(1) Used 2 cups half-and-half in place of the heavy cream + milk. I like this better as a base due to the greasy mouthfeel heavy cream sometimes imparts.

(2) Used ~1.5 cups cherries, pitted + quartered

(3) Cooked the cherries with all of the sugar, instead of saving some sugar for the dairy. The instructions were unclear — mentioning sugar in step 1 and 2 — so I made a judgment call.

(4) Added the seeds from one vanilla pod to the dairy as it was heating instead of using extract.

I almost didn't add the chocolate but I'm glad I did — I think the flavors really go well together.

I think I might add a bit less chocolate next time and even more cherries.

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe! YUM.