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    Home » Drinks

    Black Cherry Amaretto Sour

    Published: Oct 29, 2022 · Modified: Jul 28, 2023 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    pinnable collage for black cherry amaretto sour

    This Black Cherry Amaretto Sour is a delicious, festive drink for the holidays or any time of year! Make this black cherry cocktail with frozen cherries and a homemade sour mix using common ingredients.

    a glass of black cherry cocktail with a cherry and lemon

    This cocktail recipe comes to you from Papa C. But it has my name written all over it.

    I've always loved cherry-flavored drinks and adore this Chocolate Cherry-Almond Smoothie. And the almond-flavored amaretto sour is my favorite cocktail to order when we go out.

    So naturally, I conjured up a dark cherry amaretto sour in my head. I conveyed my artistic vision to my hubby, and he came up with the most delicious amaretto-cherry drink!

    And, it's better for us than the typical sour cocktail. Say goodbye to the chemical you-know-what storm that comes with a premade sweet-and-sour mix!

    This sour mix is made from scratch, using simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) plus lemon juice.

    Add some fizzy 7 UP or Sprite, and you’ve got a tasty, refreshing holiday drink with just the right balance of amaretto liqueur, lemon, cherry, and bubbly. Hello, Black Cherry Amaretto Sour!

    Recipe ingredients

    This fun cocktail recipe uses simple ingredients to make a fantastic amaretto mixed drink that will be the hit of your gathering!

    amaretto, 7UP, black cherries, water, sugar, lemon half, orange slices

    Black Cherries: We’re using juicy, sweet Bing cherries. These are dark cherries, not the dyed, bright red Maraschino ones.

    For convenience, buy frozen, pitted cherries. They're available year-round, so they're perfect for winter cocktails. If you want to buy fresh cherries in the summer, you’ll have to remove the pits yourself.

    Amaretto: We always buy the Disaronno brand of this almond-flavored Italian liqueur. Feel free to substitute another brand.

    7UP or Sprite: This soda pop adds a nice, lemony fizz. You can use the sugar-free kind, if you prefer.

    How to make a cherry amaretto sour

    See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.

    This recipe makes one cherry amaretto sour cocktail. However, the simple syrup mixture is enough for five drinks, so double up on ingredients as needed!

    Make the simple syrup

    Homemade simple syrup is easy! All you need is equal parts water and granulated sugar to give your cherry amaretto sour a lovely touch of sweetness.

    pot of bubbly water, adding sugar, whisking, pot of simple syrup
    1. Heat water in a small pot until it's almost boiling.
    2. Turn off the heat and add the sugar.
    3. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
    4. Let the simple syrup cool.

    Assemble the amaretto cherry sour

    three black cherries in glass, muddled cherries, mixed drink, cherry cocktail with garnish
    1. Place three black cherries in the bottom of a cocktail glass (affiliate link).
    2. Use a fork to muddle the cherries (break them up).
    3. Add amaretto, soda pop, simple syrup and lemon juice to the muddled cherries and stir.
    4. Garnish with an extra black cherry and a slice of orange, which is traditional for an amaretto sour, or a slice of lemon. Add ice if desired.

    Recipe tips

    • Smashing the frozen black cherries in each glass or pitcher (affiliate link) makes the drink's color go from a dull orange to a brilliant, ruby red! It also infuses the whole cocktail with a burst of cherry flavor that perfectly complements the amaretto and lemon.
    • If you want the Black Cherry Amaretto Sour to retain some fizziness, serve it as soon as possible. The longer the drink sits, the flatter the soda pop will become. But the drink will still taste delizioso!
    cherry cocktails on plates with lemon and cherry garnishes, bowl of dark cherries

    Frequently asked questions

    What kind of alcohol is in amaretto?

    Amaretto is an Italian, almond-flavored liqueur made from apricot pits. This classic drink also contains sweeter notes of brown sugar to balance out the bitterness of the apricot kernels.

    How else can you use amaretto?

    Amaretto isn't just a one-trick pony used for fruity cocktails! If you buy it to make Disaronno sours, you also can pair it with vodka, brandy, rum, or whiskey.

    It's also a popular ingredient in many sweet desserts, such as my Torta Caprese, Amaretto Pear Cake and Fresh Strawberry Pie with Amaretto. And it's absolutely delicious in coffee!

    More cocktail recipes

    • Easy Rum Cocktail with Iced Tea
    • Red Wine Slushies
    • No-Boil Apple Pie Moonshine
    • Amazing Chocolate Liqueur Recipe
    • Coquito (Coconut-Rum Drink)

    Salute!

