What Are Maraschino cherries and How Can I Use Them?
Here's everything worth knowing about maraschino cherries and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 214 recipes to cook tonight.
What are maraschino cherries?
Ever wondered about those glossy, ruby-red gems perched on your sundae or stirring up your Manhattan? Maraschino cherries aren't just cocktail flair—they're a sweet, preserved treat with a boozy backstory that's evolved into a kitchen staple for everything from retro desserts to modern mocktails.
Originally hailing from Croatia and Italy, true maraschino cherries were made from tart marasca cherries soaked in maraschino liqueur—a luxe spirit distilled from the fruit itself. Fast-forward to the U.S. in the early 1900s, and Prohibition flipped the script: producers swapped the alcohol for a brine solution, then sweetened and dyed them that iconic bright red (or sometimes green for fun). Today, most are crafted from sweet varieties like Royal Ann cherries, pitted, bleached, soaked in syrup, and flavored with almond extract for that signature nutty vibe.
The process? It starts with fresh cherries getting a saltwater brine bath to preserve and firm them up. Then they're pitted, dyed with food coloring, and steeped in a sugary syrup—often high-fructose corn syrup or cane sugar—infused with flavors. No alcohol in the modern versions, making them kid-friendly for ice cream toppers or fruitcakes, but purists hunt for luxe imports still laced with liqueur.
In the kitchen, these bad boys shine in classics like pineapple upside-down cake, ambrosia salad, or Shirley Temples. They're shelf-stable dynamite, adding a pop of color and sweetness without the fuss of fresh fruit.
Just rinse off excess syrup if you're watching sugar intake.
Discover what maraschino cherries are made of—from their Italian liqueur origins to today's sweet, dyed delights—perfect for cocktails, desserts, and kid-friendly treats like "easy retro sundae recipes" or "best cherry garnishes for drinks."
Pro Tips
- Opt for natural-dye versions if artificial colors aren't your jam; brands like Luxardo keep it old-school with real marasca cherries and minimal processing.
- DIY hack: Soak fresh cherries in simple syrup with a splash of almond extract for a homemade twist that's fresher and customizable for "healthy maraschino cherry alternatives."
- Storage smarts: Once opened, fridge 'em in their jar for up to a month, or freeze for longer-lasting cocktail ammo.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cherry (NLEA serving) (5g)Where found
Maraschino cherries are usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Maraschino cherries are a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much do maraschino cherries weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cherry (NLEA serving) | 5 grams |
Related
Fruits and Fruit Juices
| In Chinese: | 樱桃酒樱桃 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | cerises glace | |
| en español: | cerises au marasquin |
Recipes using maraschino cherries
There are 214 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Mom's Black Forest Cake
Mom's Black Forest cake stacks devils food cake layers soaked in cherry liqueur syrup, layered with kirsch whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and mini chocolate chips. A semi-homemade German classic.
No Cook Peachy Orange Jam
No cook peachy orange jam captures fresh summer peaches, juicy orange, and maraschino cherries in a bright freezer jam. No boiling the fruit, no canning gear, just stir, jar, and let it set. Tastes like sunshine on toast.
Cheery Cherry Cookies
Studded with chunks of maraschino cherries, pecans, and shredded coconut, this cookie is a Christmas (or anytime) favorite. Freezes very well.
Christmas Pudding With Vanilla-Bean Custard
This Christmas pudding has plenty of delicious fruit and nuts, but it's really simple to make - just plan ahead and then make the warm vanilla-bean custard on the day.
My Vegetarian Mince Pies
Vegetarian mince pies with a suet-free, no-suet British mincemeat: dried fruits, ripe banana, almonds, brandy, and warm spice tucked inside flaky shortening pastry. The traditional Christmas pie, made meatless.
Whole Wheat Christmas Cake
Traditional British whole wheat Christmas cake with rum-soaked dried fruit, walnuts, almonds, stout and citrus zest. Aged dark fruit cake for the holiday season.
Creole Christmas Cake
This very rich cake from the West Indies is ideal for those who prefer not to ice their Christmas cakes.
Brandy Christmas Fruit Cake
Get the jump on your Christmas baking by making this classic fruit cake now. Wrap it well and it will be perfect to serve, or give as a gift, on Christmas Day!
Peach Conserve (Marmalade)
Old-fashioned peach conserve with whole oranges, sugar, and maraschino cherries cooked down to a chunky, citrusy marmalade. Spread on toast or scones for a sun-bright burst of summer.
Italian Sour Cream Cake
Italian sour cream cake with amaretto, a coconut-pecan meringue lining, and glossy chocolate-amaretto glaze. A tube pan showstopper that starts with boxed cake mix.
Holiday Spumoni Cookies
Spumoni cookies are a creative twist on the classic Italian dessert, featuring the same delightful combination of cherry, chocolate, and pistachio flavors.
Quick & Easy Frog's Eye Salad
A delicious kind of salad made with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, flaked coconut and whipped topping.
Chocolate Banana Trifle
Layered chocolate banana trifle with chocolate cake, homemade chocolate pudding, sliced bananas, and whipped cream. Topped with toasted almonds and cherries. A stunning make-ahead dessert.
Nesselrode Pie
A frozen confection filling with a Christmas garden of cherry poinssttias and gumdrop holly atop.
Nesselrode Pie
A frozen confection filling with a Christmas garden of cherry poinssttias and gumdrop holly atop.
Spaghetti Fruit Salad
Sweet spaghetti fruit salad with pineapple, apples, a tangy lemon custard dressing, and fluffy whipped topping. A retro potluck favorite that chills overnight for easy entertaining.
Easy Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Easy chocolate-covered cherry cookies from a brownie mix: fudgy chocolate drop cookies studded with pecans and maraschino cherries, baked just until set for a soft, brownie-like center. A quick holiday cookie.
Slow Cooker Cherry Pound Cake
Slow cooker cherry pound cake bakes a flour-tossed maraschino-studded cake mix batter inside the crockpot for an unbelievably moist crumb. A no-oven dessert for hot summer days.
Mixed Fruit Cocktail
Homemade canned fruit cocktail with fresh peaches, pears, seedless grapes, and maraschino cherries in sugar syrup. A from-scratch preserving recipe that beats store-bought.
Tropical Ice 2
Frozen fruit punch made with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries, and orange juice, then broken into icy chunks and topped with ginger ale and white wine. A slushy, fruity party punch.
Passion Fruit Mousse
Passion fruit mousse blends fresh passion fruit pulp with sweetened condensed milk, served chilled inside the emptied fruit shells with a cherry on top. Two-ingredient tropical dessert.
Frozen Pineapple Salad
Frozen pineapple salad with a cooked custard base folded into whipped cream, pineapple, oranges, marshmallows, cherries, and chopped nuts. A vintage Southern potluck classic.
Hawaiian Cake
Hawaiian cake starts with a yellow cake mix base topped with a cream cheese pudding layer, crushed pineapple, chopped nuts, maraschino cherries, and flaked coconut.
Lemon Custard Cake
Lemon custard cake layers torn angel food cake with a fluffy lemon custard made from egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, and meringue, then chills until set. A no-bake showstopper.
Cheery Cherry Bread
Slow cooker cherry bread studded with maraschino cherries and crunchy pecans. This sweet, moist loaf bakes right in your crock pot with no oven needed.
