There's nothing quite like the taste of 🍒🥧homemade cherry pie. With juicy, sweet-tart cherries and a buttery, flaky crust, this pie is a classic that brings comfort to any occasion.
This recipe features a pre-cooked cherry filling, ensuring a rich, thick filling in every slice. A touch of almond extract and vanilla enhances the natural cherry flavor, making each bite even more delicious.
Whether you're baking for a holiday or just because this cherry pie is sure to be a hit, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect treat!
Ingredients You'll Need
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the pie crust, giving it that perfect balance of flakiness and tenderness.
Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates flaky layers in the pie crust. Keeping it cold is key to achieving the best texture.
Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavors in the crust, making the sweetness of the cherries stand out even more.
Almond Extract: Adds a subtle nutty flavor that complements the cherries beautifully, enhancing the overall taste.
Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the flavors and adds a warm, sweet aroma to the filling.
Cornstarch: Thickens the cherry filling, helping it set properly so that it holds together when sliced.
Fresh or Frozen Cherries: The star of the pie, providing a juicy, sweet-tart flavor that defines this dessert.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight molasses flavor to the cherry filling, enhancing its richness.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling without overpowering the natural tartness of the cherries.
Lemon Juice: Brightens the flavor of the cherries and balances their sweetness with a hint of acidity.
Egg: Used for glazing the crust, it gives the pie a beautiful golden-brown, shiny finish.
Milk: Mixed with the egg for the glaze, it helps create a smooth, shiny surface on the crust.
How to Make Homemade Cherry Pie
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Make the Pie Crust: Combine flour, salt, and butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add cold water and vinegar to form the dough. Chill until firm.
Prepare the Filling: Cook the cherries with sugars, lemon juice, and extracts until they release their juices. Stir in cornstarch to thicken, then let it cool completely.
Assemble the Pie: Roll out the dough, line the pie dish, and add the cooled cherry filling. Use the remaining dough to create a lattice top.
Bake: Brush the lattice with an egg and milk mixture. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Cool and Serve: Allow the pie to cool completely before serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Note: It's normal for cherry juices to bubble out of the pan near the end of baking. Cooking time depends on the type of pan and whether you use frozen cherries-add 10 to 15 minutes if using frozen. It's important that the pie is boiling in the center or reaches 213°F to ensure it sets properly.
Tips and Variations
Keep Ingredients Cold: For the flakiest crust, make sure the butter and water are very cold. You can even chill your flour and mixing bowl.
Chill the Dough: After forming the dough, let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps relax the gluten and makes the dough easier to roll out.
Test for Doneness: The pie is ready when the crust is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling up through the lattice. This ensures that the cornstarch has fully thickened the filling.
Cooling is Key: Let the pie cool completely before slicing. This allows the filling to set properly, making it easier to cut clean slices.
Add Spices: For a warm, spiced flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cherry filling.
Tart Cherries: If you prefer a tarter pie, use sour cherries instead of sweet ones. You may need to adjust the sugar to balance the flavor.
There's nothing quite like the taste of 🍒🥧homemade cherry pie. With juicy, sweet-tart cherries and a buttery, flaky crust, this pie is a classic that brings comfort to any occasion.This recipe features a pre-cooked cherry filling, ensuring a rich, thick filling in every slice. A touch of almond extract and vanilla enhances the natural cherry flavor, making each bite even more delicious. Whether you're baking for a holiday or just because this cherry pie is sure to be a hit, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect treat!
For the Pie Crust: In a food processor, combine the flour and salt in the food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse a few times to combine.Add chilled unsalted butter. Pulse the mixture about 8 to 10 times until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized clumps of butter.
Binding the Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the ice water with the vanilla extract and vinegar. Gradually add this mixture to the dough, pulsing until it's evenly moistened and starts to come together in a crumbly texture, about 5 to 6 times.
Forming the Dough: Pour the mixture onto a clean surface and bring it together with your hands. You'll notice some large chunks of butter still visible; these will create the most flaky pie crust ever.
Give the pastry a light knead to form it into a ball. If it's a bit sticky, dust your surface with flour. Divide the dough into two portions: one-third (about 250 grams) for the lattice and two-thirds (about 500 grams) for the pie crust. Shape each portion into a disc, wrap in cling film, and refrigerate-preferably overnight, but at least for two hours.
Cherry Filling: While the pastry chills, make the cherry filling. Add the cherries to a large saucepan along with light brown sugar and the juice of half a lemon. Set the pan over medium-high heat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until the cherries start bubbling and release their juices.
Thickening the Filling: Add sugar, salt, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Add cornstarch to thicken the mixture. Reduce the heat to low and stir continuously for about 2 minutes to cook out the cornstarch. Once thickened, pour the mixture onto a tray to cool faster, then transfer it to the fridge to cool completely.
Assembling the Pie: With the filling cooled, it's time to roll out the pastry. Start with the smaller portion for the lattice. Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour to prevent sticking. Roll the pastry to about ⅛ inch thick, then slice it into strips about ⅝ inch wide. Place the strips on a board or tray and pop them in the fridge until needed.
Preparing the Pie Crust: Roll out the larger portion of pastry in the same way, ensuring it's about 2 to 3 inches larger than your 8-inch pie dish. Drape the pastry over the dish, press it in gently, and trim any excess, leaving about 2 inches around the edge. Fold the excess pastry under itself and crimp the edges for a neat finish.
Baking the Pie: Fill the pie with your cooled cherry mixture, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Place the strips of pastry across the top of the filling, leaving about ½ inch between each strip between each strip. Weave the strips to create a lattice pattern, trimming any excess and tucking the ends into the crimped edges.
Final Touches and Baking: For a golden, shiny finish, glaze the lattice with a mixture of 1 egg and a splash of milk. Bake the pie in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) (fan) for 55 minutes to an hour, checking at the 45-minute mark. You'll know it's done when the crust is golden and the cherries are bubbling.
Cooling and Serving: Let the pie cool for about 3 to 4 hours to allow the filling to set. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect treat.
Notes
How to StoreOnce cooled, the pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. Cover it loosely with foil to prevent it from drying out.For longer storage, refrigerate the pie, covered with plastic wrap or foil, for up to 4 days.Make-Ahead & Freeze: You can make the pie crust up to 3 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the crust for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
The unbaked cherry pie can be frozen for later: Assemble the pie without baking, then chill in the refrigerator until firm. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil for extra protection, and freeze for up to 3 months.When ready to bake, place the frozen pie directly into a preheated 375°F oven. Bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the top crust domes slightly and you see the fruit juices bubbling vigorously through the cutout. The crust should be a deep golden brown. Remember, visual cues like bubbling juices and crust color are more reliable than exact baking times, which may vary by oven.Allow the pie to rest at room temperature for at least 3-4 hours to let the filling set. For the best results, let it rest for 7-8 hours before slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Cherry Pie
Amount per Serving
Calories
568
% Daily Value*
Fat
27
g
42
%
Saturated Fat
17
g
106
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
7
g
Cholesterol
89
mg
30
%
Sodium
307
mg
13
%
Potassium
364
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
75
g
25
%
Fiber
4
g
17
%
Sugar
32
g
36
%
Protein
7
g
14
%
Vitamin A
909
IU
18
%
Vitamin C
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
44
mg
4
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is an estimate, calculated using standard data sources. Actual values may vary based on ingredient brands, preparation methods, and portion sizes. This information is for general reference only and should not be considered a substitute for professional dietary advice.
