Description
Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert featuring succulent cherries caramelized in butter, brown sugar, and aromatic vanilla, then flambéed with bourbon for a dramatic finish. Served warm over creamy vanilla ice cream and garnished with dark chocolate shavings and optional edible flowers, this elegant treat offers a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and boozy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Cherries
- 1 ¼ lb cherries, pitted (half sliced in half, half left whole)
Cooking
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of one orange
- Juice of half an orange
- ⅓ cup Luxardo cherries with 3 tbsp syrup
- 4 oz bourbon
Serving
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- Dark chocolate, to taste (for shaving)
- Edible flowers (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Cherries: Remove the pits from all cherries. Slice half of the cherries in half, keeping the other half whole to add texture and visual appeal in the final dish.
- Chill Chocolate: Place dark chocolate in the freezer to firm it up, making it easier to shave finely when garnishing the dessert later.
- Preheat Pan and Melt Butter: Preheat a pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes, then add the unsalted butter and allow it to fully melt to create a rich base for cooking the cherries.
- Caramelize Cherries: Add the cherries, a pinch of salt, and brown sugar to the pan. Increase heat to medium-high and cook for 3-4 minutes until the cherries begin to caramelize, stirring occasionally for even cooking. Stir in vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice, then continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes to infuse flavors.
- Add Luxardo Cherries and Syrup: Mix in the Luxardo cherries along with their syrup to deepen the fruit flavor and add a hint of sweetness and complexity.
- Flambé with Bourbon: Turn the heat up to high and carefully pour in the bourbon. Stand back as the mixture may ignite. Allow the flames to subside naturally for a dramatic and aromatic effect.
- Simmer to Syrupy Consistency: Once the flame goes out, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the liquid thickens into a syrup, enhancing the texture and flavor concentration.
- Assemble and Serve: Transfer the warm cherries and sauce to serving bowls. Top each with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Shave the chilled dark chocolate over the top and garnish with edible flowers if using. Serve immediately to enjoy the delightful contrast between warm cherries and cold ice cream.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of brown sugar depending on the sweetness of your cherries.
- When flambéing, use caution and keep a safe distance from the flames.
- Luxardo cherries and syrup add a distinctive flavor, but you can substitute with other maraschino cherries if needed.
- Chilling the chocolate makes it easier to create fine shavings for garnish.
- Serve immediately after assembling to enjoy the best texture contrast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cherries Jubilee, flambé, cherries dessert, bourbon cherries, caramelized cherries, vanilla ice cream dessert, classic American dessert
