Sour Cherry Spoon Sweet Recipes

Steps:

• Place the cherries in a colander under cold running water to rinse well. Transfer to a small mixing bowl and add 2 cups cold water. (The water should cover the cherries by about 1 inch.)
• Set aside to soak for 2 hours. Drain well, separately reserving the cherries and the soaking liquid.
• Place the cherries in a small heavy saucepan.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the top to cover the cherries.
• Add a pinch of salt along with the reserved soaking liquid.
• Place over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer, without stirring, for 20 minutes.
• Brush the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush from time to time to keep the sugars from crystallizing around the edges.
• Remove from the heat and set aside for at least 2 hours.
• Return the saucepan to high heat and bring to a boil, using a metal spoon to skim off any foam that rises to the top.
• Insert a candy thermometer into the pot and boil for about 20 minutes, or until the mixture reaches 230°F to 240°F on the thermometer.
• Stir in the lemon juice and boil for 1 minute.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Stir in the kirshwasser and vanilla and set aside to cool.
• When cool, serve or transfer to a non-reactive container, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Lightly grease the baking tin and line the base with parchment paper. If you want to remove the cake from the tin to serve, you can line the tin with a piece of parchment paper that overhangs the two long sides.
• For the cherry compote, place the cherries, kirsch, sugar and lemon juice into a large saucepan and cook over a medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until the fruit softens and releases a lot of juice. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cherries to a heatproof bowl, leaving the syrup in the pan. Continue cooking the syrup until it is reduced to about 240 ml (8½ fl oz / 1 cup).
• Place the cornflour in a small bowl and whisk in a little of the cherry syrup to form a smooth paste. Add this to the cherry syrup in the pan and simmer, stirring, for a couple of minutes, or until slightly thickened. Pour the syrup over the fruit, cool slightly, then cover with clingfilm and refrigerate until cool.
• For the filling, whisk together the mascarpone, icing sugar, 600 ml (20 fl oz / 2½ cups) of the cream and the vanilla in a bowl until the mixture just starts to hold its shape. Add the lemon curd and continue whisking until the mixture holds soft peaks.
• To assemble the dessert, spread a thin layer of the lemon cream over the base of the prepared tin, then cover with a layer of biscuits, breaking them up as needed. Spread over half of the remaining lemon cream and then dollop over about a third of the cherry compote. Repeat the layering a second time and then finish with a final layer of biscuits.
• Cover the tin with clingfilm and refrigerate or freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
• Just before serving, whip the remaining cream to soft peaks and spread over the dessert. Cut into slices and serve each portion with a spoonful of the remaining compote.
• Store in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks; if refrigerated, it will keep for 3-4 days.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500°F.
• Sterilize your 1 pint jar by putting it in the oven for at least 30 minutes. Carefully remove with tongs, and be careful not to touch the jar.
• Combine all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring gently but continuously. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, for 8 - 10 minutes until the cherries are slightly wilted.
• With a slotted spoon, remove the cherries and almonds to a sieve over a bowl, but leave behind the cinnamon and star anise. Raise the heat to medium and reduce the liquid for 5 minutes. Pour in the cherry juices that have accumulated in the bowl, and reduce for another 5 minutes or until well-thickened.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Remove the spices and discard. Stir in the cherries and almonds and spoon into a sterilized jar or jars.