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slice of homemade cherry pie on white plate with fork
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Cherry Pie

This cherry pie recipe can be made with fresh or frozen cherries which allows you to enjoy it year round.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 10 servings
Calories 258kcal
Author Ryan Beck

Ingredients

Pie Crust

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes (20 tbsp)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup ice cold water
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cherry Pie

  • 2 pie crust
  • 2 lbs cherries, pitted (about 5 cups)
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water or milk
  • 2 tablespoon coarse sugar

Instructions

  • Using a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture becomes coarse meal, about 15 pulses.
  • In a small bowl, combine egg yolk, water and vanilla extract. Add the egg mixture to food processor and pulse until it starts to clump together. DO NOT pulse until ball is formed. It should be crumbly with large clumps of dough.
  • Turn dough only a lightly floured surface and form into a ball. Cut in half and flatten each ball slightly to form a disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and put in fridge for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
  • While pie dough is in fridge, heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the cherries, cornstarch, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon and salt. Simmer while stirring constantly for about 8 minutes, or until the mixture starts to thicken. Reduce heat to low and cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cool to room temperature.
  • Remove one disk of dough from the fridge about 10 minutes before you begin rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough so that it is about 3 inches longer than you pie dish and is between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch in thickness. Press the dough into the bottom and along the sides of the pie plate, being careful not to puncture the dough. Use kitchen scissors to trim the dough overhang to about 1 ½ inches.
  • Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven, set a baking sheet on it, and heat the oven to 375°F. Whisk the egg and water together to make an egg wash. Brush the inside of the pie crust with a thin layer of the egg wash. Pour the cooled filling into the crust. Top with cubes of butter.
  • Unroll the second pie dough on lightly flour the surface and roll to 12 inches in diameter and about ⅛ inch to ¼ inch thick. Cut into 1-inch wide strips. There should be 10 to 12 strips. Transfer every other strip to the top of the pie, spacing them evenly. Create a lattice pattern by alternating and folding in the remaining strips, leaving about ½ inch overhang.
  • Press the edges of the strips into the bottom pie crust edges to crimp. Brush the lattice and edges of the pie crust with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
  • Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake until the filling is bubbling and crust is golden brown, about 50 to 60 minutes. If the edges of the pie crust are browning too quickly, cover the edges of the pie with aluminum foil. Let cool for at least 3 hours before serving.

Notes

  • Cook the cherry filling - by cooking the cherries with the added ingredients ahead of time, it traps the juices into the filling so they don't run out in the oven. This also allows you to use frozen cherries if necessary.
  • Brush the bottom crust with egg wash - no one wants a soggy bottom and the egg wash helps develop a barrier between the dough and filling.
  • Make sure there is ventilation - fruit pies like this homemade cherry pie need good ventilation to allow steam to be released. A lattice crust which I use works great, but you can also make another crust, but just properly vent holes.
  • Bake pie on preheated baking sheet - by throwing the baking sheet in the oven when you preheat it, you help brown and cook the bottom crust quicker. It also catches any filling that might flow out.
  • Don't forget the extras - egg wash helps create that beautiful golden sheen and the coarse sugar adds some sparkle, which never hurts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g