Discover the delightful ease of making a classic dessert in your slow cooker: Cherries Jubilee. This recipe transforms the traditional flaming presentation into a hands-off, fuss-free experience, perfect for home cooks seeking elegance without the effort.

Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee: Effortless Elegance in Your Slow Cooker

Cherries Jubilee holds a special place in the hearts of dessert lovers, conjuring images of grand dining and celebratory occasions. While its traditional preparation often involves a dramatic tableside flambé, this recipe brings all the rich, fruity flavor and luxurious texture to your kitchen with the convenience of a crock pot. Imagine a deep, luscious cherry sauce, warmed to perfection, ready to spoon over your favorite accompaniments – all achieved with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

The inspiration for this particular slow cooker adaptation came from a casual mention during a quiet evening at home. My husband, recalling the exquisite Cherries Jubilee we enjoyed on a past cruise, subtly hinted at his desire to relive that culinary memory. Naturally, I couldn’t resist the challenge of recreating such a beloved classic in a way that aligns with our busy lives: using the trusty crock pot. The result? A remarkably simple yet profoundly delicious dessert that has quickly become a family favorite, proving that some of the best dishes can be made without complicated steps or constant supervision.

Why Choose the Crock Pot for Your Cherries Jubilee?

Embracing the slow cooker for desserts offers a unique set of advantages, especially for a dish like Cherries Jubilee. The gentle, consistent heat of a crock pot allows the flavors of the cherries, sugar, and orange juice to meld beautifully, creating a more profound and harmonious taste. This method also eliminates the need for constant stirring or worrying about scorching, which can be a concern with stovetop preparations.

• Hands-Off Cooking: Simply combine the ingredients, set your slow cooker, and let it do the work. This frees you up to focus on other meal preparations or simply enjoy your time.
• Even Heating: The crock pot ensures a steady, low temperature, preventing the cherries from overcooking and maintaining their tender texture while developing a rich, thick sauce.
• Perfect for Entertaining: Hosting a dinner party or a holiday gathering? Your crock pot can keep the Cherries Jubilee warm and ready to serve for hours, allowing you to present a fresh, hot dessert without last-minute scrambling.
• Less Oven Space: During busy holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving, oven space is often at a premium. A slow cooker dessert keeps your oven free for savory dishes, making meal planning much smoother.

A Touch of History: The Origins of Cherries Jubilee

Cherries Jubilee is a dessert with a regal past, said to have been created by Auguste Escoffier, the celebrated French chef, for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. The original recipe featured cherries poached in liqueur, then flambéed and served with vanilla ice cream. This grand tradition quickly became a symbol of luxury and celebration. While our crock pot version skips the theatrics of the flame, it captures the essence of this historic dessert: plump, sweet cherries in a glistening sauce, perfectly complemented by creamy vanilla ice cream. It’s a taste of history, simplified for modern kitchens.

Essential Ingredients for Your Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee

Creating this magnificent dessert requires just a few simple ingredients, easily found at any grocery store. The beauty lies in how these components transform into a rich, flavorful sauce in your slow cooker.

• Pitted Dark Sweet Cherries in Heavy Syrup: The foundation of our jubilee. Using canned cherries in heavy syrup provides both the fruit and a sweet liquid base for the sauce. Look for a quality brand; for this recipe, two 15 to 19oz cans are ideal, totaling around 30oz. This also simplifies the process compared to preparing fresh cherries from scratch.
• Dried Cherries: These add a wonderful chewy texture and an intensified cherry flavor that develops beautifully as they plump up in the slow cooker. They contribute depth to the overall taste profile.
• Granulated Sugar: While canned cherries provide some sweetness, an additional ½ cup of granulated sugar helps achieve that perfectly balanced sweet-tart profile typical of Cherries Jubilee. Adjust to your personal preference.
• Orange Juice: A splash of orange juice brightens the flavor, adds a subtle citrus tang, and cuts through the sweetness of the cherries, creating a more complex and appealing taste.
• Almond Extract: This secret ingredient is key! Almond extract has a magical ability to enhance the natural cherry flavor, giving the dessert an authentic and delightful aroma. A small amount goes a long way.
• Cornstarch & Cold Water: This mixture, known as a “slurry,” is essential for thickening the sauce to that perfect glossy consistency. It’s crucial to mix cornstarch with cold water first to prevent lumps when added to the hot liquid.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee

Making this slow cooker Cherries Jubilee couldn’t be simpler. Follow these straightforward steps for a dessert that tastes gourmet but is incredibly easy to prepare.

Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee Recipe

Delicious and easy to make Crockpot Cherries Jubilee! A perfect hands-off dessert for any occasion.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 201 kcal

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients:

• 30 oz pitted dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup (2 – 15 to 19oz cans)
• ½ cup dried cherries
• ½ cup white sugar
• ¼ cup orange juice
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 Tablespoons cold water

Instructions:

1. Stir canned cherries with their syrup, dried cherries, sugar, orange juice, and almond extract together directly in the basin of your crock pot.
2. Cover the crock pot and cook on the LOW setting for 3 hours.
3. In a small separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and cold water, stirring until a smooth, lump-free slurry is formed. Pour this slurry into the crock pot with the cherry mixture.
4. Cover again and continue to cook on the HIGH setting for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has visibly thickened to your desired consistency.
5. Once thickened, turn your crock pot to the “warm” setting and serve immediately, or keep warm for later enjoyment.

Kitchen Tools:

• Slow cooker (a model with a digital timer that switches to “warm” automatically is highly recommended)
• Wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula
• Small bowl for making the cornstarch slurry
• Serving dishes

Notes:

This Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee is incredibly versatile. We absolutely love serving it over slices of moist pound cake and generous scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream for a truly decadent and satisfying dessert experience. It’s also delicious with chocolate cake or cheesecake.

Nutrition Facts:

Nutrition Facts

Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 201

% Daily Value*

• Sodium 2mg 0%
• Potassium 335mg 10%
• Carbohydrates 50g 17%
•   Fiber 3g 13%
•   Sugar 40g 44%
• Protein 2g 4%

• Vitamin A 470IU 9%
• Vitamin C 15.1mg 18%
• Calcium 28mg 3%
• Iron 0.7mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Perfect Pairings & Serving Suggestions

One of the joys of Cherries Jubilee is its versatility when it comes to serving. The warm, sweet-tart cherry sauce offers a wonderful contrast to a variety of bases, making it suitable for both casual desserts and elegant presentations. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this slow cooker delight:

• Classic Vanilla Ice Cream: The ultimate pairing! The cold, creamy vanilla ice cream provides a perfect textural and temperature contrast to the warm cherry sauce. The simplicity of vanilla allows the rich cherry flavor to truly shine, creating a luxurious mouthful with every bite.
• Pound Cake: A thick slice of dense, buttery pound cake soaks up the cherry sauce beautifully. The tender crumb of the cake provides a satisfying base that makes this feel like a truly indulgent and comforting dessert, perfect for any time of year.
• Chocolate Cake: For chocolate lovers, Cherries Jubilee spooned over a rich chocolate cake is a match made in heaven. The deep, slightly bitter notes of chocolate complement the sweetness of the cherries exquisitely, creating a sophisticated flavor combination.
• Cheesecake: A slice of creamy, tangy cheesecake topped with Cherries Jubilee offers a decadent experience. The rich and smooth texture of the cheesecake provides a lovely counterpoint to the vibrant cherry sauce, elevating both components.
• Waffles or Pancakes: Elevate your breakfast or brunch! Spoon warm Cherries Jubilee over freshly made waffles or fluffy pancakes for a gourmet morning treat that feels special and indulgent.
• Yogurt or Granola: For a lighter, yet still delicious option, stir a spoonful of Cherries Jubilee into plain Greek yogurt for a creamy, fruity snack, or layer it with granola for a delightful and wholesome parfait.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite desserts or breakfast items. The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability and ability to enhance almost any accompaniment!

Tips for Success & Creative Variations

Achieving a perfect Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee is simple, but a few key tips can elevate your dessert even further. Consider these suggestions for the best results or to customize the recipe to your liking, truly making it your own.

