Danish Cherries

A sweet Scandinavian recipe adapted from Moosewood Cookbook. Enjoy!

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 4  cups  pitted cherries
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 -4  tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  grated lemon zest (the grated outer yellow rind)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1⁄2 cup  slivered almonds, blanched, optional (To blanch almonds, place them in a colander over a sink. Pour boiling water over them, and rub off t)

• Toppings

•  whipped cream
•  whipped ricotta cheese (To whip ricotta, beat it vigorously with a whisk, or at high speed with an electric mixer)
•  cheese
•  plain yogurt, with a few blanched almonds folded in

Directions

1. Place cherries in a heavy medium-sized saucepan, and cook over medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and sugar in a small bowl. Add lemon juice and whisk until smooth. Stir this into the hot cherries, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick, about 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, almond extract, and slivered almonds.
4. Serve hot, warm, room, temperature, or cold, top with whipped cream, whipped ricotta, or yogurt. Enjoy!