Indulge in a Sweet Delight: Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce
Are you searching for a sweet yet tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with your glazed ham or duck breasts? Look no further than this honey cherry champagne sauce recipe. Champagne is a luxurious and versatile ingredient that adds elegance and sophistication to any dish it graces. Combined with the bold flavors of tart red cherries and sweet honey, this recipe will elevate your meal from delicious to outstanding.
Not only is this sauce easy to make, but it’s also customizable to fit your preferences. Want more sweetness? Add more honey. Prefer a tarter flavor? Increase the amount of red cherries. The possibilities are endless.
If you’re looking for a new way to use champagne or eager to impress dinner guests, look no further than this honey cherry champagne sauce recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’re looking for a sensational sauce to dress up your entrees, you need to try this honey cherry champagne sauce recipe. Bursting with the flavors of tart red cherries and dry champagne, this sauce is simply divine. Not only will it add a touch of elegance to any dish but its versatility will keep you wanting more.
Imagine the rich and robust flavor of glazed ham or duck breasts enhanced by an exquisite sauce that brings out the best in both dishes. The honey and cherry add sweetness to tender ham while the champagne lends a crisp and refreshing tang. Infused with garlic, thyme, and tangy champagne vinegar, this sauce turns plain carrot salad into something divine.
But that’s not all! You can also use this sauce as a glaze over duck breasts for a succulent meal or mix it into a cocktail for a perfect French 75. Its sweet flavor can even serve as a dip for fresh fruit skewers or drizzled over ice cream. Trust us; your taste buds will thank you very much.
In summary, these ingredients work together to create an unforgettable culinary experience that everyone will love. The zesty combination of honey, cherry, and champagne makes an unforgettable palette-pleasing experience that you won’t be able to resist!
Ingredient List
Ingredients for Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce Recipe
- 4 cups of dry champagne, chilled
- 1/4 cup of champagne vinegar
- 1/2 cup of golden blossom honey
- 1/2 cup of dried tart red cherries
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon of mustard seeds
Optional Ingredients
- Fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds as a garnish
Most ingredients for this sweet cherry champagne sauce recipe can be found in your pantry or local grocery store. The dry champagne will form the base of the sauce, while champagne vinegar contributes the perfect tangy flavor. Golden blossom honey is used to sweeten the sauce and acts as a beautiful glaze for ham, duck breasts, and more. Dried tart red cherries give a burst of flavor along with chopped garlic and thyme. Mustard seeds are added to round out the flavors by adding heat and spice. Feel free to add fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds as a beautiful pop of color when serving.
The Recipe How-To
Step 1: Prepping the Cherries
First and foremost, you’ll want to pit your cherries. Cherries can be tricky to pit, so I suggest using a cherry pitter if you have one on hand. If not, you can use a sharp knife to carefully cut around the pit and remove it. You will need 4 cups of cherries for this recipe, which can be a combination of sweet and tart cherries. Set aside 1/4 cup of the cherries for later use.
Step 2: Cooking the Sauce
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine 2 cups of dry champagne and 1/2 cup honey over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 5 minutes. Next, add in the cherries (minus the reserved 1/4 cup) and continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes until the mixture has thickened.
Step 3: Blending the Sauce
Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and transfer it to a blender. Add the reserved 1/4 cup of cherries to the blender as well. Pulse several times until you have a smooth sauce.
Step 4: Straining the Sauce
To ensure that your sauce is silky-smooth and free from any lumps or bits of fruit, strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl.
Step 5: Serving and Pairing
This Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce is exceptionally versatile and can pair well with many dishes. For example, it’s perfect for glazed ham or duck breasts, but also works well with desserts such as cherry sorbet or cream sauce over ice cream. When serving, drizzle generously over your chosen dish.
Enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
If you want to change things up a bit, there are several substitutions and variations you can make to this honey cherry champagne sauce recipe. Here are some ideas to get you started:
– Use different types of cherries: While this recipe calls for tart red cherries, you can use sweet cherries (like Bing cherries) or any other type of cherry you prefer. You can even use dried cherries if fresh ones aren’t available.
– Try different honey varieties: The recipe suggests using golden blossom honey, but you can experiment with other types of honey as well. Orange blossom honey, for instance, has a citrusy flavor that could pair well with the cherries and champagne.
– Add other flavors: Consider adding some herbs or spices to the sauce for extra depth of flavor. A sprig of thyme or rosemary could complement the cherries nicely, or a pinch of cinnamon could add warmth.
– Use different types of champagne: This recipe calls for dry champagne, but you could also use a sweeter variety if that’s what you have on hand. Just keep in mind that the sweetness level will affect the overall flavor of the sauce.
