You want that perfect moment: biting into a chocolate shell, tasting the liquid center, then the whole cherry. Not all chocolate covered cherries deliver that experience—some have gummy centers, thin shells, or artificial-tasting fruit. The box that most reliably gives you a thick chocolate shell, a true liquid center (the syrup that naturally forms around the cherry), and a full pound of candy is the Philadelphia Candies Milk Chocolate Cordial Cherries. It holds 16 ounces (about 28 cherries) and gets consistent praise from reviewers for having fewer cracked pieces than looser-packed competitors.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the co-founder and writer behind WellFizz. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Whether you are buying for a holiday gift, a personal indulgence, or a diabetic-friendly treat, the right box depends on the chocolate type, the filling quality, and the number of pieces. This article breaks down the five strongest contenders in the best chocolate covered cherries category.
How To Choose The Best Chocolate Covered Cherries
Picking the right box of chocolate covered cherries is simpler when you focus on three things: the chocolate type, the cherry filling, and the packaging. Each choice changes the taste, the texture, and how well the cherries arrive at your door.
Milk Chocolate vs. Dark Chocolate
Milk chocolate gives you a creamier, sweeter shell that melts quickly on the tongue — great if you favor a candy-like treat. Dark chocolate brings a deeper, slightly bitter cocoa flavor that balances the sweetness of the cherry liquid center, so the fruit’s natural tang stands out more. If you are watching your sugar intake, dark chocolate usually has less sugar per piece.
Liquid Center vs. Solid Center
The classic cherry cordial (a cherry wrapped in sugar syrup inside a chocolate shell) has a thin, liquid syrup that pours out when you bite through the chocolate. That liquid forms naturally as the sugar crystallizes around the cherry over time. Some cheaper options use a thick, jam-like filling instead — it is still tasty, but you lose that iconic “splash” moment in every bite.
Packaging: Individually Wrapped vs. Loose in a Box
Individually wrapped cherries are easier to share, keep fresh longer, and hold up better during shipping because they have a protective foil layer. Cherries packed loose in a box look more elegant on a gift tray, but they are more fragile — buyers report that loose-packed cherries often arrive with cracked shells or leaked liquid.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Candies Milk Chocolate Cordial Cherries | Premium | Classic liquid-center experience | 16 oz box, approx 28 cherries | Amazon |
| Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordials | Premium | Dark chocolate lovers | 16 oz box, dark chocolate | Amazon |
| Anthony Thomas Milk Chocolate Cherry Cordials | Premium | Individually wrapped sharing | 16 oz box, 32 individually wrapped | Amazon |
| Asher’s Sugar Free Cherry Cordials | Mid-Range | Diabetic-friendly treats | 8 oz box, sugar-free | Amazon |
| Harry and David Milk Chocolate Cherries | Mid-Range | Gift presentation | 8 oz box, milk chocolate + candy coating | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Philadelphia Candies Milk Chocolate Covered Cordial Cherries with Liquid Center
16 ounces (about 28 cherries) with a noticeably thicker chocolate shell than brands like Cella — this is the top pick for anyone who wants the classic cordial experience: a firm milk chocolate shell, a whole maraschino cherry, and a liquid center that pours out the moment you bite.
The brand has been making these in Hermitage, Pennsylvania since 1919, and the cherries arrive in a sealed foam sleeve that owners mention keeps every piece intact. You get nearly three cherries per ounce, making it a generous quantity for sharing or savoring over weeks.
The honest trade-off is that the cherries themselves taste a bit sweeter than some other brands — if you prefer a tangier cherry or a less sugary filling, this might be too much. Skip this pick if you want a darker, less sweet chocolate; instead, look at the Mrs. Cavanaugh’s dark chocolate option below. That said, the combination of a thicker chocolate shell, a fresh cherry, and a true liquid center makes this the most reliable pick in the field.
Why it’s great
- Thicker chocolate shell than most brands — fewer broken pieces
- True liquid center, not a jam-like filling
- 16 oz box is a generous pound of candy
Good to know
- Sweetness level is higher than some dark chocolate options
- Loose-packed, so shipping protection matters — foam sleeve included
2. Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolate Covered Cherry Cordials 1lb Dark Chocolate
Where Philadelphia Candies leads on volume and classic milk-chocolate flavor, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s wins on dark chocolate depth — one buyer called them “superior to See’s chocolate,” and multiple reviews describe the dark chocolate shell as “heavenly” with a “crunchy chocolate” texture that gives way to a chewy cherry tang. Each cordial starts with a whole, plump cherry wrapped in a sweet-tart liquid center and then enrobed in dark chocolate — the recipe has been used for over 50 years, and reviewers emphasize that the cherry tastes fresh, not artificial.
Who should choose this over the Philadelphia Candies? Anyone who wants a darker, richer cocoa flavor with a less sugary overall profile. The catch is that you get a slightly smaller quantity per dollar since this is also 16 ounces but commands a premium price for its handmade, small-batch production. One buyer who gifted these to a chocolate-covered cherry enthusiast said the recipient “loved them” and plans to order again, which speaks to their gifting appeal.
Where it shines
- Deep dark chocolate with a satisfying crunch
- Whole cherry with fresh, not artificial, flavor
- Handcrafted in small batches using a 50-year-old recipe
Worth noting
- Premium pricing — more expensive per ounce than milk chocolate options
- Loose-packed, so shipping can occasionally cause cracks
3. Anthony Thomas Cherry Cordials, Award-Winning, Milk Chocolate
You are packing lunchboxes for a week of school treats, and you need a chocolate-covered cherry that won’t leak onto sandwiches or require careful handling — the 32 individually foil-wrapped pieces in this 16-ounce box let you toss one into any bag without a second thought, unlike the Philadelphia Candies approximate 28-count box that comes unwrapped. Customers note that the milk chocolate is “good quality and creamy,” and the cherry filling “definitely didn’t disappoint.”
