Brach's Chocolate Covered Cherries

I'm going out of state to the hinterlands to spend Xmas at my sister's place, and am assembling a CARE package of her favorite Chicago comfort foods, like Caputo's tiramisu cake, Andy's polish sausage, etc. One of the things we grew up on was Brach's Chocolate Covered Cherries at Xmas time. I've been looking for, but not finding any. Has anyone seen these sweet, sugar-laden diet killers lately?

Have you checked Walgreens? They used to carry Brach's products.

According to candyfavorites.com, Brach's permanently discontinued "Villa Cherries" in 2003 .

https://www.candyfavorites.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=1838

They recommend Cella cherries as a substitute.

Amazon is selling a 72 count box of Cella cherries for $28, pr .40 each. Plus shipping. I don't think so. The Brach's used to be about a buck or two for 16. I know prices have gone up, but come on now.

Wow, that's sad news on the discontinuance of the Brach's Villa Cheries. They were certainly a holiday favorite for decades. I just figured they weren't distributing them here where I live (in CA) any more, although I still do find some Brach's candies.

The prevalent CCCC (Cheap Chocolate Covered Cherry) brand that I see is "Queen Anne". Perfectly adequate and at 99 cents for 10, it's a bad habit that not only can I enjoy, but I can afford it as well, LOL!

RSMBob wrote:The prevalent CCCC (Cheap Chocolate Covered Cherry) brand that I see is "Queen Anne". Perfectly adequate and at 99 cents for 10, it's a bad habit that not only can I enjoy, but I can afford it as well, LOL!

Beats the hell out of 40 cents each. I've had those Cella cherries. They don't strike me as any better than the el cheapo Brach's variety.

HI,

This evening I was at a friend's home admiring her Christmas tree. I saw there were Hershey Kisses in a red accented paper in the candy bowl. Opened one up, dropped it in my mouth and enjoyed a moment of pure pleasure. They were limited edition Cherry Cordial Hershey Kisses, which if not replicating Brach's will surely hit a new pleasure zone.

My friend believes they were bought at Walgreens. It is on my shopping list.

Regards,

Cathy,

Yes, we discovered them last year and they are pretty good (just don't let them go bad...ugh!). Basically Choc Covered Cherries without the cherry!

By the way, I saw them at Sam's Club last week so there's another place where you can stock up!

Has anyone spotted Queen Anne cherries locally?

Cogito wrote:Has anyone spotted Queen Anne cherries locally?

Walgreens always has them around the holidays. Today I spotted Queen Anne Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cordial Cherries at Aldi's which i had never seen before. They were pretty good with the peppermint not overpowering.

I too am a lover of Brach's Chocolate Covered Cherries! I actually called the company because I missed them so much and couldn't find them. They informed me that they had been discontinued to my shagrin.

So I tried the Wally world Queen Anne and don't like them at all..I hope I don't sound like a choco cherry snob, but they just didn't do it for me!

Any suggestions out there for a excellent quality product? I don't mind spending more to get the equivalentof those great Brach's Cherries so if anyone has run across anything please please please let this Candylover know. Thanks!

Candylover wrote:I too am a lover of Brach's Chocolate Covered Cherries! I actually called the company because I missed them so much and couldn't find them. They informed me that they had been discontinued to my shagrin.

So I tried the Wally world Queen Anne and don't like them at all..I hope I don't sound like a choco cherry snob, but they just didn't do it for me!

Any suggestions out there for a excellent quality product? I don't mind spending more to get the equivalentof those great Brach's Cherries so if anyone has run across anything please please please let this Candylover know. Thanks!

How about Fannie May? They used to make some really good ones. I'm not sure if the new Fannie May still makes them, but it's worth a shot.

The Brach's cherries had a sort of sugar cream surrounding the cherry instead of liquid. It made them too sweet for my taste, but that is what made them unique. It may be tough to find another candy like that.

stevez wrote:How about Fannie May? They used to make some really good ones. I'm not sure if the new Fannie May still makes them, but it's worth a shot.

I impulsively stopped by the Fannie May on Lincoln last night on my way home from work, thinking of this post. They didn't have any milk chocolate cherries, but it was just as well. The half dozen dark chocolate cherries I bought are perfect in every way...no weird sugar cream, just bright red marachino cherry, liquid, and chocolate. A bit steep at $19.99 a pound, but it was worth it.

Fannie May
7001 N Lincoln Ave, Lincolnwood, IL
(just south of touhy near the edens)
(847) 423-1006

Dominick's on Halsted & Madison was selling Cella's Cherries as of last night for $3.99. I can't give you the exact count in the box, but I believe that there was more than ten (and should beat the .40 cent price quoted above).

Just a sidebar to the Chocolate Covered Cherry thread. . . . .back around the dawn of time, in my first "real" job after college I worked for the ad agency that handled Fanny May work at that time. I saw two very interesting things during a factory tour on West Jackson that stick in my mind to this day.

1. a tile "pool" that appeared olympic size that was about 4 inches deep that they used for something with chocolate. . . .it was an impressive site . . . .very full of chocolate.

2. The most boring, mind-numbing job possible. The Cherry Pit Inspector Ladies. They sat all day looking at cherries over a light table looking for pits.

I, too, am fond of the Brach Cherries. My Mom gave my brother and I a box every Xmas. Now they're gone, as is she. . . .Sweet Memories.

They do not make them anymore. 1-800-283-6659 is the customer service line. I called and was told the they quit making them around two years ago. Just figured I would let you know!

