6 Best Cherry Cordials | Stop Biting Into a Solid Mass Inside

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A milk chocolate cordial with no added sugar and a taste that rivals the real thing.

Asher’s has been making chocolate since 1892, and their sugar-free version avoids the common pitfalls of artificial aftertaste or a dry, pasty filling. Owners mention these are “the best sugar free cordials I have ever had,” with one reviewer specifically noting the “fresh taste and packaged well.” At 8.0 ounces, this is the smallest box by weight in the lineup — the Anthony Thomas box is 16 ounces.

What makes this stand out for sugar-free shoppers is the use of sugar alcohol (a type of sweetener that provides sweetness with fewer calories) rather than aspartame, which delivers a more natural sweetness. The box measures 4.13 x 4.06 x 3.07 inches, a compact giftable size that is easy to ship as a present. Unlike the Andy Anand sugar-free option, which uses dark chocolate, Asher’s sticks with milk chocolate, so the flavor profile is sweeter and creamier.

The trade-off: some buyers felt the box was “not enough for the price,” and the smaller unit size means you get fewer pieces than the other options. If you are buying for a diabetic who prefers milk chocolate, this is the clear pick, but for quantity you will need to spend more.

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A thicker chocolate shell and a genuine liquid center that one buyer called the best ever.

Philadelphia Candies has been making these since 1919, and the feedback suggests they have mastered the formula. One buyer called them the “best cordial cherries ever,” specifically praising the “thicker chocolate shell than other brands.” The box measures 9.25 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches and weighs 9.91 ounces — similar to the Asher’s box, but Philadelphia Candies packs about 28 pieces into that space, whereas Asher’s 8-ounce box cannot match that piece count.

Unlike the Anthony Thomas option, which uses a standard milk chocolate coating, Philadelphia Candies offers both milk and dark varieties, and customers note the SQF-certified maraschino cherries (the fruit earned a Safe Quality Food certification, a third-party food safety standard) are firm and not overly mushy. The liquid center is the real deal: an enzyme-inverted fondant that turns to syrup inside the shell. One reviewer warned they are “highly addictive” and had eaten four boxes since Christmas.

The packaging is a strong point — the box ships in a secure foam sleeve, and the polyethylene foam protects the chocolates during transit. The catch is that a few pieces may arrive with minor cracks or liquid spillage, a common risk with any liquid-center chocolate.

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Hand-dipped cherries in small batches with a plump fruit center that buyers rave about.

The defining feature here is the cherry itself. Unlike some cordials where the fruit is a background note, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s uses a “whole, plump cherry” that one buyer with more than 40 years of experience called the “best chocolate-covered cherries ever tasted.” Another reviewer noted the “chocolate was creamy, and the plump, juicy cherries were delightful.” The 1-pound box (16 ounces) is the same weight as the Anthony Thomas and Philadelphia Candies boxes, but the hand-dipped process means each piece is individually enrobed rather than mass-coated.

The box does not list a specific piece count, but at 16 ounces it is comparable to the Philadelphia Candies box in weight. The key difference is the sweetness profile: the cherry has a slight sourness that balances the milk chocolate, which buyers appreciated as a way to cut through the richness. The packaging includes ice packs for warm-weather shipping, a detail that kept the cordials in perfect condition for buyers in hot climates.

The honest trade-off: at a premium price point for a 1-pound box, some buyers mentioned the cost is “the only complaint.” If you are looking for the highest-quality fruit inside the chocolate, this is the one, but you pay for that handcrafted approach.

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Sixty-percent cacao Belgian dark chocolate over a whole cherry and liqueur-style fondant.

If you want a sophisticated dark chocolate cordial that skips the corn syrup, Andy Anand delivers. The box holds 24 to 25 hand-dipped pieces, each using 60% cacao Belgian dark chocolate couverture (real cocoa butter, not compound coating). One buyer called them “wonderfully bitter dark chocolate, perfectly candied cherries,” which captures the balance of intense chocolate sweetness against the fruit. Another reviewer noted they “switched from Godiva” and found these comparable at a lower per-piece cost.

Compared to the Philadelphia Candies box, which weighs 9.91 ounces, this Andy Anand box weighs 13 ounces — but Andy Anand delivers 25 pieces to Philadelphia Candies’ roughly 28 pieces, meaning each piece here is slightly larger. The chocolate shell is thicker than the milk chocolate options, which one reviewer attributed to shipping durability. The box is a full 10 x 10 x 10 inches, a cubic shape that makes a dramatic gift presentation.

The risk: a few recent buyers reported that the cordials changed from a foil-wrapped presentation to individually wrapped pieces that tasted “like wax” in one review. The company offered replacements, but consistency seems to vary by batch. If you are after the old-world artisan experience, this is the closest you get in this lineup, but check recent reviews before ordering.

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A vegan, sugar-free dark chocolate cordial with a liquid center and no artificial sweeteners.

This is the most specialized pick in the lineup. Like the standard Andy Anand dark chocolate box, it uses 60% cacao Belgian dark chocolate, but the fondant contains no added sugar, no maltitol (a sugar alcohol), and no aspartame — just a sugar-free formula that still delivers a liquid center. One reviewer noted these are “so good one meets my need for a treat in the evening,” and another has been ordering them for her diabetic husband every Christmas. The vegan certification also makes this a rare find for plant-based eaters who miss traditional cordials.

At 25 pieces and 13 ounces, the weight and count match the standard Andy Anand box. Compared to Asher’s sugar-free selection (8 ounces and milk chocolate), this box weighs 13 ounces and delivers a darker, more intense chocolate profile. The box dimensions are 10 x 10 x 10 inches, identical to the regular Andy Anand, so it presents just as well as a gift. The packaging ships with insulated protection from Chino, California.

The honest limitation: one buyer mentioned the “chocolate to cherry ratio is not right,” saying the thick dark shell dominated the fruit. If you want a balanced bite where the cherry leads, the Mrs. Cavanaugh’s or Philadelphia Candies boxes may be a better fit. Also, the price point is the highest here, so this is a treat, not a daily snack.