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February 22, 2017 45 Comments

Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates

Old-Fashioned-Cherry-Mash-ChocolatesHave you ever had anything like these Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates? If you know a cherry lover or are one yourself, these are a must make. Absolutely Delicious! And if you are a fan of old fashioned candies, don’t miss my Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe! You will LOVE it!

My mom’s favorite candy bar when I was growing up was a Big Cherry or a Cherry Mash. When she was a kid, they were called Cherry Olet’s. She loves them, but they aren’t something you can commonly find anymore.

Because I know she loves them, I started developing this recipe over Christmas time to surprise her with it for her birthday. I perfected it a couple of weeks ago when I made candies for Valentine’s Day. Today is her birthday. Since she lives across the country and I can’t take some to her, the next best thing I can do is post this recipe in her honor today. Now she can make them whenever she wants. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!

Candy for various Holidays

  • Peanut Butter Balls with Coconut and Rice Krispies
  • Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Eggs
  • Chocolate Dipped Coconut Cream Easter Eggs
  • Candy Bar Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles
  • Golden Oreo Peanut Butter Truffles

I have a sister that lives about 20 minutes away from us. They came over to have dinner with us a couple of days after I had made these. I gave her one, and she oohed and awwwed and raved over them. I sent her home with a bag full. A couple of days later when she came over again and said, “Do you have any more of those cherry things?” They’re good. They’re really good!

The crushed peanuts in the chocolate are the perfect complement to the sweet cherry buttercream center. You will love the pairing of two such contrasting textures. These chocolates are definitely a candy I will make over and over. 

As far as making homemade candies goes, the best part is these are quite simple. Making them in a mini muffin tin with the little liners couldn’t be easier or more efficient. No dipping. It’s great!Old-Fashioned-Cherry-Mash-Chocolates

how to make old fashioned cherry mash chocolates

  • First, line the mini muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
  • Then, line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
  • Next, in a small bowl, combine softened butter and powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat until it starts to stick together. It will be clumpy.
  • Add patted-dried, chopped maraschino cherries. Mix well.
  • Using a tablespoon-size cookie scoop or small spoon, scoop cherry mixture onto lined cookie sheet an inch apart. Place in freezer for at least one hour.
  • Next, while cherry drops are freezing, follow the instructions on the package to melt Almond Bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Once melted, add crushed peanuts and peanut butter. Mix well.
  • Then, drop a small amount of the Almond Bark mixture into the bottom of each liner, just enough to cover the bottom of the liner (see photo below).

Old-Fashioned-Cherry-Mash-Chocolates

  • Take cherry drops out of the freezer and break each one in half. (You only want the cherry centers to be about 1/2 Tbsp). Form the halved drops into a circular disk and place one on top of each Almond Bark mixture already in the pan (see photo below).

Old-Fashioned-Cherry-Mash-Chocolates

  • Afterward, top each cherry drop with a spoonful of the Almond Bark mixture (see photo below).
  • Allow to cool completely and set up before eating.
  • Can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.

Old-Fashioned-Cherry-Mash-Chocolates

The Best Tip for making Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates
  • With a paper towel, pat the maraschino cherries as dry as possible. 

two pictures in a pinterest collage for cherry mash chocolates. you can see a plate of them and also one that has a bite out of it.

More delicious homemade candy

Merry Widow Caramels.....not sure where the name comes from but they sure are DELICIOUS!Merry Widow CaramelsHomemade Toffee with Chocolate and AlmondsHomemade Toffee with Chocolate and AlmondsEasy-Choc-Cream-Cheese-Truffles2Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles

5.0 from 10 reviews
Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
60 mins
Total time
1 hour 10 mins
 
