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Hi Bold Bakers!

Cherries Jubilee is really a classic treat and a great way to take advantage of those cherries when they’re in season!

Homemade cherries jubilee is very simple to make, but it does put on quite the show. Not only does it look beautiful while you’re drizzling it over cold, vanilla ice cream, but to make it, you have to flambé it. It’s fancy even to type!

Flambéing is very simple and not as scary as it sounds. The fire burns off quickly and leaves you with a beautiful, caramelized, intensely flavored sauce. Use a long lighter or match, though! You don’t have to flambé your cherries jubilee, especially if the thought makes you nervous! It will still be delicious!

Sweet, syrupy, jammy cherries over ice cream. Sometimes simple is best.

What Is Cherries Jubilee?

Cherries jubilee is an old-school treat. In the late 1800s, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebration — her 50th year as queen — needed a dessert, and chef Auguste Escoffier rose to the occasion, creating cherries jubilee!

Cherries jubilee is a simple dessert. It’s just cherries, sugar, and alcohol. It’s cooked down into a syrup and flambéd to deepen its flavor. Then, it’s drizzled over vanilla ice cream. Cheap, easy, delicious!

What You Need To Make Cherries Jubilee

Measuring cups and Spoons
Large skillet
Long match or lighter

How Do You Make Cherries Jubilee?

It takes about ten minutes! Here is how you make cherries jubilee (get the full recipe with measurements down below):

Combine your cherries, sugar, and lemon juice in a large skillet over medium heat. Let it cook for about 5-8 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the liquid becomes syrupy.
Remove the skillet from the heat and carefully pour in your liquor.
Return the skillet to the heat and carefully ignite the alcohol with your long match or lighter.
Gently swirl the cherries in the pan until the flame subsides. This will take about 45 seconds.
Serve the cherries immediately over vanilla ice cream.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Cherries Jubilee

If you cannot find fresh cherries, you can use frozen cherries for this recipe. Fruit is frozen when they are at their ripest, so you know they will still be delicious.
Be sure to remove the pan from the heat before adding the kirsch or rum. If the pan is too hot, the alcohol might ignite before you’re ready and at a safe distance.
Keep a lid for the skillet nearby. If the flames seem too large, just cover the pan and the fire will extinguish.
If you are uncomfortable igniting the alcohol, you can simply simmer the cherries for a few minutes after you add the rum or kirsch to burn off the alcohol.
If you want to make this without alcohol, you can replace it with an equal amount of cherry or orange juice.
Try serving this with my easy homemade vanilla ice cream!

How Do I Store Cherries Jubilee?

This recipe is best when it’s served directly out of the pan on ice cream. However, you can cool the leftovers, cover them, and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can eat it cold, or you can rewarm it in a pan.

Make Homemade Ice Cream!

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!