Get ready to add a burst of red, white, and blue fun to your celebrations with these patriotic cherry bombs! Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, watching fireworks, or enjoying a summer holiday party, these cherry treats are as festive as they are flavorful. Best of all, there are two versions—one with a boozy kick for the grown-ups and a kid-friendly batch everyone can enjoy. These easy, eye-catching bites will be a star-spangled hit!
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Patriotic Cherry Bombs
I love making red, white, and blue treats for Memorial Day and July 4th. It’s so fun and festive, and who doesn’t love a good themed dish? These patriotic cherry bombs are my go-to for the patriotic holidays and all throughout summer.
They’re simply an easy, cost-effective, large-volume, yummy treat that is always the highlight of the party. So, why not?
Because who doesn’t love the sweetness of maraschino cherries dipped in white chocolate and finished off with sanding sugar? And even better if there is the boozy twist of alcohol in that white chocolate, right? I mean, either version is fantastic, depending on who you are making them for!
Why You’ll Love These Cherries
- Super EASY to make
- Red, white, and blue
- Boozy and non-boozy options so everyone can enjoy
- Bite-sized, sweet treats
- Only 3 ingredients (4 with alcohol)
- Make a lot at super low cost
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need 3-4 ingredients to make these cherry bombs a reality!
- maraschino cherries with stems
- white candy melts or white chocolate chips
- blue sanding sugar
- Malibu Rum (optional)
Note: Always check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients, amounts, and steps.
Left: Boozy Spirited Ingredients Right: Non-Boozy Ingredients
Making Boozy and Non-Boozy Cherry Bombs
These stunning cherries are so simple, so don’t hesitate to get started!
- Prepare. Carefully remove the cherries from the jars and place on a paper towel to dry.
- Pour a generous amount of the sanding sugar into a small, shallow bowl.
- Melt the white chocolate in a microwaveable bowl in 15-20 second increments until melted, stirring after each increment. NOTE: If you are making the boozy version, this is where you add the Malibu Rum and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Make the Cherries. Dip the cherries into the white chocolate, covering 1/2 to 3/4 of each cherry.
- Immediately dip into the sanding sugar, making sure to only cover the bottom 1/4 of the cherry.
- Place onto a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks – Patriotic Cherry Bombs
• Work quickly in small batches as the candy melts (or chocolate) hardens fast.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. After this time, the condensation starts to break down the chocolate coating.
• Don’t freeze these due to the moisture in the cherries.
Want to Change it Up?
If you want an adult variation to change up this recipe, try vanilla vodka or cool whip vodka instead of the Malibu Rum!
More July 4th Recipes
Patriotic Cherry Bites
Equipment
- microwaveable bowl
- wax paper or parchment paper
Ingredients
- 2 jars of maraschino cherries with stems
- 1/2 package white chocolate melts
- blue sanding sugar
Instructions
- Remove the cherries carefully from the jars and place on a paper towel to dry.
- Pour a generous amount of the sanding sugar into a small, shallow bowl.
- Melt the white chocolate in a microwaveable bowl in 15-20 second increments until melted, stirring after each increment.
- Dip the cherries into the white chocolate, covering 1/2 to 3/4 of each cherry.
- Dip immediately into the sanding sugar, making sure to only cover the bottom 1/4 of the cherry.
- Place onto a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a utensil to remove the cherries (as the juice will stain), being careful to not break the stems.
- White chocolate chips can be used instead of white chocolate melts.
- FOR BOOZY VERSION ONLY: Add 1/3 cup Malibu Rum or vanilla vodka into the white chocolate after it’s melted and mix until thoroughly combined. Be sure the alcohol is room temperature or it will clump the chocolate. Now you have Boozy Patriotic Cherry Bombs!
- These can be made a few hours ahead of time or even the night before.
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutritional information accuracy not guaranteed.
