Homemade Maraschino Cherries

Total Time: 26 hrs Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 3 lbs firm tart red cherries
• 8 cups cold water
• 2 tablespoons ascorbic acid, crystals
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 tablespoon almond extract

Recipe

• 1 remove pits from cherries.
• 2 combine 8 cups water and ascorbic acid.
• 3 stir until crystals are dissolved.
• 4 add cherries to the solution.
• 5 don't allow the fruit to remain more than 20 minutes.
• 6 rinse fruit; drain well.
• 7 combine 1 1/2 cup water and sugar.
• 8 bring to a boil.
• 9 stir in food coloring and add the cherries.
• 10 reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes.
• 11 cool completely, allowing cherries to soak 24 hours.
• 12 next day, bring to a boil and then stir in almond extract.
• 13 pack hot cherries into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch head space.
• 14 shake jars to get firm pack.
• 15 bring syrup to a boil and ladle hot syrup into jars.
• 16 process in water bath for 15 minutes for 1/2 pint jars.