Absolutely delicious Old Fashioned Cherry Mash Chocolates. A perfect and special treat for the cherry lover in your life. Great for Christmas or Valentine's Day gifts.
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Candy
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 6 squares of chocolate Almond Bark
  • ½ heaping cup crushed cocktail peanuts
  • 2 Tbsp peanut butter
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 1¾ cup powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, patted dry as possible with a paper towel
  • 2-3 tsp of maraschino cherry juice, only if absolutely needed
  • 24 mini muffin paper liners
Instructions
  1. First, line the mini muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
  2. Then, line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
  3. Next, in a small bowl, combine softened butter and powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat until it starts to stick together. It will be clumpy.
  4. Add patted-dried, chopped maraschino cherries. Mix well. IF the mixture is still clumpy after adding the chopped cherries, add a half tsp of maraschino cherry juice and mix again. If needed, add another half teaspoon and so on. You do not want this to be the consistency of frosting. You want to keep it as thick as possible.
  5. Using a tablespoon-size cookie scoop or small spoon, scoop cherry mixture onto lined cookie sheet an inch apart. Place in freezer for at least one hour.
  6. Next, while cherry drops are freezing, follow the instructions on the package to melt Almond Bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Once melted, add crushed peanuts and peanut butter. Mix well.
  7. Then, drop a small amount of the Almond Bark mixture into the bottom of each liner, just enough to cover the bottom of the liner.
  8. Take cherry drops out of the freezer and break each one in half. (You only want the cherry centers to be about ½ Tbsp). Form the halved drops into a circular disk and place one on top of each Almond Bark mixture already in the pan.
  9. Afterward, top each cherry drop with a spoonful of the Almond Bark mixture.
  10. Allow to cool completely and set up before eating.
  11. Can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.
3.4.3177

 
 

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two pictures in a pinterest collage for cherry mash chocolates. you can see a plate of them and also one that has a bite out of it. there is a line of text with the recipe name separating the pictures

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45 Comments

  1. Helen Arnold

    April 9, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    Are mini muffin paper liners the same as cupcake liners?

    to Helen Arnold" aria-label='reply to this comment to Helen Arnold'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 2, 2017 at 6:07 pm

      Hi Helen, Yes they are just like muffin liners but for mini muffin pans.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  2. Jack Daniel

    October 28, 2018 at 12:19 am

    Try adding vanilla to the cherry fondant.

    to Jack Daniel" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jack Daniel'>reply to this comment
  3. Kelly

    November 2, 2018 at 1:58 am

    I have been searching for a sugar free cherry mash recipe because I have had a love affair w cherry mash for years. They are sooo good but bad for you! I really think I can convert yours. Can you tell me if I could sub bakers chocolate for the almond bark?

    to Kelly" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kelly'>reply to this comment
    • Karen Smith

      December 19, 2021 at 7:34 pm

      Kelly, I have made this recipe with the regular ingredients. THE BEST RECIPE! I am now about to try them using sugar free chocolate chips. I have tried Lily’s chocolate chips but I just tried the Kroger brand of SF Chocolate Chips and I think they taste better than Lily’s. I don’t know why the SF wouldn’t work. I don’t know if I want to take a chance on using artificial sweetener powdered sugar, yet. Maybe I’ll make a small batch in case it isn’t delicious as the regular filling. I’m not totally sold on some of these “replacements”, like powdered sugar and Lakanto Maple Syrup. Argh.

      to Karen Smith" aria-label='reply to this comment to Karen Smith'>reply to this comment
  4. Linda

    December 12, 2018 at 12:01 am

    You can purchase cherry mash candy online from the Chase Candy Company in Saint Joseph, MO at cherrymash.com. My husband is from Saint Joseph. We order and have it sent to our home in Virginia.

    to Linda" aria-label='reply to this comment to Linda'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 1, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      Thank you for letting me know, it would be fun to send my mom some for Mother’s Day this year.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
      • Susan

        August 7, 2019 at 9:21 am

        I have been making these for years. It started out as a ball and dipping them, then went to making them in a pan in layers and cutting them. But this sounds perfect. I make these every Christmas. Will try these this Christmas. And you can send these in the mail to your mom. I send them to Colorado and Seattle every year. I know you can still buy them, but these are MUCH better.

