Maraschino cherry juice – what to do with it?

[Darienne]

A local bulk food store periodically; gives away 1 liter containers of maraschino cherry and confectionery partner, Barbara, gifted me with a container yesterday. It's what is left over when the cherry bin is empty or drained I guess.

How should it be stored for a long period?

What can I do with it besides thicken it to use on ice cream or mix with soda water? This juice is not as thick as say ginger syrup. (Don't bother with mixed alcoholic drinks please.)

Thanks.

[pastrygirl]

Could be good in sorbet or pate de fruits.

[Ericpo]

Freeze it in icecube trays, then use the cubes in something clear-ish like lemonade. Would look pretty, and not water down as they melt:) Only problem I can see is making icecube trays sticky, but thats what a dishwasher is for lol

[Lisa Shock]

Freezing is your best bet for storage.

As for what to do with it, I like to recreate Sonic's cherry-limeade with it. Get a Sprite, Mexican if possible, take a tall glass and add a 1/4 lime (squeezed into cup before tossing in the wedge) and 2 tsp of maraschino juice and, if you have them, a couple of maraschino cherries. Add ice and pour in the Sprite. The actual cherries are optional, the drink will be delicious without them.

[Jaymes]

Right. And a classic to use for pink lemonade, or Shirley Temples. Summer will be here before you know it. Lots of cool summertime drinks benefit from a splash of maraschino cherry juice.

[janeer]

Along the lines of using it in lemonade, I use it in cocktails and in champagne. I wonder if you could try it to soak a very plain cake.

[Darienne]

Thanks for the answers, all. Into the freezer first thing. Then wait for the snow to go...

[annabelle]

I know it is very sweet. Could you make granita with it? I think it would be refreshing in the summer.

[HungryC]

Don't wait for the snow to go.....head outside and catch some falling snow in a cup or bowl...pour over the cherry syrup. Voila, instant (edible) snowball (aka snowcone, but those things are just pale imitations of "real" NOLA style snowballs). If you really want to live it up, drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the whole shebang. Aw, yeah.

[Panaderia Canadiense]

If you thicken some of it down, you can use it in place of grenadine in the red layer of a margarita pie. It's a different twist on that flavour, one that should marry well with the others.

[Darienne]

PanaCan, I am not familiar with a Margarita Pie recipe that includes a layer of Grenadine. Would you please direct me to said recipe? Thanks.

[Panaderia Canadiense]

I've never actually followed a recipe for margarita pie..... Generally, I was taught that a margarita has, in the nipple of the glass, a bit of grenadine or maraschino which can be stirred into the drink for those who prefer a sweeter cocktail. When I make margarita pies, I generally remove about 1/4 of the filling mixture and add a shot (1 oz) of grenadine to it, then put this into the shell first, and float the remainder of the filling on top. This simulates both the look and the flavour of the cocktail as I was taught to mix it.

Edited because for some reason it posted before I was done.....

Edited March 22, 2013 by Panaderia Canadiense (log)

[Darienne]

Hmmm...sounds like a plan.

[Darienne]

Freezing is your best bet for storage.

As for what to do with it, I like to recreate Sonic's cherry-limeade with it. Get a Sprite, Mexican if possible, take a tall glass and add a 1/4 lime (squeezed into cup before tossing in the wedge) and 2 tsp of maraschino juice and, if you have them, a couple of maraschino cherries. Add ice and pour in the Sprite. The actual cherries are optional, the drink will be delicious without them.

Hi Lisa et al. Never had a Sonic cherry-limeade (I live in Canada) and we don't have Mexican Sprite here (same thing) so I don't know what it should taste like.

However, I did use lime juice, maraschino juice (more than you called for because this stuff isn't thick or very sweet compared to what is in a bottle of Maraschino cherries) and poured it into a club soda. Lovely. And there's still feet of snow outside. Thanks.

[Lisa Shock]

Glad you liked it! -Mexican Sprite is made with sugar, not HFCS. Regular Sprite works just fine, that's what Sonic serves in the US anyway.