Cherry Amaretto Fizz

This cherry amaretto fizz combines cherry jam, amaretto, fresh lemon juice, and club soda for a light and refreshing drink. Fruity, fizzy, and not overly sweet, this cherry amaretto cocktail is perfect for late summer sipping.

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Hey folks – I hope you all are doing well!

Today I’m excited to share another easy cocktail idea with you. This time, we are making a light and refreshing cherry amaretto fizz using homemade cherry jam infused with vanilla and amaretto.

The jam makes this drink particularly flavourful. In fact, because it already contains amaretto, adding a little more to the cocktail creates an extra layer of almond-cherry flavour. At the same time, lemon and plenty of club soda keep this cherry jam cocktail bright and refreshing rather than overly sweet. So, let’s dive into this light and refreshing cherry cocktail!

What Is a Fizz Cocktail?

A fizz is a classic family of mixed drinks generally made with a spirit, citrus juice, a sweetener, and carbonated water. As its name suggests, plenty of bubbles are an essential part of its refreshing character.

However, a fizz is only one of many sparkling cocktail styles. Here are a few similar drinks and their main differences:

• Fizz – Traditionally combines a spirit, citrus juice, sugar or syrup, and soda water. Some variations also include ingredients such as egg white. Rhubarb Violet Fizz (Gin Cocktail with Crème de Violette)
• Collins – Very similar to a fizz and generally combines a spirit, citrus, sweetener, and soda. However, a Collins is typically a longer drink served over ice with a generous amount of soda.
• Spritz – Usually combines an aperitif or liqueur with sparkling wine and often soda water. Unlike a classic fizz, citrus juice is not necessarily part of the formula. Strawberry Amaretto Spritz (Light & Refreshing Summer Cocktail).
• French 75 – Combines gin, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling wine. Therefore, it shares the citrusy character of a fizz, but sparkling wine provides the bubbles. Strawberry French 75 with Crème de Violette.
• Mimosa – Traditionally combines sparkling wine and orange juice. It does not usually contain a separate spirit or added sweetener.

This cherry amaretto fizz takes a small detour from the traditional formula. Instead of simple syrup, I use cherry jam for both sweetness and concentrated fruit flavour. As a result, this cocktail with cherry jam is slightly fuller and fruitier while remaining wonderfully refreshing.

What Makes This Cherry Amaretto Fizz Special?

There are only a few ingredients in this cherry jam fizz cocktail with amaretto. However, each one contributes plenty of flavour, so the finished drink is much more interesting than its simple preparation might suggest.

Cherry Jam Instead of Simple Syrup

Cherry jam is the ingredient that makes this amaretto cherry fizz cocktail particularly fun. It replaces the usual simple syrup while also providing a concentrated cherry flavour.

Even better, I used my homemade cherry jam flavoured with vanilla and amaretto. So, there is a double layer of amaretto flavour in this amaretto and cherry cocktail: first from the jam and then from the amaretto added directly to the glass.

Using jam has a few other advantages:

• More cherry flavour. Jam delivers a deeper fruit flavour than plain simple syrup while providing the sweetness the cocktail needs.
• No separate syrup. There is no need to prepare cherry syrup specifically for one or two cocktails.
• Interesting texture. A little jam gives this sparkling cherry cocktail slightly more body without making it heavy.
• Easy to adjust. Since jams vary considerably in sweetness, you can easily use a little more or less depending on yours.
• Versatile option. Homemade jam is wonderful, but you can also make this cocktail with cherry jam from a good-quality store-bought preserve.

My homemade jam is not particularly sweet, which works beautifully here. If your preserves are quite sweet, simply start with a little less and adjust the lemon juice if necessary.

Why Cherry and Amaretto Work So Well

Cherry and amaretto are a natural pairing. Amaretto has a distinctive sweet almond-like character that complements the rich flavour of cherries particularly well.

