# What You Need:
→ Cherries
01 - 24 fresh, firm cherries with stems, pitted, or well-drained maraschino cherries
→ Chocolate Coating
02 - 7 oz dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa), chopped
03 - 1 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Garnishes (optional)
04 - 2 tbsp finely chopped pistachios
05 - 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
06 - 2 tbsp melted white chocolate for drizzling
# Directions:
01 - Wash and thoroughly dry cherries. If using fresh, pit cherries carefully, keeping stems intact for dipping.
02 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
03 - In a heatproof bowl over simmering water, gently 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 sheet.
05 - Optionally, sprinkle some cherries with chopped pistachios or desiccated coconut before chocolate sets.
06 - Continue until all cherries are coated. For decoration, drizzle melted white chocolate over the bites if desired.
07 - Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until chocolate is fully set.
08 - Arrange chocolate-covered cherries on a platter in a pyramid: first 9 at base, then 7, 5, 3, and 1 at top.
09 - Serve immediately or keep chilled up to 2 days.
