Cherries Jubilee

Y’all this Cherries Jubilee is straight fire… literally. It’s a classic that is as delish as it is iconic. Sweet and tart cherries get an upgrade with boozy notes of smoky bourbon. It’s all caramelized with sugar turning into the perfect dessert topping. Drizzle this cherries jubilee recipe on creamy ice cream or cheesecake and serve it up when you wanna get all fancy.

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I own a lot of cookbooks y’all. Probably close to 1,000. My collection started with my Mississippi big mama’s group of worn and tattered Church cookbooks filled with pages of old school gems. Those are the real deal. Nowadays, I will go in a bookstore and buy as many glossy cookbooks filled with bright food photos as I can find. I love immersing myself in a different chef’s food perspective. This cherries jubilee recipe caught my eye in the Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations.

Y’all its filled with recipes made to bridge the traditional African-American table and 21st century flavors. The author Nicole has such a savvy way of connecting her readers to Juneteeth and Black culture. You will love this recipe for its effortless elegance y’all.

What is Cherries Jubilee?

Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert that is as easy as it gets. Tart cherries get boozy and sweet with alcohol and sugar. Then you throw in other ingredients to really elevate the flavor like rich butter, the acidity of citrus, and cornstarch, a thickening agent. The cherries are then flambéed to deepen all that goodness and burn off excess alcohol. 

The Lowdown of the Best Cherry Jubilee Recipe

• Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American
• Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop Flambé
• Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
• Key Flavor: Tart and Sweet Cherries with a Kick of Booze
• Skill Level: Intermediate

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Cherries Jubilee Recipe

• Bing Cherries– Grab you some bing cherries that are already pitted for convenience. They are super sweet, tart and juicy y’all. Start this recipe off right with a great base.
• Tangerines– Most cherry jubilee recipes call for lemon juice but this tangerine flavor is so perfectly sweet in comparison to the cherry tartness.
• Unsalted Butter- The butter gives so much richness and smoothness to this sauce. I would go for a high-quality high fat brand.
• Sugar- Fine granulated sugar is the move here to caramelize.
• Alcohol- Traditional versions of cherries jubilee recipes call for brandy but we go for bourbon and American whiskey here because it gives a fiery smoky finish.
• Cornstarch- Cornstarch helps to thicken the syrup until its luscious and coating the back of a spoon. 
• Kosher Salt- A pinch of salt makes all of these complex flavors pop. It also balances the sweetness.
• Vanilla Ice Cream There’s no such thing as cherries jubilee without a big ole scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Or two if you are like me. Add some whipped cream too for extra creamy fun.

How to Make Cherries Jubilee

Step 1: Start the Sauce

1. Heat up the tangerine juice and butter over medium heat. Do try to speed this process up by cranking up the heat. Have a little patience y’all.
2. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Keep that wrist whisking until everything is nice and smooth.

Step 2: Add in Cherries and Light them Up!

1. Add the cherries and stir to combine. Bring the cherries to a simmer and let them cook for a few minutes. Stick close by and stir occasionally! You don’t want the syrup to reduce too much and burn the cherries. 
2. Now, it’s time to flambé. Pour the whisky over the cherries and carefully ignite it with a long nosed lighter or long match. Let the flame die out naturally. The fire burns off quickly and leaves you with a beautiful, caramelized, intense sauce.

PRO TIP: If flambéing indoors, check for anything that could catch fire overhead or on the sides of the stove. Don’t stand too close to the pan or lean over it as you add the liquor and be sure to let the flame die out naturally! 

How to Serve this Cherries Jubilee Recipe

• Ice Cream: The classic serve is definitely vanilla ice cream but you can really have some fun by serving it warm over some coffee ice cream, corn ice cream or lemon sorbet.
• Cake: Y’all I love to serve this jammy cherry sauce over a slice of New York cheesecake and buttery pound cake! Give me some cherries jubilee drizzled over cream cheese pound cake or sour cream pound cake any day boos. The cakes are dense enough to soak up the sauce and also mild enough to let the cherries shine.
• Breakfast: Serve this on top of some bomb fluffy pancakes, buttermilk waffles or something a bit different and Southern like hoe cakes.

Recipe Substitutions

• Cherries: If you can’t get the bing cherries, you can definitely grab some Rainer or Lambert cherries. The flavor might be a bit different. You can also grab frozen cherries as well. Just make sure you thaw them completely and drain all liquid before using in the cherry sauce recipe.
• Alcohol: No bourbon or whiskey lying around? Grab some rum, brandy or even an orange liqueur. You can even sub out alcohol all together and go with a cherry or apple juice. You will just skip the flambe effect.
• Cornstarch: Grab some tapioca starch, arrowroot powder or flour to help thicken your sauce when cornstarch isn’t around.
• Citrus: Swap out the tangerines for oranges, lemons or even limes.

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Vanilla: Adding some vanilla bean to this will add such a wonderful intense depth of flavor.
• Spice it Up: Add a kick to this cherry jubilee with some grated fresh ginger. It will spice the cherries up. Or you can add in a dash of cayenne or chili flakes.
• Add some fruit: Throw in some fruit like plums or peaches for a wonderful flavor combo. The cherries complement stone fruit so well.
• Chocolate: This cherries jubilee is the perfect combo with a drizzle of ganache on top of vanilla ice cream.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Use the Best Cherries and Prep Well: Fresh ripe cherries are your best bet for this cherry jubilee recipe. The cherries are the main event so don’t skimp here. They should be deep in color, plump and firm. When prepping them to cook, make sure you remove as much moisture from them as possible. Pat them dry with paper towels so the sauce isn’t diluted with too much liquid.
• Adjust Sweetness: Cherries vary in their sweetness so the sugar in this recipe is really a guide. Taste your sauce and adjust based on your preference. Do you boo!
• Watch your Flambé: Make sure folks stand a safe distance away when you get ready to light it up. Make sure you also keep a lid nearby just in case you gotta extinguish some flames. Tilt the pan away from you for safety as well when you light with a long match or grill lighter.
• Don’t Overcook: You want the cherry shape to stay intact so don’t overcook boos. The more you cook, the mushier they will become.

How to Store Cherries Jubilee

Store any leftover cherries jubilee in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers last up to 3 days max.

When you want to reheat, gently warm in a pan or in the microwave until warmed through. Just don’t let the cherries turn to mush.

Frequently Asked Questions

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