Homemade Cherry Vodka Liqueur with Sugar

Name: Homemade Cherry Vodka Liqueur with Sugar
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 40350 min
Yield: About 1.5 litres, depending on fruit juice
Cuisine: Ukrainian
Ingredients: 1 kg pitted fresh or thawed cherries; 500–700 g sugar, to taste; 1 L commercially bottled drinking vodka; to taste cinnamon stick or vanilla pod, optional

A slow cherry-and-vodka infusion sweetened with sugar and strained after several weeks.

By Savva LoginovUpdated October 2, 2026

Total 672 hr 30 minMakes About 1.5 litres, depending on fruit juice

Jump to Recipe

This cherry infusion uses one kilogram of cherries, bottled drinking vodka and sugar. Sort the fruit carefully and remove every pit before filling a clean food-grade jar. Add the measured sugar and cover the cherries completely with vodka, then keep the tightly covered jar in a cool dark place for three to four weeks. Turn it occasionally to dissolve the sugar without opening it repeatedly. Strain through clean cloth, label the bottle as alcoholic and chill before serving in small glasses. The source also describes a juice substitution, but fruit juice is a different perishable drink and cannot be stored like a vodka infusion.

Recipe card

Homemade Cherry Vodka Liqueur with Sugar

Prep 30 minCook 0 minTotal 672 hr 30 minYield About 1.5 litres, depending on fruit juice

Equipment: Large food-grade jar, cherry pitter, clean sieve and bottle

Ingredients

1 kg pitted fresh or thawed cherries 500–700 g sugar, to taste 1 L commercially bottled drinking vodka to taste cinnamon stick or vanilla pod, optional

Instructions

Sort and pit
Rinse fresh cherries, discard damaged fruit and remove the pits. Thaw frozen cherries in the refrigerator.
Combine
Layer fruit and 500 g sugar in a clean large food-grade jar; cover fully with bottled vodka and add optional spice.
Infuse
Close and keep cool and dark for 3–4 weeks, gently rotating occasionally until sugar dissolves.
Strain
Filter through clean cloth, discard fruit and taste; dissolve a little more sugar only if needed.
Bottle
Transfer to a clean bottle, label clearly as alcoholic and serve chilled.

How to tell when it is ready

Deep cherry color and dissolved sugar after three to four weeks.

Tips

Remove pits before infusing.
Keep fruit submerged beneath the vodka.
Start with the lower sugar amount and adjust after straining.
Use a clean fine sieve for a clearer liqueur.

Serving suggestions

Pour a small chilled measure.
Serve over a little ice.
Add a measured splash to a cocktail.
Offer with chocolate dessert to adults.

Make ahead

Prepare ingredients ahead and keep perishable items cold until cooking or serving.

Storage

Keep tightly closed in a cool dark place; refrigerate after opening and discard if mold or off odor appears.

Food safety

Use only commercially bottled drinking alcohol, not industrial spirits. Remove pits; this is alcoholic and unsuitable for children.

Frequently asked questions

Can apple juice replace the vodka?

It makes a separate refrigerated cherry drink, not a shelf-stable liqueur.

How should I store cherry liqueur with vodka?

Keep tightly closed in a cool dark place; refrigerate after opening and discard if mold or off odor appears.

About the author

Savva Loginov

Savva Loginov writes about traditional Ukrainian cooking, including regional dishes, heritage baking and the customs behind familiar recipes. His English guides explain each dish’s context alongside clear, practical cooking instructions.