Amarena Cherry Drink
Super-refreshing Amarena Cherry drink!
I always try to make the most of cherry season and love eating them on its own, incorporating them in baked good, sauces and drinks.
This Amarena Cherry Drink is perfect after dinner or as a cocktail. The Amaretto evaporates in the syrup which makes it a semi non-alchoholic (for a complete non-alcoholic drink, read below in the instructions) drink but you can also make it boozier by adding another shot of Amaretto when you prep this drink.
Amarena Cherry Drink
- Prep: 10 min
- Total: 15 min
Vegetables
Ingredients
NOTE: this recipe makes 2 small drinks or 1 large drink. Double the quantities for more drinks.
For the Amarena Cherry Syrup:
- 7 cherries (deseeded)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp Amaretto + 2 extra tbsp for later use (read TIP on how to make this drink non-alcholic)
- 1 ½ tbsp lime juice
- ½ cinnamon stick
- ¼ tsp vanilla essence
- 1 cup of crushed ice
For garnish:
- lime wedges/cubes
- cherries
Instructions
1. Put the cherries, sugar, water, 3 tbsp Amaretto, lime juice, cinnamon stick, vanilla essence in a pan and let this cook on a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. As the mixture cooks, smash the cherries. You'll notice that the syrup will thicken and the colour will become deep burgundy. Let this cook for 3 minutes on a medium heat and turn off the fire. Set the syrup aside and let this cool down completely.
2. Prepare two small glasses (or one big glass). Divide the cooled syrup and cherries over two glasses and make sure to leave 1 tbsp of syrup behind. Then add 1 extra shot of Amaretto in each glass (or two if you like it stronger), squeeze of lime juice and half a cup of crushed ice. Garnish with some extra lime wedges/cubes, cherries and drizzle some syrup on the crushed ice.
NOTE: I didn’t add any extra water because it was a hot day and my ice melted quickly. But feel free to add 7UP, Sprite or water.
TIP: to make this drink non-alcoholic leave out the Amaretto and substitute it for 1/4 tsp of almond essence (add this to the cooled cherry mixtures). Add a soda such as Sprite or 7UP to fill up the glasses.
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