Alright, now I am throwing down with some serious gourmet holiday candy recipies! This one, though it sounds fancy is pretty easy and so unbelievably yummy. The fruit I am using is Amarena cherries, but you could substitute another fruit. I just happen to thing it is a wonderful adult spin on a traditional child’s gelee candy.
Amarena cherries are small, slightly sour cherries that are grown in Italy, mostly Bologna and Moderna. These fruits are harvested and preserved in sugar. The result is an amazing cherry and syrup that is often used as a topping for ice cream. It used to be challenging to find Amarena cherries, but with the internet and so many great specialty food stores, it shouldn’t be too hard…whatever you do, don’t substitute Marichino cherries…
(adapted from Epicurious.com gelees)
Here’s what you will need:
4 packets of unflavored gelating
1 cup of water
2 1/2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup Amarena cherry puree
Start by pulsing cherries in food processor or blender until you have 3/4 cup of the puree. Pour water in saucepan on stove, add envelopes of gelatin, let stand 5 minutes. Turn on stove to medium and stir until disolved. Add 2 cups of sugar, stir until disolved. Increase heat to medium hi and bring mixture to a boil, then, reduce heat to medium low and boil for 13 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Skim any bubbles that remain after that time. Add cherry puree and pour into a lightly greased pan. Let it stand 8-12 hours to set.
When set, cut into cubes and toss in sugar to coat. They make outstanding gifts…place them in a cellophane bag with a cute bow and it is a great present for co-workers, hostesses, or whomever you want to remember.
