🍽️ Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create Your Flavor Base In a medium saucepan, combine the cherry cola, whiskey, and sugar. Place over medium heat and stir gently until the sugar completely dissolves. Watch carefully—you want to warm the mixture but never let it boil, as this will cook off the alcohol and alter the flavor.

Step 2: Bloom the Gelatin While your cola mixture warms, sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over the cold water in a small bowl. Let it sit undisturbed for exactly 5 minutes. You’ll see it transform into a spongy, jelly-like consistency—this is “blooming.”

Step 3: Dissolve the Magic After the gelatin has bloomed, pour the hot water over it and stir vigorously until completely dissolved. No lumps should remain—this is crucial for smooth pearls!

Step 4: Combine and Perfect Remove your cola mixture from heat and immediately add the dissolved gelatin mixture. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Mix everything thoroughly until completely combined. The mixture should be glossy and aromatic.

Step 5: Cool and Pour Allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes—it should be warm but not hot. Pour carefully into your silicone molds or prepared shallow dish. If using a dish, the mixture should be about 1/2 inch deep.

Step 6: Set the Magic Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better. The pearls are ready when they feel firm but still have a slight give when gently pressed.

Step 7: Create Your Pearls For molded pearls, simply pop them out of the molds. For sheet gelatin, use a melon baller to scoop perfect spheres, or cut into small cubes for a more geometric look.