Cherry Mash: The Nostalgic Candy Classic Born in Missouri

There’s a special kind of candy magic tucked away in the heartland—Cherry Mash, the nostalgic confection that’s been delighting sweet tooths since 1918. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, this iconic treat has stood the test of time, proudly wearing its retro charm while modern candies come and go.

At first bite, Cherry Mash is an explosion of texture and flavor: a gooey, cherry-flavored center bursting with maraschino goodness, wrapped in a coat of creamy milk chocolate and crushed roasted peanuts. It’s unapologetically rich, old-fashioned, and a little messy—in the best possible way.

Created by the Chase Candy Company, Cherry Mash is one of the oldest surviving regional candy bars in the United States. Over the decades, it’s become more than a snack—it’s a piece of Americana, a taste of small-town tradition that continues to win over new generations who crave a little nostalgia with their sugar rush.

In a world of sleek packaging and artificial perfection, Cherry Mash remains gloriously authentic—bright, bold, and blissfully cherry.

Want to learn how to make it?  It doesn't take much effort and is a no-bake treat.  If you've ever made peanut butter balls or truffles before this is a real treat.

INGREDIENTS

Cherry mash

• 2 tbsp butter or margarine
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar
• 8 oz. Maraschino Cherries, drained, chopped and dried
• splash of cherry flavoring, optional
• splash of vanilla flavoring, optional

Chocolate coating

• 24 oz. almond bark or chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

DIRECTIONS

Make the Mash

1. Mix together the butter, powedered sugar (start with 3 cups) and chopped cherries.
2. Check the consistency.  It needs to be fairly thick for rolling it into balls.  Add more powdered sugar as needed to get the desired thickness.
3. Once thick enough put into the fridge for 1 hour to get it more solid.
4. Using a small scoop or a spoon roll into small balls and put onto a lined baking sheet.
5. Put into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up.
6. This is the time you'll want to make your chocolate.

Make the candies

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Stir after each interval. 
2. Stir chopped peanuts into the melted chocolate.
3. Dip frozen candy centers into the chocolate using a fork. Work quickly so the warm chocolate does not warm the candy centers too much or distort the shape.
4. Place dipped candy onto a clean piece of parchment paper and allow the chocolate to harden.
5. Store homemade cherry mash candy in an airtight container.

NOTE:  If you need assistance on melting the chocolate in the microwave you can check it out here. Just skip to 2:14 in that video.

Once you're comfortable with this process you can venture out and make them in the shape of peanut butter cups so they are prettier.