Ready to bring this delicious donut to life? Let’s dive into the process!

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Give it a gentle mix. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, egg, cherry juice, and extracts. Then, slowly combine your wet and dry ingredients.

Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries into your dough mixture. This is where the magic happens! Each bite will be studded with sweet, juicy cherries.

In a deep pot, heat about two inches of vegetable oil to around 350°F. You want it hot enough for frying but not so hot that it starts smoking. A deep-frying thermometer can be handy here.

Using a spoon or your hands, drop spoonfuls of the dough into the hot oil. Fry them for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown on each side. Keep an eye on them; they tend to puff up quickly!

Once golden, remove the donuts and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil. Allow them to cool slightly before icing.

In a separate bowl, whisk the powdered sugar with the cherry juice and bourbon until it reaches a smooth consistency. If it’s too thick, add a bit more cherry juice.

Once the donuts cool down, dip or drizzle the glaze over each donut. Add cherry chunks on top for decoration if you have any left over.