    If you try this Black Cherry Amaretto Sour recipe, be sure to leave a comment and a rating!

    cherry cocktail with black cherry and lemon garnish

    Black Cherry Amaretto Sour

    This Black Cherry Amaretto Sour is a delicious holiday cocktail that's perfect any time of year!
    4.62 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 320kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    Simple Syrup (enough for 5; see notes)

    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup granulated sugar

    Black Cherry Amaretto Sour (one drink)

    • 1 ½ ounces Amaretto
    • 3 ounces 7 UP or Sprite (can use sugar-free)
    • ¾ ounce simple syrup (cooled)
    • ¾ ounce lemon juice
    • 3 frozen dark pitted cherries (plus 1 for garnish)
    • slice of lemon or orange for garnish (optional)
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Make the simple syrup by heating the water in a small pot on the stove until it's almost boiling. Turn off the heat and stir in the granulated sugar until it's dissolved. Let the mixture cool.
    • For each cocktail, place 3 frozen cherries in the bottom of a glass. Mash them with a fork. This is important for flavor and to give the cocktail its red color.
    • Add the Amaretto, soda pop, cooled simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
    • Garnish each drink with an orange or lemon slice and an additional cherry, if desired. Serve immediately, ideally before they lose their fizz. Refrigerate leftovers for up to three days.

    Notes

    Simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar and water. It's a good idea to make more than enough for one drink. You can store it in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a week and use some as you need it.
    The drink will have fewer calories and sugar if you use sugar-free 7UP or Sprite.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 141g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

    (Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C - Compliments of my hubby - Papa C! Originally published on November 17, 2017 and updated now with additional photos and information.)

    Don't miss my Pasta & Sauces E-Cookbook! Please SUBSCRIBE and follow me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM!

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    Comments

    1. Karen says

      November 05, 2023 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      This drink was delicious! It is my new favorite drink!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 06, 2023 at 6:42 am

        Hi Karen - I'm so glad to hear that! We love this too.

        Reply
    2. Cerolin says

      December 24, 2017 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      Dear Andrea, Thanks for this tasty drink recipe."DARK CHERRY AMARETTO SOUR"
      I made this drink to follow your recipe and everybody loves it.

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        December 24, 2017 at 12:13 pm

        I'm glad it was a hit, Cerolin!

        Reply
      • Shannon says

        July 14, 2024 at 9:41 pm

        5 stars
        My new favorite drink also! The ratios are perfect!! Wonderful recipe!! Thank you so much!!

        Reply
        • Mamma C says

          July 15, 2024 at 6:50 am

          Hi Shannon - I'm so glad to hear that! You're welcome, and thanks for leaving a review.

          Reply
    3. annie@ciaochowbambina says

      December 04, 2017 at 3:17 pm

      Another winner! Please tell Papa C that Mr. CCB and I will be enjoying this cocktail over the holidays! Cheers!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        December 04, 2017 at 4:09 pm

        He will be so happy to hear that, Annie! These really hit the spot on Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Patty @ Spoonabilities says

      November 17, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      This does look so delicious and festive!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 17, 2017 at 7:40 pm

        The cherry-amaretto-lemon combo is fantastic. Thanks, Patty!

        Reply
    5. Syama says

      November 17, 2017 at 3:33 pm

      This sounds so delicious ! I can definitely see this on our holiday table !

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 17, 2017 at 6:02 pm

        It's nice, because it's not too strong and can be enjoyed throughout the evening. Thanks, Syama!

        Reply
    6. Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says

      November 17, 2017 at 2:58 pm

      Love the look of this amaretto sour! It sounds delicious too!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 17, 2017 at 3:00 pm

        Thanks, Rebecca! It tastes as good as it looks. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Traci @ The Kitchen Girl says

      November 17, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      This looks like the perfect cocktail for all the holiday gatherings! My mouth is watering just looking at your pictures. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 17, 2017 at 2:31 pm

        I'm so glad you like the photos, Traci! This cocktail might be my favorite yet. Thank you!

        Reply
    8. Beth says

      November 17, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      5 stars
      Haha! not good when you end up in the kids snapchat stories! This cocktail looks just gorgeous! What a great holiday treat!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 17, 2017 at 2:15 pm

        Haha! I don't know why I'm so popular among her friends. Thanks, Beth!

        Reply
    4.62 from 13 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I've been sharing family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen for a decade! I hope you'll visit often!

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