        to Susan" aria-label='reply to this comment to Susan'>reply to this comment
        • Maria

          May 13, 2020 at 4:19 pm

          Thanks Susan!

          to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
    • Eva

      August 11, 2019 at 11:26 am

      I am from St. St. JOSEPH Missouri. Cherry Mash is an iconic piece of history and future in St. Joe. It is a smaller plant and once you get hired one never leaves until retirement. We now live in Mississippi (4 yrs). Family and friends send me the packages of bite size. Love them

      to Eva" aria-label='reply to this comment to Eva'>reply to this comment
      • Maria

        October 22, 2019 at 8:24 am

        That is so fun! I didn’t know that they were made in Missouri! Thank you for the bit of history!

        to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  5. Barb

    May 27, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    Why not make 1/2 T “blobs” instead of 1 T? You are breaking them in half, so it seems like extra work.

    to Barb" aria-label='reply to this comment to Barb'>reply to this comment
  6. Julie Merritt

    August 9, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    I would love to try these in honor of my mom. Cherry Mash was her favorite candy too and every time I see one I think of her! And she is from St. Joe, Missouri.

    to Julie Merritt" aria-label='reply to this comment to Julie Merritt'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 22, 2019 at 8:25 am

      Love this!!!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
    • Jo Ann Angeles

      July 8, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      Hobby Lobby has a limited amount each month or at least mine does. I lived 30 miles from St Joe so I am a lover of Cherry Mash also have ordered. Certainly will make this recipe! Big thanks

      to Jo Ann Angeles" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jo Ann Angeles'>reply to this comment
  7. Hanna

    August 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I am OBSESSED with Big Cherry and drive way out of my way to get some from a market in my town. 100% going to make these and eat way too many.

    to Hanna" aria-label='reply to this comment to Hanna'>reply to this comment
  8. Bonnie

    August 11, 2019 at 8:34 am

    I am struggling with the peanut butter aspect…peanut butter and cherry don’t sound like a match to me! But I am going to try these because I love cherry anything!

    to Bonnie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Bonnie'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 22, 2019 at 8:24 am

      Trust me! It is soooooo good! 🙂

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  9. Andrea Carmon

    August 11, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    These sound so delicious! Thanks for posting the recipe. I have a question….I have never worked with chocolate almond bark, so how much chocolate do you think 6 squares would equal? I did a google search and several different brands and different sized packages came up, but several of them made 6 squares look like a very small amount of chocolate. Sorry if I made this confusing.

    to Andrea Carmon" aria-label='reply to this comment to Andrea Carmon'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 22, 2019 at 8:23 am

      Hi Andrea, I think I know what your asking. With the brand I use, Six squares is 12 ounces.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  10. Reyna

    September 28, 2019 at 11:57 pm

    Hi, what kind of butter salted or unsalted? Thank you!

    to Reyna" aria-label='reply to this comment to Reyna'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 22, 2019 at 4:54 am

      I used salted

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  11. jolene v hancock

    October 3, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    Cherry Bings are made in Sioux City IA and are available online at Palmer Candy Company. this recipe sounds good tho and I think I’ll try it! Thanks!

    to jolene v hancock" aria-label='reply to this comment to jolene v hancock'>reply to this comment
    • KMPBAKES

      November 21, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      What is Almond Bark? I’d it another of your recipes? Is it Hershey’s almond bars? Thanks!

      to KMPBAKES" aria-label='reply to this comment to KMPBAKES'>reply to this comment
      • Maria

        May 6, 2020 at 2:46 pm

        It is a dipping chocolate that you can find in the baking aisle! The brand will be dependent on the store you’re in. I’ve seen a lot of different types.

