# What You'll Need:
→ Cherries
01 - 24 fresh, firm cherries with stems, pitted or 24 high-quality maraschino cherries, drained
→ Chocolate Coating
02 - 7 ounces dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa), chopped
03 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Garnishes (optional)
04 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped pistachios
05 - 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
06 - 2 tablespoons melted white chocolate for drizzling
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Wash and thoroughly dry the cherries. If using fresh cherries, pit carefully, keeping stems intact for dipping.
02 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
03 - In a heatproof bowl over simmering water, melt dark chocolate with coconut oil or butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
04 - Hold each cherry by the stem, dip into melted chocolate allowing excess to drip off, then place on prepared baking sheet.
05 - Sprinkle some dipped cherries with pistachios or desiccated coconut before chocolate sets, if desired.
06 - Continue dipping all cherries. Optionally drizzle melted white chocolate over bites for decoration.
07 - Refrigerate for 20 minutes until chocolate is fully set.
08 - Arrange chocolate-covered cherries on a serving platter in a pyramid shape: base layer of 9, then 7, 5, 3, and 1 on top.
09 - Serve immediately or keep chilled for up to 2 days.
