# What You'll Need:
→ Cherries
01 - 24 fresh, firm cherries with stems, pitted (or high-quality maraschino cherries, well-drained)
→ Chocolate Coating
02 - 7 oz dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa), chopped
03 - 1 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Garnishes (optional)
04 - 2 tbsp finely chopped pistachios
05 - 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
06 - 2 tbsp white chocolate, melted (for drizzling)
# How To Make It:
01 - Wash and thoroughly dry the cherries. Pit fresh cherries carefully, keeping stems intact for dipping.
02 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
03 - In a heatproof bowl, melt dark chocolate and coconut oil together over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
04 - Hold each cherry by the stem, dip into melted chocolate, allow excess to drip off, then place onto prepared baking sheet.
05 - Sprinkle selected cherries with chopped pistachios or desiccated coconut before chocolate sets for added texture and flavor.
06 - Repeat dipping and garnishing until all cherries are coated. Optionally, drizzle melted white chocolate over bites for decoration.
07 - Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until chocolate is completely set.
08 - Arrange chocolate-covered cherries on a serving platter in a pyramid: base layer of 9, then 7, 5, 3, finishing with 1 at the top.
09 - Serve immediately or keep chilled up to 2 days.
