What Are Maraschino Cherries and How Are They Created?

If you've ever enjoyed a fruitcake during the holidays or indulged in an ice cream sundae (whether as a child or an adult, no judgment), you've likely encountered those bright red maraschino cherries. These little gems appear in drinks, decorate cakes, and sit in jars in fridges everywhere.

While you're popping one into your mouth or picking them out of a dessert, you may find yourself wondering exactly what maraschino cherries are, how to pronounce their name (it’s mah-rah-shee-no, in case you’re curious), whether they’re made from real cherries, and how they ended up in those signature jars.

What Are Maraschino Cherries?

These sweet, almost artificial-tasting cherries are far more complex than the bright red spheres we know so well. Originally, they were created as a solution to Prohibition.

Back in the day, most cherries in the U.S. were imported, and the liquid they were preserved in contained alcohol—specifically maraschino liqueur. But when alcohol was banned in the 1920s, these cherries disappeared from the scene. That's when an Oregon Agricultural College professor, Ernest H. Wiegand, stepped in. He sought to help farmers preserve their Royal Anne cherries without the alcohol. His invention led to the cherries we enjoy today, found in everything from milkshakes to baked goods.

How Are Maraschino Cherries Made?

Historically, since the 1800s, sour marasca cherries from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia were used to make a rich cherry liqueur, including pits, stems, and leaves. This maraschino liqueur was used to preserve the cherries after they were brined in seawater, giving them a distinct flavor with a hint of almonds from the pits. These delicious cherries were then exported worldwide.

When the alcohol ban in the U.S. and the high cost of importing these beautiful cherries made it clear that something local was needed, Professor Wiegand stepped in. In a method that might remind you of Frankenstein’s monster, he brought dead cherries back to life.

In simpler terms, the cherries are first cured in a brine of calcium chloride and sulfur dioxide, which helps preserve them but also strips away their color and taste. To fix that, they’re soaked in a sugar syrup, and then bright red dye is injected into each cherry. Finally, almond flavor or extract is added to replicate the original Croatian variety more closely.

Different Varieties of Maraschino Cherries

The bright, almost glowing maraschino cherries typically found in kitchens, bars, or family restaurants (perfect for a Shirley Temple) can be made from nearly any cherry variety, though Royal Ann, Rainier, and Gold cherries are the most common. They also come in a variety of colors beyond red—think orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—along with different flavors.

The so-called 'natural' versions are free from artificial color and preservatives, using beet or radish juice to add color. These cherries are darker and softer than their neon cousins but just as sweet. However, they don’t have the same shelf life as their artificially colored counterparts.

Imported maraschino cherries follow an Old World recipe that uses the cherries' own juice to preserve them. This method keeps the natural tartness of the fruit intact, resulting in a more complex flavor.

How to Store Maraschino Cherries

Thanks to their high sugar content, maraschino cherries can be stored for a long time if kept properly. Unopened jars should be kept in a cool, dark place, like a pantry, away from sunlight. Once opened, they’ll stay good for up to a year in the fridge, as long as the jar is tightly sealed and the syrup still covers the cherries.

Freezing maraschino cherries is not recommended. Because they’re so waterlogged, they’ll turn mushy when thawed.

What to Do With Maraschino Cherries

Maraschino cherries are mostly sugar, so they’re not ideal for adding flavor to dishes. However, they’re perfect as a sweet garnish for Shirley Temples, pina coladas, virgin blended drinks, milkshakes, banana splits, and ice cream sundaes. Whole maraschino cherries are iconic in pineapple upside-down cakes, while halved or chopped cherries often adorn fruitcakes, fruit salads, whipped cream salads, muffins, and pies.

The syrup can also be used to add color to things like cake batters or frostings.

Old World maraschino cherries, such as the classic Luxardo variety, are perfect for mixing into Manhattans and Old Fashioneds.

For more delicious ideas, check out our list of 15 Ways to Use Maraschino Cherries.