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A delicious slice of cherry pie with a golden lattice crust, overflowing with sweet, tart cherries, served on a white plate.
Daniel

Cherry Pie

This classic cherry pie recipe features a sweet-tart filling bursting with fresh fruit, all encased in a flaky, buttery homemade crust. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion!
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

For the Pie Crust
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, very cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 6-8 tbsp ice water
For the Cherry Filling
  • 6 cups fresh sweet cherries pitted
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar adjust to taste based on cherry sweetness
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 tsp almond extract
  • 0.25 tsp salt
For Finishing
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 tsp water for egg wash
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar

Equipment

  • 9-inch pie plate
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pastry blender (optional)

Method
 

Make the Pie Crust
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, and 0.5 teaspoon salt. Add the very cold, cubed butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
  2. Gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days).
Prepare the Cherry Filling
  1. In another large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, 0.75 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, almond extract, and 0.25 teaspoon salt. Toss gently to coat all the cherries evenly and set aside.
Assemble the Pie
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of pie dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Pour the cherry filling evenly into the pie crust. Roll out the second disc of dough for the top crust.
  2. Place the top crust over the filling. Trim the top crust to match the bottom overhang. Crimp the edges together to seal the pie. Cut several small slits or decorative cutouts in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon of water to create an egg wash. Brush the top crust with the egg wash and sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar. Place the pie on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 20 minutes at 425°F (220°C). Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue to bake for another 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
  4. Carefully remove the pie from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This is crucial for the filling to set properly, which can take 3-4 hours.

Notes

1. **Frozen Cherries Alternative:** If fresh cherries aren't available, you can use 6 cups of frozen pitted cherries. Do not thaw them first; simply toss them with the other filling ingredients and proceed as directed. You might need to add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch if the filling seems too liquidy.
2. **Patience is Key:** Allowing the pie to cool completely is the most important step for a perfectly set filling. Cutting into a warm pie will likely result in a runny, soupy filling.
3. **Serving Suggestions:** This cherry pie is delightful on its own, but it's truly heavenly served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream.