• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

drinks· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
December 8, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Cherry Bourbon Spritz – Sweet cherries are smashed with lemon juice and bourbon and then finished with a little cherry sparkling water.

a short glass with a gold rim filled with cherry bourbon spritz and a garnish of rosemary twig

Happy Friday! It’s only fitting that I send you into the weekend with a new holiday drink. This one is made with bourbon, which, along with mezcal, has been a popular hard liquor lately. The Old-fashioned is the most common use for bourbon whiskey, but it can be a little much for me. Instead, I like using bourbon in a fun spritz.

In this Cherry Bourbon Spritz, I smash cherries with fresh lemon juice, shake with bourbon, and then pour over ice with a little cherry sparkling water. That’s it! But, man, does it taste incredible! The best part of this drink is how balanced it is – not too strong, not too sweet. Just perfection.

Here is my Cherry Bourbon Spritz!

overhead shot of cherry bourbon spritz in glass with a sprig of rosemary
zoomed in shot of cherry bourbon spritz in a glass with ice

Tips & Tricks

  1. Use jarred cherries. The extra sugar in jarred cherries is just enough to sweeten this drink. Make sure they are the dark cherries, not the bright red ones. The bright red ones can be too artificial-tasting.
  2. Sparkling water. You need to have the sparkling water to give the drink the right balance. I love using cherry Bubly for the right amount of flavor without all the sweetness.
  3. Lemon juice. You must use freshly squeezed lemon juice for this recipe. It’s such a key component of the drink so you can’t risk it by using jarred juice.
Print Recipe

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

Prep Time5 minutes mins
Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 5 Luxardo cherries from a jar, stems removed
  • 1.5 ounces fresh lemon juice
  • 2 ounces Bourbon whiskey
  • 2 ounces cherry sparkling water
  • 2 cups ice

Instructions

  • Add cherries and lemon juice to the cup of your drink shaker. Using a muddler, smash the cherries into small pieces. Add bourbon and 1 cup of ice. Cover and shake for 15 seconds.
  • Add ¾ cup of ice to a short glass. Strain bourbon mixer over the ice in the glass until all the liquid is out of the shaker. Top with cherry sparkling water and serve.

Pin for later:

pin of cherry bourbon spritz

More drinks you’ll love:

Bourbon Peach Smash
bourbon peach smash photo shot from above angle to show the garnishes
Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz
two stemmed glasses of Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz with orange slices and rosemary sprigs with cramberries rosemary and half an orange on the table underneath, shot from the front
Holiday Mule
overhead shot of holiday mules in copper mugs

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

9 Comments

« Nutella Cream Pie
Autumn Kale Salad »

Comments

  1. CreativeFlow says

    November 19, 2025 at 6:09 am

    This is inspiring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

    Reply
  2. solitaire bliss says

    May 14, 2025 at 12:43 am

    This drink recipe is great to drink in the summer.

    Reply
  3. Crossy Road says

    July 2, 2024 at 5:15 am

    This is delicious! The flavors are perfectly balanced.

    Reply
  4. Melissa Costanzo says

    June 12, 2024 at 8:38 am

    Ride the wave of style with a pink palm puff everything comes in waves ! the vibrant color and soft fabric Makes it more beautiful and makes you feel better when you wear it.

    Reply
  5. Ann says

    December 9, 2023 at 12:52 am

    I’m a bourbon girl and loving the color of this drink for a ladies night. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Kushigalu says

    December 9, 2023 at 12:37 am

    A refreshing and delicious treat for holidays. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  7. Gianne says

    December 8, 2023 at 9:01 pm

    It has the perfect balance of sweet cherries and the rich flavor of bourbon. The sparkling fizz adds a refreshing twist. It’s a delightful drink that I can’t get enough of!

    Reply
  8. Holly says

    December 8, 2023 at 6:52 pm

    I am with you! My best friend is an “old Fashion” girl, but they are way too intense for me. This was the perfect compromise. I can drink bourbon with her and enjoy it! This recipe is delicious. Thanks

    Reply
  9. Andrea says

    December 8, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    Oh yum! Cherry and bourbon is such a delicious flavor combination. This will be perfect for us as an after dinner cocktail.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

apple pie egg roll dipping in caramel sauce

Apple Pie Egg Rolls

a cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

a stack of three Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

a hand holding up a cinnamon bun soft pretzel

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

a slice of victoria sandwich cake with a bite remove and a few crumbs on the plate

Victoria Sandwich Cake

close up of raspberries & cream profiterole sitting on a white plate

Raspberries & Cream Profiteroles

two copper mugs with Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule with thyme sprigs in them and on a table with cloth napkins and a bottle of Schweppes in the background, shot from a side angle

Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule

photo of cinnamon apple kolaches with granny smith apples in the background

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

stacked and spread out butter pecan macarons with crushed pecans spread around them, shot from a side angle

Butter Pecan Macarons

 

Okay, story time! Over the holidays, we finally go Okay, story time! Over the holidays, we finally got to visit Gideon's Bakehouse in Orlando, you know, the legendary bakery with the nearly HALF-POUND cookies that everyone raves about? The ones with 2+ hour wait times?

They had a virtual queue going, so we shopped around until it was our turn (thank goodness!). I grabbed a few of their famous cookies, including one that immediately caught my eye: the Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookie. 

I'm obsessed with banana and chocolate together, so this was a no-brainer!

And OH MY GOSH. It was even better than I imagined! Not only was it loaded with chocolate and real banana flavor, but it had candied walnuts throughout for this sweet-salty crunch. INCREDIBLE! 

The biggest bummer? You can ONLY get them in Orlando, no online ordering, no shipping. So of course, I decided to recreate them at home! And you guys... I think I got pretty darn close!

What makes these cookies special:
🍌 Real Banana Flavor: Mashed banana (not artificial!) gives them that authentic banana bread taste
🥜 Candied Walnuts: This is KEY—they stay crunchy and add that sweet-salty element
🍫 Double Chocolate: Regular AND large chocolate chips for maximum chocolatey goodness
🍪 Thick & Chewy: Chilling the dough keeps them beautifully thick

Want to make your own Gideon's-inspired cookies at home? 💌 Comment 'BANANA' below and I'll send you the link!

Have you been to Gideon's? What's your favorite cookie flavor? 👇
#BananaCookies #ChocolateChipCookies #GideonsBakehouse #OrlandoBakery #BakeryStyleCookies #BananaChocolateChip #HomemadeCookies #CookieRecipe #BakingFromScratch #CopycatRecipes
I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it f I used to love cooking, but during busy weeks it felt like a chore. I was too exhausted after work to make anything fun. But with all that time at home, I was able to rethink our favorite foods and make them more achievable for weeknights.

I'd always loved mojo pork (that Cuban citrus-marinated pork that's SO flavorful), but I never made it because traditional pork loin takes FOREVER to roast. But then I had a lightbulb moment: What if I used pork TENDERLOIN instead? 

We eat it all the time because it's lean, quick-cooking, and my husband can grill it in under 30 minutes. Why not marinate it in mojo?

Here's what makes this recipe a weeknight winner:
🍊 The Marinade: Orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, and oregano create that classic Cuban flavor. Just dump everything in a bag and let it work its magic!
⏰ The Timeline: Marinate for 4-24 hours (I usually do overnight), then it's only 25 minutes of active cooking time. Quick sear + oven = done!
🍽️ The Versatility: Serve it with rice and beans, make tacos, top a salad, use for Cuban sandwiches, or meal prep it for the week!

Three critical tips:
-DRY the pork after marinating: This is SO important! Pat it completely dry before searing or you'll steam it instead of getting a beautiful crust
-Use a meat thermometer: Pull it at 145°F for perfectly juicy pork every time. No guessing, no cutting it open repeatedly
-Don't over-marinate: 24 hours max or the texture gets mushy!

This has become one of our absolute go-to meals. It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but it's secretly SO easy!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'MOJO' below and I'll send you the link!

#MojoPork #PorkTenderloin #CubanFood #WeeknghtDinner #EasyDinner #DinnerIdeas #MarinadeRecipe #HealthyDinner #MealPrepIdeas #QuickDinner
Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is TH Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is THE most underrated flavor combination ever?! 

Growing up, guava was always around. My dad would spread it on toast with butter every morning, and I did the same. But it wasn't until I had guava with cream cheese at a Latin bakery in Florida that I truly appreciated this tropical fruit. 

The cream cheese perfectly balances the tangy guava jelly and makes everything ultra creamy. Wrapped in flaky puff pastry? KILLER.

I know this pastry braid looks super fancy and complicated, but here's the secret: IT'S SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE. When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so intimidated by how intricate it looked. It felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. But I'm here to tell you that is absolutely not the case!

Here's the whole process:
1️⃣ Roll out puff pastry and cut slits on the sides
2️⃣ Spread cream cheese and guava down the center
3️⃣ Overlap the side pieces to create the braid
4️⃣ Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar
5️⃣ Bake until deep golden brown

THAT'S IT! The braiding technique is so much easier than it looks, and the result is absolutely stunning.

Two critical tips:
-Keep it COLD before baking: Cold puff pastry = steam when it hits the hot oven = flaky layers! If the butter is too warm, it won't puff properly.
-Bake until DEEP golden brown: Not just golden, but DEEP golden. This ensures crispy, flaky pastry that's cooked all the way through. Nobody wants soggy pastry!

This is perfect for brunch, dessert, or honestly just because you want something that looks impressive but is secretly easy to make. You can also substitute any fruit preserves if you can't find guava!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'GUAVA' below and I'll send you the link!

#GuavaPastry #PuffPastry #PastryBraid #LatinDesserts #CreamCheese #BrunchRecipes #HomemadePastries #BakingFromScratch #WeekendBaking #ImpressiveButEasy
Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that c Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that came in the fancy blue tin? The ones your mom would buy every Christmas and you'd go absolutely CRAZY for? 

Well, guess what? You can make them YOURSELF! And they're shockingly simple!

I'm talking about those perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, melt-in-your-mouth-on-the-inside shortbread cookies that are basically edible butter. And honestly? 

I don't think they should be reserved just for the holidays. These cookies deserve to be eaten ALL YEAR LONG!

Here's what makes them so special:
-The Recipe: Only FIVE ingredients—butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. That's it! If you can cream butter and sugar together, you can make these.
-The Texture: They're like shortbread cookies but slightly softer, so when you bite into them, they literally melt in your mouth. It's pure butter heaven.
-The Secret: Use European-style butter! It has a higher fat content which makes these cookies extra creamy and flavorful. It's worth the upgrade, I promise!

Important tips:
Be VERY careful measuring your flour—too much and the dough will be impossible to pipe
Use a LARGE star tip (not a small one!) or you won't be able to squeeze the dough out
These actually taste BETTER after they cool! The crispiness is what makes them so good, so resist eating them warm (I know it's hard!)

These are perfect for coffee breaks, gift-giving, parties, or honestly just because you deserve a good cookie. You can make them in under an hour from start to finish!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin tre After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin treats recently, I was desperate for something with all those cozy fall vibes but maybe... a little less pumpkin? 

So I set my sights on something that doesn't get nearly enough love in the dessert world: SWEET POTATOES! 

And here's my controversial opinion: Sweet potato beats pumpkin ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. There, I said it! 

These Sweet Potato Cupcakes are super moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with the creamiest cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 

They taste similar to pumpkin cupcakes (so if you're a die-hard pumpkin lover, you can absolutely swap in pumpkin puree!), but here's why sweet potato wins:
✨ More starch = MORE moisture and density in the cupcake
✨ The flavor is 100x better (fight me on this!)
✨ That perfect balance between sweet and earthy

But what I'm MOST proud of is how the frosting and cake work together. You know how sometimes you get a cupcake with frosting that's way too sweet so you just eat the cake? Or killer frosting but blah cake so you only eat the frosting? NOT THIS CUPCAKE. 

The spiced cake needs a little sweetness to balance it out, and the tart cream cheese frosting is PERFECT. They're soulmates! 

Important tips:
-Don't undercook them or they'll sink in the center (but more frosting fixes everything!)
-Fill the liners 3/4 full—not all the way—to get exactly 12 cupcakes
-Use a 2M Wilton tip for that fancy frosting swirl (or just spread with a knife!)

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'CUPCAKE' below and I'll send you the link!
Team Sweet Potato or Team Pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! 

#SweetPotatoCupcakes #CreamCheeseFrosting  #CupcakeRecipe

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.