Brandy Cherries

Posted 2012-12-28 by Lucy ⇒ follow

It's Cherry Season, so why not make the most of these divine stone fruits? These are so easy to make and utterly delicious served with ice cream. You will thank yourself in a few months when there are no cherries to be seen apart from these jars sitting patiently at the back of the old kitchen pantry cupboard.

Ripe Cherries ready for bottling

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Makes: 4 jars

Ingredients
1 kg ripe cherries
1.5 cups (330g) caster sugar
2 cups (500ml) brandy
1 orange (you'll only be using the rind)
2 star anise

Cherries await brandy

Method

Wash and dry the cherries well, discarding the stalks (and pips, depending on how motivated you are)

Take 4 sterilized jars (350ml each), then place your sugar, orange rind (cut into elegant thin strips) and star anise into the base of each jar. Fill with cherries and cover with brandy.

*Invert until sugar is dissolved. Label and date the jars and store the cherries in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months.

Serve with ice cream and enjoy. Refrigerate after opening (if there are any left over).