Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (2024)

Recipe

Here is how to make homemade kirsch, it’s a bit of a throwback to the sixties when the drink was very popular. If you are into baking and co*cktails it’s a great tipple to have on hand and a good way to use up cherry stones too.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (1)

Kirsch is a classic drink but one that can be a tad expensive to buy. It is not a liqueur but instead is an infused alcohol which as well as being extremely tasty to drink is invaluable in the kitchen for cooking and baking.

I remember my parents always having a rather ancient bottle in the co*cktail cabinet. It came out when my Mum was baking but didn’t get much of an airing at any other time.

Homemade Kirsch

The clue is in the title here, this is not the commercially made kirsch that is distilled. This is an infusion where the cherry flavour (from the cherry stones) infuses the alcohol/vodka.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (2)

What is Kirsch

Kirsch originates from the Black Forest region of Germany and means cherry in German. Sometimes known as Kirschwasser, or cherry water. This is a clear brandy made commercially by double fermenting cherries and their stones.

What does it taste like?

Kirsch is not a sweet liqueur, in fact it is not a liqueur at all. It is an infusion which means it doesn’t contain sugar. It has an almost bitter yet subtle cherry taste and also the taste of almonds coming from the cherry stones.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (3)

Using cherries

In the UK cherries are only abundant for a short period of time and sometimes you can pick up some serious bargains during this time.

When this happens it seems a crime to waste any part of this juicy and heavenly fruit. Don’t throw away the stones make full use of them instead to make your own homemade kirsch.

Are cherry stones poisonous?

There is sometimes talk of cyanide poisoning with cherry and other fruit stones/pits/pips. Here is a good article from Good Housekeeping which I hope will put your mind at rest on this one.

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Ingredients for homemade Kirsch

There are only 2 ingredients in Kirsch. It is not made with the cherries themselves but the stones. All you have to do is remember not to throw the damn things away!

The other ingredient here is vodka.

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How to make homemade kirsch

Wash the cherry stones by just giving them a rinse and then patting dry on a clean towel. Now pop them into a plastic bag and bash them with a wooden mallet or rolling pin.

Use the plastic bag or you’ll have the things flying about all over the kitchen and the mess will be terrible.

Once you have your smashed the stones just tip them into a sterilised bottle and pour in 500ml/2 cups of vodka (not Stolly, go for a normal basic brand!), you’ll need about 50g/2oz of cherry stones for this recipe.

Set the bottle (with top on of course) aside in a cupboard for at least a couple of weeks and keep adding more bashed up stones whenever you have them.

I’ve left my homemade kirsch for 4 months and added stones again and again.

Then simply strain through a double layer of kitchen roll and pour into a sterilised bottle.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (6)

Kirsch – the lowdown

How long will kirsch last?

I’ve kept mine for up to a year.

Remember to always used sterilised glassware when making your own hooch. Check out my instructions on how to sterilise glassware before you start

How to serve homemade kirsch

Kirsch should be served at room temperature just like brandy. It is often drunk as an aperitif before a meal. However, some folks have it like brandy after dinner.

co*cktails: Kirsch is used in some co*cktails like the Kirsch Royale or Kirsch Cosmo.

In food – Often used as part of the base for cheese fondue in Switzerland. It is also used in baking and in desserts too. Oh and in chocolates too.

I use my homemade kirsch in my French style cherry clafoutis recipe.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (7)

Looking for other recipes for using cherries? Then check these out;

Homemade cherry brandy

Cherry conserve

Spiced cherry cheese

Cherry curd

Traditional French cherry clafoutis

Looking for more homemade liqueurs to try? Then check out my section.

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.

PS – Disclaimer – like all my recipes you make them at your own risk. This is a very old recipe for homemade kirsch. Nowadays some people make it without breaking the stones. I’ve been making it in the way shown here for years and have never had any issues at all.

Comments are closed on this post due to some really rather nasty remarks which have been removed. If you don’t want to make the recipe, are worried about it or otherwise, please just move on.

Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (8)

Homemade Kirsch

Karon Grieve

Homemade kirsch is so easy to make and perfect for cooking, baking and co*cktails

3.83 from 29 votes

Print Recipe Bookmark Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine French

Servings 20 servings

Calories 59 kcal

Ingredients

  • 50 g cherry stones
  • 500 ml vodka

MetricUS Customary

Instructions

  • Rinse cherry stones to remove all juicy flesh and pat dry

  • Place cherry stones in a plastic bag and bash with a mallet or rolling pin to break them up

  • Pour broken stones into a sterilised bottle and top with vodka and a lid

  • Set aside in a cupboard for at least 2 weeks

  • Add more broken stones whenever you have them

  • I have left mine for 4 months adding stones whenever we have cherries to eat

  • Strain through a double layer of kitchen roll

  • Decant into a sterilised bottle

Notes

The calorie values are taken for a 25ml sized serving of Kirsch.

