Patriotic Boozy Cherry Bombs
Patriotic boozy cherry bombs are tiny, shiny, and a little dangerous in the way party snacks can be when they look this cute.
Stemmed maraschino cherries soak in vodka, then get dipped in white candy coating and blue sanding sugar.
Red cherry, white coating, blue sparkle.
Very simple, very festive, and yes, they should stay on the grown-up side of the table.
These are made for 4th of July parties, Memorial Day cookouts, summer barbecue trays, and any adult dessert spread that needs a cold bite with a little wink.
They would sit nicely beside 4th of July Blue Curacao Mocktail, 4th of July Strawberry Lemonade, and Patriotic Charcuterie Board.
Just label them clearly if kids are around, because they look like candy and that is the whole problem.
Cute little troublemakers.
What You Need
The list is short so the drying and dipping steps matter more than the shopping.
How To Make Patriotic Boozy Cherry Bombs
1. Drain and soak the cherries
Drain the liquid from the cherry jar, then pour vodka over the stemmed cherries.
Chill the cherries in the vodka so they can soak before dipping.
2. Dry the cherries
Drain the soaked cherries and place them on paper towels.
Pat them dry, especially around the bottoms, because wet cherries make the coating slide off.
3. Melt the white coating
Melt the white candy melts in a small bowl until smooth, then place the blue sanding sugar in another bowl.
4. Dip the cherries
Hold each cherry by the stem and dip the bottom into the melted white coating.
While the coating is still wet, dip the bottom into blue sanding sugar and place the cherry on parchment.
5. Let them set
Place the dipped cherries on parchment and let the coating firm up before moving them to a serving dish.
Drying Is The Big Thing
The white coating sticks best when the cherries are dry on the outside.
If the cherries look glossy from liquid after draining, give them another gentle blot before dipping.
Serve These Cold
Keep the cherry bombs chilled until the party starts, then serve them on a small plate or shallow bowl.
They are bite-size, so a little warning label for adults only is a smart move.
Fridge Notes
Store the finished cherry bombs in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Place parchment between layers if you need to stack them, because the coating can scuff if the cherries rub together.
Cherry Bomb Questions
Can I make these without alcohol?
Yes, keep the cherries in their original juice or use a clear lemon-lime soda instead of vodka.
Why is the coating sliding off?
The cherries were probably still wet, so dry them again before dipping.
Can I use white chocolate instead of candy melts?
Yes, but candy melts set firmer and are easier for this kind of dipping.
Leftover Bits
Extra blue sanding sugar can go on cupcakes, cookies, pretzel rods, or popcorn.
Leftover cherry vodka can be mixed into lemonade or a simple soda drink for adults.
Patriotic Boozy Cherry Bombs
These patriotic boozy cherry bombs are vodka soaked maraschino cherries dipped in white candy coating and blue sanding sugar. They are a cold adult party treat for 4th of July cookouts and summer gatherings.
- Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield24 cherries 1x
- DietGluten-Free, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 jar stemmed maraschino cherries, about 10 ounces.
- 1 cup vodka.
- 1 cup white candy melts.
- 1/3 cup blue sanding sugar
Instructions
- Drain the liquid from the cherry jar.
- Pour vodka over the cherries and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Drain the cherries and pat them very dry with paper towels.
- Melt the white candy melts until smooth.
- Place the blue sanding sugar in a small bowl.
- Dip each cherry halfway into the melted white candy.
- Dip the bottom of each cherry into the blue sanding sugar.
- Place the cherries on parchment and let them set until firm.
Notes
Dry the cherries well before dipping so the white coating can stick. Work with one cherry at a time because the candy coating needs to be wet when it touches the blue sugar. Keep the finished cherry bombs chilled until serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Soak Time and Soak Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
