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Mary Berry Cherries jubilee

Mary Berry's Cherry Jubilee Recipe

Morello cherries simmer in their syrup with sugar, then ignite with brandy for dramatic presentation before pouring over cold vanilla ice cream. This elegant dessert delivers restaurant-quality sophistication in under fifteen minutes, balancing tart cherries, warming brandy, and subtle almond extract with theatrical flair and genuine simplicity.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Calories: 245
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 × 15oz 425g jar or can Morello cherries in syrup
  • 2 –3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup brandy
  • A few drops of almond extract
  • Vanilla ice cream to serve

Method
 

  1. Begin by preparing your cherries and syrup. Drain the 15oz jar or can of Morello cherries, carefully reserving ½ cup of the syrup. Transfer the drained cherries into a saucepan along with the measured syrup and 2–3 tbsp of granulated sugar.
  2. Heat the mixture gently while stirring constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the sugar is incorporated, bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for approximately 5 minutes. During this time, the liquid will thicken noticeably and reduce by about half, concentrating the cherry flavor and creating a rich, syrupy consistency.
  3. Once the cherry mixture has reduced appropriately, it's time to add the brandy and almond extract. Pour ⅓ cup of brandy over the hot cherries, followed by a few drops of almond extract. Stir to combine these ingredients thoroughly with the cherry mixture.
  4. Return the pan to the heat and allow the brandy to boil for a moment—this step is indispensable as it burns off the alcohol while intensifying the brandy's flavor, leaving behind only its essence to complement the tart cherries.
  5. Serve this elegant dessert immediately while the cherry sauce is still hot. Spoon the warm cherries and syrup generously over scoops of vanilla ice cream, allowing the heat of the sauce to slightly soften the cold ice cream and create a wonderful contrast of temperatures and textures.
  6. The warmth of the brandy-infused cherries against the coolness of the ice cream, balanced with the subtle almond notes, creates the sophisticated flavor profile that makes this classic dessert so memorable.

Notes

Mary Berry Cherries jubilee Substitutions and Variations

While Mary Berry’s classic recipe is assuredly delicious as written, you can easily adapt it to suit your preferences and pantry staples. If you don’t have brandy, I’d recommend substituting it with cognac, rum, or even kirsch for a cherry-forward flavor.
You can replace almond extract with vanilla or skip it entirely. For the cherries themselves, I’ve found that fresh or frozen Morello cherries work beautifully, though you’ll need to adjust cooking times slightly. If you’re avoiding alcohol, I suggest omitting the brandy and increasing the syrup reduction for deeper flavor concentration.
For a non-dairy option, I’d serve the cherries over coconut or almond ice cream instead of vanilla. These modifications maintain the recipe’s elegant simplicity.