Anthony Thomas has won multiple awards for taste and quality, and the brand is American-made. However, a recurring pain point in reviews is shipping damage — some buyers reported that when the box was sent in a paper envelope without “perishable” markings, many cherries arrived smashed or broken. If you plan to share these widely or want to keep them fresh for weeks, that wrapper makes all the difference.
skip it if you expect rock-solid shipping protection; the Philadelphia Candies foam sleeve is more reliable — but no other premium pick on this list offers 32 separate pieces you can toss in a bag without a second thought.
What stands out
- 32 individually wrapped pieces — great for sharing and freshness
- Award-winning brand with creamy milk chocolate
- Same 16 oz weight as other premium boxes but more pieces
The trade-offs
- Shipping can damage cherries if packaging is not robust — order with care
- Some buyers found the taste decent but not as high-end as chocolatier options
4. Asher’s Chocolates Sugar Free Cherry Cordials, Milk Chocolate
The single number that matters most in this category is the sugar count — Asher’s delivers a full 8-ounce box of sugar free cherry cordials that one buyer called “the best sugar free cordials I have ever had,” using a sugar alcohol sweetener (maltitol) so diabetics can indulge without spiking blood sugar. At half the weight of the premium boxes (8 oz vs. 16 oz), it is the entry-level size, but the quality is genuinely high. The milk chocolate coating is described as delicious, and the cordials are certified kosher and made in small batches by a family-owned company that has been in operation since 1892.
What you give up is quantity: at 8 ounces, you get roughly half the pieces of the 16-ounce boxes from Philadelphia or Anthony Thomas, and some reviewers noted the price per ounce feels steep for the smaller box. This is the perfect pick for someone managing diabetes or cutting sugar who still wants the full liquid-center experience. Just heed the buyer advice: eat only one or two per day, because the sugar alcohol can cause digestive discomfort if you eat the whole box at once.
The price-to-value read is that you pay a premium per ounce for the sugar-free formulation and small-batch quality, but for those who need to avoid sugar, the downside is worth it.
The upsides
- Genuine sugar free formula — diabetic-friendly and kosher
- Family-owned brand with over 130 years of chocolate-making
- Individually wrapped for portion control and freshness
Keep in mind
- 8 oz box is smaller — about half the weight of premium options
- Contains sugar alcohol, so overindulging may cause digestive issues
5. Harry and David Milk Chocolate Cherries, 8 ounces
What you actually get at this lower price is an 8-ounce box of milk chocolate cherries, each with an extra candy shell layer for a crunchier bite, arriving in a single layer in a small gift box without individual wrappers. One buyer described them as “way too good — fresh, yummy cherry inside a milk chocolate and candy coating,” though several reviews note the box size feels disappointing for the price — one reviewer noted a gift box had only about ten cherries inside and called the value poor.
The one reason to choose Harry and David over the others is the unique candy-coated crunch that no other pick offers, paired with the brand’s strong gifting reputation. Who picks this over the #1 Philadelphia Candies? Someone who cares more about a crunchy texture and elegant gift presentation than about getting the most cherries per dollar. If you are buying for yourself and want more bang per ounce, the Philadelphia Candies box gives you nearly double the cherries for a similar cost.
This is the perfect pick for the budget buyer who prioritizes a unique, crunchy texture and a polished gift box over cherry count per dollar, and who is willing to accept a smaller quantity for a distinctive candy-coated experience.
Why we’d pick it
- Extra candy coating adds a unique crunchy texture
- Harry and David brand is a trusted gifting name
- Fresh-tasting cherries inside the chocolate
A few caveats
- 8 oz box yields only about 10 cherries — low piece count for the price
- Not individually wrapped; cherries can arrive warm or melted in transit
Understanding the Specs
Weight and Piece Count
The total weight (in ounces) tells you how much candy you are getting, but the piece count matters more because some brands use heavier chocolate shells. A 16-ounce box of Philadelphia Candies gives roughly 28 cherries, while a 16-ounce box of Anthony Thomas gives 32 — the difference is the thickness of the chocolate shell. If you care about quantity, look for “individually wrapped” and the actual count.
Chocolate Type and Center Consistency
“Milk chocolate” means a sweeter, creamier shell; “dark chocolate” means a deeper cocoa flavor and usually less sugar. The “liquid center” is the classic cordial hallmark — a thin syrup that forms naturally around the cherry. Some brands use a thicker, jam-like filling instead, which is still tasty but lacks that iconic burst. If you want the traditional experience, look for “liquid center” or “cordial” on the label.
FAQ
What does “liquid center” mean in a cherry cordial?
Are sugar free cherry cordials safe for diabetics?
How can I keep chocolate covered cherries from arriving broken?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most buyers, the best chocolate covered cherries choice is the Philadelphia Candies Milk Chocolate Cordial Cherries because it gives you a full pound of candy, a thick chocolate shell, and a genuine liquid center at a fair value. If you want a darker, less sweet chocolate experience, grab the Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordials. And for a diabetic-friendly or smaller-portion indulgence, the Asher’s Sugar Free Cherry Cordials hits the spot without the sugar.
Mo Maruf
I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.