Name: Crushed cherry cocktail or cordial
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 20
Ingredients: 1 kilogram frozen cherries, thawed; 1.32 kilogram (6 cups) caster (superfine) sugar; 1.25 litre (5 cups) water; 750 millilitre bottle rosé wine or white shiraz; 2 fresh bay leaves; 2 vanilla beans, split sideways, seeds scraped; 1 medium lemon (240g), rind removed in wide strips; 1/4 cup (60ml) lemon juice; 5 x 750ml bottles sparkling wine or soda water, chilled; ice cubes, to serve

Crushed cherry cocktail or cordial

This sweet and refreshing crushed cherry drink can be enjoyed on it's own as a beautiful cordial or with an added punch to create a delicious cocktail. Delicious and uplifting, it's perfect for warmer Summer evenings.

Serves 20

Prep

20M

Cook

30M

Total

50M

Ingredients

1 kilogram frozen cherries, thawed

1.32 kilogram (6 cups) caster (superfine) sugar

1.25 litre (5 cups) water

750 millilitre bottle rosé wine or white shiraz

2 fresh bay leaves

2 vanilla beans, split sideways, seeds scraped

1 medium lemon (240g), rind removed in wide strips

1/4 cup (60ml) lemon juice

5 x 750ml bottles sparkling wine or soda water, chilled

ice cubes, to serve

Method

1.Combine cherries, sugar, water, wine, bay leaves, vanilla beans and seeds, and rind in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes, crushing cherries occasionally with a potato masher. Cool. Cover; refrigerate overnight.

2.Strain mixture, reserving cherries, vanilla beans and rind. Stir in juice.

3.To serve, either pour 1/4 cup cherry syrup into Champagne flutes, add a few reserved cherries and top with sparking wine. Or, pour syrup into a large jug, top with ice, some reserved cherries, vanilla beans and rind; top with soda water.