Tipsy Patriotic Cherries for Summer Parties
Get ready to light up your summer party with these Red White and Blue Drunken Cherries! They’re fun, festive, and come together with just a few ingredients—no oven, no hassle, and all kinds of patriotic flair. If you’re hosting a Fourth of July bash, a backyard BBQ, or just want a boozy bite-sized treat to cool off with, this recipe checks all the boxes.
Red White and Blue Drunken Cherries
These cherries are soaked overnight in whipped cream vodka, dipped in creamy white chocolate, then finished with a pop of red, white, and blue sprinkles. They’re as tasty as they are eye-catching. Plus, you can pair them with other fun patriotic shots like these patriotic pudding shots or serve them alongside red white and blue chocolate covered strawberries for the ultimate holiday spread.
Even better? You can prep these ahead of time and have them chilling in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to impress. Whether you’re team vodka or want a non-alcoholic version for everyone to enjoy, this recipe is easy to customize and hard to mess up.
What You Will Love About This Recipe
Perfect for Summer Parties – No need to turn on the oven, and they keep well in the fridge or freezer.
Only 4 Ingredients – Easy to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Crowd-Pleasing & Customizable – Make them boozy or alcohol-free, and switch up the sprinkles for any occasion.
Make-Ahead Friendly – Soak the cherries in advance and dip just before serving.
Ingredients:
- 2 Jars Maraschino Cherries with Stems (10 ounces each)
- 12 Ounces Whipped Cream Vodka
- ⅓ Cup White Chocolate Chips
- 2 Ounces Red White and Blue Nonpareils
Directions:
- Dump both jars of cherries into a bowl and pick out the cherries that don’t have stems or won’t be good for dipping, like the halves, etc.
- Place the good cherries inside the mason jar and pour the vodka over the top of the cherries. Make sure the cherries are covered.
- Place the jar in the fridge overnight.
- Drain the cherries and gently spread them on paper towels. Gently dab them dry.
- Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave for 1 ½ minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir the chips (even if they haven’t melted yet). Continue until the chocolate doesn’t have any lumps and is smooth when stirred.
- Put the sprinkles in a small bowl (I like using pinch bowls for these) and place a piece of parchment paper on a plate or small sheet pan.
- Pick up the one cherry at a time, by the stem, and dip the bottom half of it in white chocolate, gently running the bottom of it along the edge of the bowl to encourage a bit of the excess chocolate to fall away.
- Dip the cherry in the sprinkles and then set it on parchment paper. Repeat until all the cherries have been dipped.
- Most of the cherries will be dried by the time you finish dipping, but leave them to sit for about 5 minutes before serving so the most recent dipped cherries have a chance to harden. Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure the cherries are completely dry before dipping, or the chocolate won’t stick.
- Nonpareils are the best sprinkles for this recipe—they stick well and give that perfect festive look.
- Don’t skip the overnight soak. The vodka really needs time to infuse for that boozy bite.
- If you want to make these kid-friendly, just skip the vodka and go straight to the dipping.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Want to switch it up? Try flavored vodkas like cherry, vanilla, or even citrus for a twist.
FAQs
Red White and Blue Drunken Cherries
Ingredients
- 2 Jars Maraschino Cherries with Stems (10 ounces each)
- 12 Ounces Whipped Cream Vodka
- ⅓ Cup White Chocolate Chips
- 2 Ounces Red White and Blue Nonpareils
- Items Needed:
- Paper Towels
- Parchment Paper
- 16-Ounce Mason Jar with Lid
Instructions
- Dump both jars of cherries into a bowl and pick out the cherries that don’t have stems or won’t be good for dipping, like the halves, etc.
- Place the good cherries inside the mason jar and pour the vodka over the top of the cherries. Make sure the cherries are covered.
- Place the jar in the fridge overnight.
- Drain the cherries and gently spread them on paper towels. Gently dab them dry.
- Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave for 1 ½ minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir the chips (even if they haven’t melted yet). Continue until the chocolate doesn’t have any lumps and is smooth when stirred.
- Put the sprinkles in a small bowl (I like using pinch bowls for these) and place a piece of parchment paper on a plate or small sheet pan.
- Pick up the one cherry at a time, by the stem, and dip the bottom half of it in white chocolate, gently running the bottom of it along the edge of the bowl to encourage a bit of the excess chocolate to fall away.
- Dip the cherry in the sprinkles and then set it on parchment paper. Repeat until all the cherries have been dipped.
- Most of the cherries will be dried by the time you finish dipping, but leave them to sit for about 5 minutes before serving so the most recent dipped cherries have a chance to harden. Enjoy!
Notes
Tips:
- Store in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3 days. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- You can make these ahead and just leave them in the vodka until you’re ready to dip and serve. These are truly best when eaten not long after dipping because the cherries don’t last long when stored outside of liquid.
- You can use other types of sprinkles, if desired, but I found the nonpareils to be the best suited for this recipe.
- Be careful eating these right out of the freezer as the sprinkles can be hard on the teeth.
- You can use other flavors of alcohol, if desired, OR skip the alcohol altogether and make these cherries for all ages!
- It’s important you get the outside of the cherries dry or the chocolate won’t stick to them.
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
