One of the simplest Dominican sweets, this dulce de cereza, or acerola in spiced syrup, is one of our favorites. Made with Caribbean cherry, with a nice tart flavor and aroma, it is a very easy-to-prepare dessert with few and uncomplicated ingredients. It's perfect after lunch.
Why we ❤️ it
Few desserts brighten up our lives like a cup of a nice chilled dulce de cereza after a meal, a dessert that Dominicans enjoy very much, but very difficult to find outside the country.
Although it can be bought at roadside stands around the Dominican Republic, the favorite is always homemade.
Cerezas dominicanas
For those who do not know it, let me introduce you to the Dominican cherry: Malpighia emarginata, is its scientific name, and is also known as acerola. It is the fruit of a shrub native to tropical areas of the American continent.
This popular Dominican fruit resembles the European cherry, but is much smaller, has a slightly sour taste, and has three soft pits.
Dulce de acerola.
Serving suggestions
Dulce de cereza is very popular as a dessert after a Dominican lunch, served with a cafecito dominicano.
Cerezas are also popular for making jugo de cereza (acerola juice).
Top tips
- The Dominican cherry does not require you to remove the pits, they are soft and edible.
- You can store the jam in a jar with a lid and refrigerate for up to two weeks.
- This dulce is best -in my opinion- if consumed cold, and I prefer it homemade, although it is common to buy it at roadside stands.
About our recipe
There are not many versions of this recipe, and although some people add other spices to the preparation, the result is always a very simple dessert.
If you have a different way of making cherry candy, I'd love to hear about it.
Video
Recipe
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Dulce de Cereza en Almíbar [Recipe + Video] Dominican Acerola Cherries in Spiced Syrup)
Ingredients
- 2 cups acerola (West Indian cherries), or cerezas dominicanas, washed and with stems removed
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves
- ½ cup brown sugar
Instructions
Boil
- In a stockpot, combine the acerola cherries and enough water to cover them. Heat over medium heat until the water comes to a boil. Discard the water.Repeat the same process again. This helps eliminate the bitter taste the cherries may have.
Cooking
- Combine the cherries, cinnamon, cloves, and sugar with 6 cups of water. Boil over medium low heat until the cherries are soft, and the syrup has begun to thicken and reduced to about 1 cup.
Serve
- Chill in the refrigerator before serving, or store in the refrigerator in a covered pot.Remove the cinnamon and cloves and let cool to room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