Stanne,

Welcome to LTH.

If you scroll above, it is known these were discontinued two years ago. Sad for those who loved them. I think there is an attempt here to find a decent, well-priced substitute.

Thanks!

Regards,

At a visit to Trader Joe's last week, we saw some brandy (I believe) chocolate covered cherries, relatively inexpensive. Definitely NOT like Brachs, but something (possibly) to try for a new tradition. My friend bought some and was carded. . .apparently these have enough alcohol that someone (the State? the company?) requires the cashiers to ensure consumers of them are 21. He decided he liked them quite fine; he also loves to go to Polish stores to get other alcohol filled chocolate goodies if that gives a starting point to his tastes. I did not try them.

Hmm....TJ's was out of the choc. covered cherries last night, but they did have regular brandy-filled chocolates. (the one on 3xxx N. Lincoln)

That TJs doesn't quite have its ordering process worked out - or shipping or something. They are often out of a particular thing that I have had or want - yet the next time it is back.

I bought some chocolate cherries today at Devon Market. They were only 2.99 for a box of 16 individually wrapped cherries. The brand name is KRAS Griotte, and they are made in Croatia. They are comparable to Brachs in size and texture, but not nearly as sweet. The chocolate is much darker than Brach's (43% cocoa). The cherry filling is not as sugary. In fact, it is a little tart, but it does have a touch of sugar cream (and a touch of booze). They are instantly addictive, and a great deal.

Devon Market
1440 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60660

Btw Devon Market is open from 7am to 8pm on Xmas day.

For those still desperate for a fix of cheap chocolate covered cherries, I noticed today that my local Aldi has a good supply of both the mint and the regular marked down to 69 cents for a 10 piece box.

I just picked up some "Queene Anne" chocolate covered cherries at Aldi today. $1.29 for a box of ten.

I had been eating Brachs chocolate covered cherries for 35 years and purchased many different types once Brachs stopped making them. Queen Anne brand is the closest thing I have found. Can hardly tell the difference. The other brands do not come close. YUMMY!

d4v3 wrote:I bought some chocolate cherries today at Devon Market. They were only 2.99 for a box of 16 individually wrapped cherries. The brand name is KRAS Griotte, and they are made in Croatia.

I saw these at Harvestime today as well, with several sizes of boxes available.

Have I got news for all of you Chocolate Covered Cherry Fans!! I decided to try just one more time searching for Brach's Milk Chocolate Covered Cherries. And I found that the company has brought back a similar item after so many disappointed customers contacted them. So click on this link for all the info:[url] http://www.candyfavorites.com/Brachs-Vi ... -1838.html[/url] Now we can all revisit our childhood Christmas memories this year! I can't wait!

Praise the Lord! What a stroke of luck! I can now die happy!

I can remember my mother making these at home. It was messy and a lot of work. Since they had "booze" in them, we kids were not allowed to taste them. I have since made them and they are addictive. I have modified mom's recipe somewhat to allow for using the microwave, (something that wasn't available in the 1950's);

Mom's Cherry Cordials (with my humble modifications):
You'll need:
* Small sauce pan
* Amaretto
* 60 Maraschino cherries
* Paper towels
* 3 tbsp. butter
* glass bowl (microwave safe)
* Medium mixing bowl
* 3 tbsp. light corn syrup
* 2 cups confectioners' sugar
* Cookie sheet
* Wax paper
* 1lb. Confectioner's dark chocolate coating (Mom used Guittard's bitter dark chocolate. Using the coating eliminates the possibility of goofing up the tempering of the chocolate)
* Spoon
* Plastic storage container

Instructions:
1. Drain the cherries thoroughly and reserve ¼ cup of the cherry juice. Bring it to a boil in a small sauce pan.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in ½ cup amaretto.
3. Stir in the cherries. Let it stand overnight.
4. Remove the cherries and place them onto paper towels, allowing them to sit until thoroughly drained, (3-4 hours).
5. Put the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave 30 seconds to soften, (you can also soften the butter overnight to eliminate this step, that;s what was written in mom's original recipe). Transfer it to the medium-sized mixing bowl.
6. Add corn syrup and mix well. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead it until it is smooth. If the mixture is too soft, place it in the refrigerator to chill until you are able to knead it like bread dough, (what you are making here is confectioner's "paste").
7. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper. Shape a "grape sized piece of the sugar dough around each of the maraschino cherries, (flatten the dough into a small disc with your fingers and mold the dough around the cherry). Place the covered cherries upright on the baking sheet. Chill it in the refrigerator until the coated cherries are firm, usually about 1 to 2 hours.
8. Melt the dipping chocolate according to package directions. Hold each cherry by the stem and dip once into the chocolate. Use a spoon to coat completely. Make sure each cherry is completely sealed with chocolate, or the cherry juice will leak out.
9. Allow excess chocolate to drip off of the cherries. Place them stem side up on the cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Chill the cherry cordials for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chocolate has set. (you may repeat this step to increase the thickness of the chocolate coating... it's really not worth doing unless you have a major chocolate "jones" in which case you would be better off eating the chocolate directly and forgetting the cherries).
10. Place the candies into a plastic storage container, with lid. Make sure it is airtight. Place the storage container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks to allow the center to soften and liquefy.

NOTE: you may substitute Creme de Cacao for the Amaretto

Enjoy!

Perhaps this is one of those things that most midwesterners learn at their mothers' knees, but I hadn't before encountered this decorative and tasty use for chocolate covered cherries



Happy Thanksgiving!