In this cherry cocktail with amaretto, the vanilla in the homemade jam adds another subtle layer. However, it does not make the drink taste strongly of vanilla. Instead, it rounds out the cherries and amaretto.

You also need only a modest amount of liqueur. Therefore, the amaretto supports the fruit rather than dominating it, which is exactly what I wanted from this light amaretto cocktail.

Light, Fizzy, and Not Too Sweet

Jam and amaretto may sound like a very sweet combination. However, this cherry jam amaretto fizz is surprisingly light and balanced.

A few simple elements keep everything in check:

• Fresh lemon juice cuts through the sweetness and makes the cherry flavour taste brighter.
• Club soda adds plenty of bubbles while diluting the sweeter ingredients.
• A modest amount of amaretto provides flavour without making the cocktail too rich or strong.
• A restrained amount of jam adds enough fruit and sweetness without creating a syrupy drink.

As a result, this low alcohol amaretto cocktail is easy to sip and especially nice on a warm day. You can also add extra soda if you prefer an even lighter drink.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Cherry Amaretto Fizz

You will need only four main ingredients for this cherry amaretto fizz, plus ice. Since the recipe is so simple, you can easily adjust the proportions to suit the sweetness of your jam.

• Cherry jam. I used homemade cherry jam flavoured with vanilla and amaretto. A good-quality plain cherry jam will work, too. Ideally, choose one that is not excessively sweet. Cherry Amaretto Jam – A Lower Sugar Homemade Jam.
• Amaretto. You need only a small amount to reinforce the almond-cherry flavour already present in the jam.
• Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness of both the jam and liqueur. Depending on your preserves, you may want to adjust the amount slightly.
• Club soda. This keeps the cherry jam cocktail light and adds plenty of refreshing bubbles.
• Ice. Use plenty of ice to keep the drink nicely chilled.

If your jam contains pieces of cherries, that is absolutely fine. Simply stir it well with the amaretto and lemon juice before adding the soda.

How to Make a Cherry Amaretto Fizz

Making this amaretto cocktail with cherry jam could not be easier. Add the cherry jam, amaretto, and lemon juice to a glass and stir until the jam has mostly dissolved. Next, fill the glass generously with ice. Finally, top with club soda and stir gently to combine.

Taste your cherry amaretto fizz and adjust it if necessary. Add a splash more lemon if it tastes too sweet or extra soda if you would like an even lighter drink.

Possible Additions and Variations

This amaretto fizz with cherry jam is delicious as written. Still, its simple base also makes it easy to customize.

• Add bitters. A dash or two of orange or cherry bitters would add complexity without noticeably changing the drink.
• Make it stronger. Increase the amaretto slightly for a more pronounced almond flavour.
• Add gin. A small splash of gin will make the drink drier, stronger, and more botanical.
• Turn it into a spritz. Replace some of the club soda with Prosecco or another dry sparkling wine. This creates a stronger drink that sits somewhere closer to a cherry amaretto spritz.
• Try another preserve. Sour cherry jam would be particularly good and may require slightly less lemon juice.

Whichever variation you choose, keep the balance in mind. The idea behind this cherry amaretto cocktail is to let the cherries and amaretto shine while keeping the overall drink fresh and relatively light.

More Summer Cocktails

Looking for more refreshing cocktails like this cherry amaretto fizz to enjoy while summer is still around? Be sure to check some other ideas from Havoc in the Kitchen:

• Cherry Lemon Amaretto Cocktail – Bright and Refreshing
• Blackberry Violet Spritz with Crème de Violette
• Root Beer Cocktail with Amaretto – 2-Ingredient Summer Drink
• Strawberry Rose Spritz – A Light and Floral Summer Cocktail
• Strawberry Violet Spritz with Gin and Crème de Violette
• Rhubarb Violet Fizz (Gin Cocktail with Crème de Violette)

I’d love for you to try this cherry jam amaretto fizz. If you give it a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts.

Cheers!