The maraschino cherries are one of the most delicious cherries out there, but they are equally expensive. For the same reason, the maraschino cherry juice is expensive, and not every grocery store will have it in stock. For this reason, we are sharing the most suitable maraschino cherry juice substitutes to ensure you are able to replicate its flavor and enjoy a similar experience.
Maraschino Cherry Juice Substitute
- Kirsch
If you have even the little know-how of the German culture, you would know how popular Kirsch is in the country. However, it also happens to be a promising substitute for maraschino cherry juice and lacquer. In fact, when you first look at Kirsch, it will also look like maraschino cherry juice as it has a clear color. You can also add a few morello cherries to the lacquer for distilling the flavor and will add the natural tangy flavor. For the most part, Kirsch has an almond taste which can be added to different desserts and cocktails.
- Cherry Heering
The second and our favorite substitute for maraschino cherry juice is Cherry Heering. Cherry Heering originated from Denmark and has become one of the most popular beverages out there and has a unique cherry flavor. It is made by mixing spices, neutral grain alcohol, and stevens cherries for creating a fresh, bitter, and sweet flavor. Cherry Heering has a slightly red color and can be used in a variety of cocktails, including Singapore sling and blood and sand. On the other hand, if you don’t want too much sweetness, it’s best to opt for Cherry Heering that’s from the true brandy line.
- Cherry-Flavored Brandy
Another great substitute for maraschino cherry juice is the cherry-flavored brandy which can be used in desserts and cocktails. The best thing about cherry-flavored brandy is that it is convenient to find and has the cherry notes that you are looking for. In addition to the prominent cherry notes, it will also have the sweet and mellow oak undertones that will remind you of maraschino cherries, especially in the cocktails. It is better that you add cherry-flavored brandy for cocktails that have light alcohol ingredients. In addition, you can add sugar or other sweeteners for adding better flavor to the desserts.
- Port Wine
Port wine is a great option for replacing maraschino cherry juice as it has better chances of replicating the aroma. To illustrate, it is the red wine that originates from Portugal and is used as a dessert ingredient, given the sweetness. In addition, port wine boasts a spicy and woody aroma which makes it similar to cherry juice. All in all, the flavor is pretty rich and sweet with hints of bitterness. Also, there are two types of port wine available in the market, including red port wine and tawny-colored port wine. Having said that, if you want a substitute for maraschino cherry juice for cooking, you can opt for ruby port wine as it has a mild sweetness.
- Cherry-Flavored Vodka
For everyone who likes gulping down vodka, you can opt for cherry-flavored vodka which can be found at various liquor stores. However, the cherry-flavored vodka will be able to provide the cherry flavor of the cherry juice. It has a natural and unsweetened flavor with cherry notes. For this reason, it can be used to add flavor to different cocktail recipes, including Martinez and avion. On the other hand, there are sweeter versions of cherry-flavored vodkas available, making them perfect for desserts – they will have a mild sweetness and tartness.
- Amaretto
This is an underrated yet one of the best substitutes that you can ever find. However, it has a great flavor resemblance. For those who don’t know, amaretto is the sweet yet Italian liqueur that’s made by a mix of sour cherries. It has a bitter and dry flavor of liqueur, but there are nutty and sweet notes, which makes it suitable for cocktails.
- Cherry Extract
Last but not least, if you don’t want to substitute cherry juice with alcoholic beverages, you can opt for cherry extract. The cherry extract is perfect for desserts and has a strong cherry flavor with a thick consistency. However, you need to test how much cherry extract is too much to ensure the extract doesn’t overpower the dessert’s flavor.