Ensuring the Perfect Sauce Consistency:

• Cold Water for Slurry: This is a crucial step! Always mix cornstarch with cold water before adding it to a hot liquid. This technique creates a smooth “slurry” and prevents the cornstarch from clumping into undesirable lumps, ensuring a silky, uniform sauce.
• Patience with Thickening: After adding the cornstarch slurry, allow the sauce sufficient time to thicken on high heat. It might seem thin at first, but it will gradually thicken as it cooks. Avoid lifting the lid too often during this final step to maintain the internal temperature and allow the thickening process to happen efficiently.
• Adjusting Sweetness: The sweetness of canned cherries can vary. It’s a good practice to taste the cherry mixture before adding the full amount of sugar, especially if your canned cherries are already very sweet. You can always add more sugar later, but you can’t easily remove it once added!

Creative Variations to Explore:

• Fresh or Frozen Cherries: While canned cherries are incredibly convenient for this recipe, you can certainly use fresh or frozen pitted dark sweet cherries. If opting for fresh, ensure they are pitted, and you might need to add a bit more sugar depending on their natural sweetness. For frozen cherries, thaw them partially first. You’ll also likely need to add more liquid (water or extra orange juice) as frozen and fresh cherries tend to release less syrup than their canned counterparts.
• Spice It Up: To add warmth and complexity, consider incorporating a pinch of aromatic spices. A dash of cinnamon, a sprinkle of nutmeg, or even a tiny amount of ground cloves can beautifully complement the cherry flavor. Add these with the initial ingredients for a well-rounded spice profile.
• Citrus Zest: For an even brighter and more vibrant flavor, add a teaspoon of fresh orange zest along with the orange juice. The zest contains oils that intensify the citrus notes without adding extra liquid.
• Vanilla Bean: For a truly luxurious touch, split a vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the crock pot with the cherries. Add the pod as well for maximum flavor infusion, then remove the bean pod before serving. This will impart a deep, fragrant vanilla essence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee

Can I use fresh cherries instead of canned?

Yes, absolutely! If using fresh cherries, ensure they are pitted. You might need to adjust the sugar content based on the natural sweetness of your cherries and consider adding a bit more liquid (water or orange juice) as fresh cherries may not release as much syrup as canned ones during cooking.

How do I store leftover Cherries Jubilee?

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It reheats beautifully in the microwave or gently on the stovetop over low heat, but it can also be enjoyed cold!

Can I make this ahead of time for a party?

This recipe is excellent for making ahead! Prepare it completely, then allow it to cool before transferring it to an airtight container and refrigerating. When ready to serve, reheat it gently in the crock pot on the low setting for about an hour, or until warmed through, then switch to the “warm” setting to maintain temperature until serving.

What if my sauce isn’t thickening?

First, ensure your cornstarch slurry was well-mixed with cold water before adding to prevent lumps. Also, make sure the crock pot is on high heat for the final thickening step and try to avoid lifting the lid too often, as this releases heat and can extend the cooking time. If after 30 minutes on high it’s still too thin, you can create a second small slurry (e.g., 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water), stir it in, and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes on high.

Explore More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of this Crock Pot Cherries Jubilee, you’ll love exploring other easy slow cooker recipes. The hands-off nature of slow cooking makes it a favorite for busy weeknights and entertaining alike, offering hearty meals and delightful desserts with minimal effort.

• Crock Pot Bananas Foster: Another fantastic slow cooker dessert that brings tropical flavors and a touch of elegance to your table.
• Crock Pot Roast: A hearty and comforting classic perfect for Sunday dinner, resulting in tender, fall-apart meat.
• Crock Pot Gumbo: Experience rich, savory flavors with this slow cooker version of a beloved Southern staple, perfect for feeding a crowd.
• Cajun Boiled Peanuts: A unique and addictive snack, easily made right in your slow cooker, bursting with spicy, savory flavor.
• Bush’s White Chicken Chili: A lighter, yet incredibly flavorful chili, perfect for any season and simple to prepare.
• Crock Pot Ramen: Satisfy your noodle cravings with this comforting and simple slow cooker ramen, packed with flavor.

For more culinary inspiration, make sure to check out our extensive collection of slow cooker vegetarian recipes, offering a variety of plant-based dishes, and explore our delightful cherry pie filling recipes, perfect for quick desserts.

Don’t forget to explore our other popular recipe categories to discover even more culinary treasures:

• Copycat Recipes: Recreate your restaurant favorites at home!
• Dessert Recipes: Indulge your sweet tooth with our wide array of treats.
• Crock Pot Recipes: A comprehensive collection for all your slow cooking needs.

Recipe originally shared on May 13, 2013. Updated January 2021.