– Make it non-alcoholic: If you don’t want to use champagne in your sauce, you can substitute it with sparkling apple cider or grape juice instead.
– Adjust the consistency: If your sauce turns out too thin or too thick for your liking, simply adjust the amount of honey and/or champagne until you achieve your desired consistency.
By tweaking these ingredients, you can create your very own unique version of this honey cherry champagne sauce recipe. Experimenting with recipes is always a fun way to unleash your creativity in the kitchen!
Serving and Pairing
This Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce is a perfect accompaniment to elevate your main course dishes. It is a versatile sauce that pair well with many dishes, from roasted ham and duck breasts to carrot salad and glazed ham cherries.
For a luscious dessert, drizzle the sauce over a bowl of cherry sorbet or try this sauce as an ingredient in a French 75 cocktail. Fancy something creamy? Try it as a unique cream sauce for your desserts.
When you’re deciding which bottle of champagne to pour along with this sauce, it’s best to stick with a dry champagne or brut. A good rule of thumb is to choose the best champagne for the sauce, since any acidic wine could throw off the balance of flavors.
If you’re serving roasted ham or duck, choose a bottle of dry champagne chilled at 45°F – This will bring out the sweetness of the honey and cherries in the sauce while balancing the saltiness of the meat. If you prefer a non-alcoholic drink to go with your dish, make your best champagne punch by mixing some tropical juice recipes like pineapple juice with lemon lime soda or seltzer and let your guests go wild.
For those feeling more adventurous, you can even try pairing this sauce with some cherry brandy or cherry liqueur. The sweetness and fruitiness will complement each other perfectly, making this combination perfect for an after-dinner drink.
Overall, this Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce is simply divine. It’s sweet, tangy and packed full of flavor making it one recipe that will leave everyone talking about your meal long after it’s over.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
This Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce recipe is perfect for make-ahead preparations. The sauce can be made up to three days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Before serving, reheat the sauce in a small pan over medium heat.
If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of champagne to help thin it out. But if the sauce feels too thin, simmer it over low heat until it thickens to your desired consistency.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. You may need to reheat the leftover sauce when ready to use it again.
This versatile sauce is perfect for pairing with different dishes such as glazed ham, duck breasts, and even carrot salad that needs a fruity twist. The cherry champagne sauce is also great for enhancing cocktails like cherry liqueur and champagne and enhancing desserts like cherry sorbet.
With this recipe’s make-ahead advantage, you can reduce the workload on the day of your event, allowing more time with guests while impressing them with this delightful honey cherry champagne sauce recipe complementing any dish or drink meant for those special occasions!
Tips for Perfect Results
Achieving the perfect consistency and flavor in a honey cherry champagne sauce can be tricky, but fear not, I have some tips to ensure your sauce is divine.
Firstly, when chopping the cherries, make sure they are finely diced as larger chunks can lead to a chunky and uneven sauce. Secondly, choose a tart and flavorsome red cherry for this recipe as it will balance the sweetness of the honey and champagne. Bing cherries or dried cherries work well too, but avoid using sweet cherries.
When simmering the ingredients together do not overheat the sauce as too much heat can cause the sauce to become too thick or even solidify. Use medium-high heat when reducing the mixture and keep an eye on it to prevent it from boiling over.
It’s crucial to use good quality honey for this sauce as it can be easy for the flavor to be dominated by other ingredients such as champagne or cherries. Golden blossom honey or orange blossom honey works best in this recipe.
Finally, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. When reheating the sauce, use low heat and add a small amount of water or champagne to thin it out gradually.
By following these tips and careful attention to detail, you’ll achieve that perfect balance of sweet and tartness in this delectable honey cherry champagne sauce every time!
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce recipe is a delicious and versatile addition to any home chef’s repertoire. This sauce has a wonderful balance of sweetness and tartness that perfectly complements both savory and sweet dishes. I recommend trying this recipe on glazed ham, duck breasts, or as a topping for ice cream or sorbet.
With its simple ingredient list and easy-to-follow instructions, this recipe is perfect for even the busiest of kitchens. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try experimenting with different types of cherries or even adding in some cherry brandy to give this sauce an extra kick!
So why not give this champagne sauce recipe a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
Honey Cherry Champagne Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) can tart red cherries
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup dry champagne (chilled)
Instructions
- Drain cherries, reserving 1/4 cup liquid.
- Purée cherries in blender or food proc.
- Add reserved liquid & honey.
- Transfer mixture to large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over med-high heat.
- Reduce heat to low & simmer 15-20 min until reduced by half.
- Remove from heat & cool.
- Just before serving, stir in champagne.
- Serve over ice cream, flan, pound cake or sliced fruit.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Recipes Just For You
None found