Now comes the fun part. The blanched, sad little orbs are soaked in a massive sugar syrup—think heavy syrup with corn syrup added—for weeks. This is where they get their sweet, cloying personality. They also get a splash of almond extract (benzaldehyde) for that signature "cherry" taste.
And the color? That’s Red 40 (or sometimes Red 3) doing the heavy lifting. That electric neon red isn’t from nature; it’s from a petroleum-based dye that says, “I’m here to party.” If you’ve ever wondered why your tongue turns red after eating one, now you know.
The Old School Way (RIP)
Once upon a time, real maraschino cherries were made from Marasca cherries preserved in a cherry liquor called maraschino. It was fancy, expensive, and delicious. Then Prohibition hit, and everyone panicked about the alcohol, so they switched to the brined, sugary shortcut. History is weird.
Today, “real” maraschino cherries made with liquor are still around, but they cost a fortune and taste like a fancy cocktail. The neon jar you buy at the drugstore is the goblin-mode version—fun, cheap, and a little bit chemically.
Homemade Maraschino Cherries — saltnpepperhere