Please refer to the article shown in this post from Good Housekeeping regarding use of cherry stones/pits.

Use your kirsch as a drink, in co*cktails and in cooking and baking too.

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 6mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 1mg

My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!

Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

Homemade Kirsch Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients! - Larder Love (2024)

FAQs

What can be used instead of kirsch? ›

Cherry brandy is usually made by macerating cherries in a neutral spirit and it may or may not have added sugar. Cherry brandy should be a good alternative to kirsch, particularly if you already have some.

What ingredient is kirsch? ›

kirsch, dry, colourless brandy distilled from the fermented juice of the black morello cherry. Kirsch is made in the Black Forest of Germany, across the Rhine River in Alsace (France), and in the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. Its production methods remain traditional.

What is a good kirsch? ›

Choose the best

Good kirsch eaux-de-vie brands to drink straight or for cooking with are thought to include Miclo, from the Alsace region of France, very close to Germany, and Fassbind, from Switzerland.

What is the difference between kirsch and cherry liqueur? ›

The cherries are fermented completely, including their stones. Unlike cherry liqueurs and cherry brandies, Kirschwasser is not sweet. It is sometimes distilled from fermented cherry juice.

What can I use in Black Forest Cake instead of kirsch? ›

If you cannot get fresh cherries you can use canned Bing cherries but please do not use cherry pie filling because it will take away from the authentic taste of the cake. If can't find Kirsch do not use another type of alcohol because it will not turn out the same - instead use cherry juice.

Can you substitute maraschino liqueur for kirsch? ›

Maraschino liqueur is sometimes found as an ingredient in desserts. You'll see it in recipes for cakes, tarts, candies, and other sweets. It's a good substitute for food recipes that call for kirsch, which is rather common in German and Eastern European sweets.

Why is kirsch so expensive? ›

Why is kirsch so expensive? Kirsch is made from Morello, a specific type of cherry known for its intense flavor. It takes about 20-30 pounds to make a bottle of kirsch which are a notoriously difficult variety to cultivate.

Is maraschino liqueur the same as kirsch? ›

Like kirsch, maraschino liqueur is also clear and has a bitter aspect produced by cherry pits, though it has more of an underlying almond flavor. Maraschino has more herbal notes, the cherry flavor is very light, and it is sweeter than kirsch, but not as sweet as Cherry Heering.

Can kirsch go bad? ›

Kirsch is a type of brandy, and it can essentially last indefinitely if stored appropriately. Once opened, it doesn't rush towards spoiling but could lose some of its flavor after a year or two. So while it won't really 'expire' in the typical sense, fresher is generally better for maximizing its taste.

What fruit is kirsch? ›

Kirsch (German for 'cherry') is a fruit brandy that is very popular in Germany. It is made from double-distilled morello cherries and is often enjoyed, at room temperature, as an aperetif or post-dinner drink. Try adding it to co*cktails such as a Singapore Sling, use in savoury sauces or add a boozy kick to desserts.

Can I use rum instead of kirsch? ›

Kirsch or rum: Traditionally kirsch aka kirschwasser is used, however, you can use rum or cherry brandy if you can't find any.

What is the flavor of kirsch? ›

Depending on who's making it, kirsch can be made with sweet or sour cherries, and often the pits get crushed along with the fruit, adding a slight bitter almond-like edge.

Is schnapps the same as kirsch? ›

Unlike kirsch, which is a fruit brandy, or schnapps, fermented from fruit pulp, himbeergeist is an Obstgeist, a neutral spirit infused with raspberry through maceration and then distilled a second time (Feinbrand) whereby several temperature fractionations leave all solids and color behind.

What is black cherries in kirsch? ›

In order to make Kirsch, a specific type of cherry called the morello cherry must be double distilled. Morello cherries are very dark in color and are typically sourer than sweet, which means that Kirsch has a slightly bitter taste, unlike other cherry liqueurs, which tend to be on the sweeter side.

What is kirsch filling? ›

Kirsch- This is an optional ingredient, but it makes the filling so delicious and perfect to use in a Black Forest cake! Kirsch (or kirschwasser) is a German cherry brandy made from distilling tart cherries. It's typically clear and traditionally used in Black Forest desserts.

Can cherry brandy be substituted for kirsch? ›

Brandy is the most common, so cherry liqueur is often called cherry brandy. Then there's kirsch or kirschwasser, which is an unsweetened eau de vie distilled from cherries. But sometimes kirsch is called cherry brandy. You can't use kirsch and cherry liqueur interchangeably, since one is sweet and the other isn't.

Are cherry brandy and kirsch the same? ›

Kirsch is a clear spirit made from distilling sour cherries. It differs from cherry brandy which is generally brandy infused with cherries, as opposed to being distilled from them.

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