Dessert: Maraschino Cherry Parfaits

Recipe by Claire Saffitz Don’t feel like making your own maraschino cherries? Luxardo brand, made with Marasca sour cherries, is our jarred go-to. (Skip those gross neon-red ones.)

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Maraschino Cherry Parfaits

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

3 pounds fresh cherries, pits removed
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur or kirsch (clear cherry brandy)
1 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

Set a mesh sieve over a medium bowl. Bring cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and 2/3 cup water to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally; cook until cherries have released their juices and are softened but still intact, 20 –25 minutes. Pour cherries into prepared sieve, letting juices collect in bowl. Set cherries aside.
Return juices to same saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until liquid is reduced to 1 1/2 cups (it will be a thin syrup at this point), 15 –20 minutes. Remove from heat, add reserved cherries, and stir in liqueur and almond extract. Transfer maraschino cherries to jar, cover, and chill at least 24 hours before using.

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