cashews are delicious in the chocolate cluster.
How To Make Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries: Step-By-Step
Step 1: Microwave the chocolate in 30-second intervals stirring occasionally until melted or melt using a double boiler on the stove.
Step2: Using a small teaspoon or cookie scoop, add some of the chocolate to the mini-cupcake liners.
Step 3: Place a cherry into the middle of the chocolate and then top the cherry with more chocolate.
Step 4: Tamp down the pan holding the liners lightly. Sprinkle the sea salt on top.
Let the candy sit on top of the counter for at least an hour or until it sets. Store in an airtight container on the counter.
Gwen's Pro Tip
I am not using a mold, however, a mini-muffin pan will make it easier for handling. You can easily find candy molds at any craft store near you or online at Amazon. Just look for a mold that will produce a bite-size piece. If you would prefer to make a cluster, just free-form the chocolate onto parchment paper and add the cherry onto the top along with the sea salt.
Ideas For Creating Your Own Chocolate Dessert
- Chocolate peanut caramel clusters
- Caramel chocolate peanut clusters
- Chocolate strawberry clusters
- White chocolate pecan clusters
- Milk chocolate coconut clusters
- Dark chocolate pecan clusters
- White chocolate-covered cherries
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries FAQ's
Of course not. Dark chocolate pairs beautifully with dried cherries; however, if you want a lighter and sweeter feel to the clusters any milk chocolate will work as well.
All dried fruit will become a tasty dessert when coated in chocolate; however, each fruit will bring a new flavor. Cherries and dried blueberries tend to be very rich when mixed into chocolate. Dried cranberries give a tart contrast to sweet chocolate for a beautiful balance. Dried apricots tend to be bright and uplifting, which works well with white chocolate.
Other Chocolate Recipes
Let me know your thoughts on these Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries by leaving a star rating below or by sharing it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Thank you!
Gwen
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
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Ingredients
- 12 oz dark chocolate chips or chopped bars
- 6 oz whole dried cherries
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Line a mini-cupcake pan with liners or just use the mini-cupcake liners and set them on a pan. Set aside.
- Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Melt the chocolate using 30-second intervals in the microwave and stirring in between. If you prefer, melt the chocolate in a double boiler.
- Using a teaspoon or small cookie scoop, add a small amount to the bottom of the prepared cupcake liner.
- Add one whole cherry on top of the chocolate.
- Add more chocolate to cover.
- Tamp down the pan to level the chocolate and get any air bubbles out.
- Top with flaky sea salt.
- Let stand on the counter until cool and set. Store in an airtight container on the counter or in the refrigerator.
Anonymous says
Valentine’s Day!