        to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  12. Sue Clark

    December 3, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    THERE WASN’T ANYTHING ABOUT CHERRY DROPS IN RECIPE .SO HOW MANY???

    to Sue Clark" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sue Clark'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Depends on how big you make the cherry drops. You make them out of the butter and cherries and powdered sugar! 🙂

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  13. kelly

    December 20, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    Hi Maria, my friend and I made these a few weeks ago and they were amazing. We ended up messing up the bark/it didn’t melt correctly. To fix the situation, we pressed these into a cake pan instead to make bars. My question: Do you think I could double the cherry filling part (since its the total best) since I am pressing into bars and not mini muffin tins? Thank you! Kelly

    to kelly" aria-label='reply to this comment to kelly'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 2, 2020 at 12:35 pm

      Yes, for sure! Glad you and your friend enjoyed them. Sorry, I have taken so long to respond. I have been very backed up on comments.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  14. Rhonda

    December 22, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    I too am from St Joseph and cherry mash is my favorite but you can’t get them in Florida. So I am trying to make these. My cherry blobs are the consistency of frosting. uh-oh. I think for sure I didn’t blot dry the cherries well enough. Not a cook, so for first time making anything I subconsciously mess it up and then know what not to do next time. Fingers crossed they might still be okay. Thanks so much for your recipe.

    to Rhonda" aria-label='reply to this comment to Rhonda'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 2, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      Put it in the fridge or freezer and then scoop them, sometimes the softened butter needs to harden a bit to make it easier to handle.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  15. Kristina

    January 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    Instead of almond bark can you use Hershey’s special dark chocolate chips for dipping the candy in. I use this for dipping truffles in. I just want to make sure it won’t ruin this recipe. And if so would one 12 oz. package be enough.

    to Kristina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kristina'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 6, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Yes, but it will change the flavor some and possibly the texture.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  16. Kristina

    January 17, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    Can you use Hershey’s special dark chocolate chips instead of almond bark for dipping the candy in. I use this a lot for dipping Truffles in works great.

    to Kristina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kristina'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 22, 2020 at 3:48 pm

      Yes, you can use any type of chocolate you want, just be careful when melting it down. Sometimes chocolate chips will sieze if they get hot too fast.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  17. Susan

    September 30, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    Hi Maria, will give these a try. Could these be frozen? If so, for how long?
    Assuming my Hubby and I don’t eat then all in one setting!!

    to Susan" aria-label='reply to this comment to Susan'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 7, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Yes, definitely, They could be frozen in an airtight bag or container for at least 2 months if not longer.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  18. Amanda

    December 18, 2020 at 1:40 am

    Do you believe this could be made with white chocolate almond bark instead?

    to Amanda" aria-label='reply to this comment to Amanda'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 18, 2020 at 4:57 am

      Yes, what chocolate almond bark will work just liked the chocolate almond bark it will just yield a different taste.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  19. Kathleen

    February 9, 2021 at 1:52 pm

    This was one of my mother’s favorite candies, next to Chocolate Covered Cherries that is. Smile. Anytime I eat chocolate I think of my mom. I am looking forward to making “Old Fashion Cherry Mash Chocolates”. Thank you for some sweet memories.

    to Kathleen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kathleen'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 13, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      Me too! I actually developed this recipe for my mom. I love when food and fond memories are connected. We need to invent a word for it because it just doesn’t seem like there are any that do the emotion justice.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  20. Sara

    February 13, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    My son loves to make these! #febgiveaway

    to Sara" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sara'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 16, 2021 at 9:14 am

      I’m Guessing “J” is the son you are talking about! I love that he is such a cook and a helper!

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
  21. Sherrie

    December 20, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    Made yhese and they are WONDERFUL!
    Wondering if you have the nutritional breakdown of this recipe?

    to Sherrie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sherrie'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 5:27 am

      I am so glad you made them and loved them. Unfortunately I don’t have the nutritional breakdown. Sorry about that.

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment

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Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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