Pacific Northwest Bing Cherry Hazelnut Sundaes

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon kirsch (to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup hazelnut, toasted, loose skins rubbed off, and chopped
• 1 pint super-premium vanilla ice cream or cherry ice cream
• 16-20 bing cherries, pitted and chopped coarse

Directions

1. 1

   In a dry heavy saucepan (about 1-quart capacity) cook sugar over moderate heat, without stirring, until it begins to melt.

2. 2

   Continue cooking sugar, stirring with a fork, until melted and swirl pan until sugar is deep golden caramel.

3. 3

   Remove pan from heat and stir in cream, kirsch, and salt, stirring until smooth (mixture will bubble up). Stir in hazelnuts and let sauce cool.

4. 4

   Scoop ice cream into 4 sundae dishes and spoon sauce over it. Sprinkle sundaes with cherries.