Maraschino Cherry Parfaits
A luxurious layered dessert featuring homemade maraschino cherries and a creamy Greek yogurt-sour cream mixture, topped with fresh cherries and crispy meringue pieces. This elegant parfait combines sweet, tart, and creamy elements for a sophisticated treat.
Ingredients
- •3 pounds fresh cherries, pits removed
- •1⅓ cups sugar
- •¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- •½ cup Luxardo maraschino liqueur or kirsch
- •1 teaspoon almond extract
- •2½ cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
- •2½ cups sour cream
- •½ cup powdered sugar
- •⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- •8 pieces vanilla meringue cookies
- •1 pound fresh cherries
- •1 piece heatproof jar
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Set a mesh sieve over a medium bowl. Bring cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and 2/3 cup water to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally; cook until cherries have released their juices and are softened but still intact, 20-25 minutes. Pour cherries into prepared sieve, letting juices collect in bowl. Set cherries aside.
25 min
- 2.
Return juices to same saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until liquid is reduced to 1 1/2 cups (it will be a thin syrup at this point), 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, add reserved cherries, and stir in liqueur and almond extract. Transfer maraschino cherries to jar, cover, and chill at least 24 hours before using.
20 min
- 3.
Whisk yogurt, sour cream, powdered sugar, and salt in a large bowl until smooth; fold in meringue cookies.
5 min
- 4.
Layer maraschino cherries, fresh cherries, and yogurt mixture into 8 glasses, dividing evenly.
10 min
- 5.
Maraschino cherries can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.
