Carefully insert the immersion blender and begin pulsing briefly to start breaking down the cherries.
Blend all of the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Notes
This cherry vinaigrette recipe stores wonderfully sealed in the fridge for about 4-5 days. Since the fruit is fresh, it will start to break down after this point.
Instead of maple syrup, you can also use honey or skip the sweetener entirely.
For a creamier dressing, you can add a tablespoon or two of mayonnaise or yogurt. I find this dressing to be creamy on its own, though.
To use frozen cherries, be sure to let them thaw in the fridge first and strain off any excess liquid.
You can use red wine vinegar or champagne vinegar instead of balsamic, but the dressing will have a much brighter color and more subtle flavor.