Amaretto Cherry Layers (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Cherry Syrup
01 -
About 22 oz (4 cups) of fresh Bing cherries, halved and without pits
02 -
1/3 cup plain water
03 -
1/2 cup regular white sugar
04 -
Juice from a fresh lemon, about 2 teaspoons
05 -
A splash of Amaretto, about 2 to 4 tablespoons (Disaronno works great)
→ Mascarpone Mixture
06 -
1 and a half cups of heavy whipping cream
07 -
16 oz mascarpone cheese tub
08 -
3/4 cup white sugar
09 -
2/3 cup of the chilled cherry syrup
10 -
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
11 -
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
→ Putting It Together
12 -
One 7 oz package of Savoiardi cookies (roughly 24 ladyfingers)
# Instructions:
01 -
In a medium-sized saucepan, toss in the cherries and water over medium-high heat. Lightly smash the cherries with a fork or potato masher, then lower to medium heat and let it simmer for around 2 minutes while stirring here and there.
02 -
Pour the cherry mix into a fine strainer and press down with a ladle to squeeze every drop of juice into a measuring cup. Toss out the leftover pulp. Pour the strained juice back into the pan, stir in lemon juice and sugar, bring everything to a boil for just 2 minutes, then let it chill completely in the fridge.
03 -
Use your stand mixer’s whisk to beat the heavy cream until it’s nice and fluffy with stiff peaks. Set it aside. Now switch to the paddle attachment and mix mascarpone, sugar, cherry syrup, and both flavor extracts until smooth. Slowly fold the whipped cream into this, starting with about a cup at a time.
04 -
Stir Amaretto into the leftover cherry syrup (anywhere from 2 to 4 tablespoons). Quick-dip the ladyfingers into the cherry mix and line six across in two rows at the base of an 8-inch square pan. Spread half the mascarpone mix over this. Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers and top with the remaining mascarpone. Pipe decorative swirls on the top using a pastry bag or a cut zip-top bag.
05 -
Pop the dish into the fridge covered and leave it to chill for no less than 6 hours. Overnight sets it even better.
# Notes:
01 -
Cut the soaked ladyfingers into smaller pieces to make them less fragile.
02 -
Add an extra spoonful or two of syrup if you love that cherry punch.
03 -
While 6 hours chilling is enough, letting it rest all night gives you way better flavor and texture.