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Learn how to make cherry pie with this simple and classic cherry pie recipe!
Ok, I took a vote on our Facebook page yesterday for which pie recipe you’d like to see next. And while blueberry came in at a very close second (and will be happening later this week!), I think it’s clear which classic dessert usually gets everyone’s vote — Cherry Pie!
I have to admit that I initially went to the market to buy blueberries to make this pie so that we could photograph our tutorial on How To Make A Lattice Pie Crust. I had made a blueberry pie the week before for my pieathon night with friends, and it was so crazy good that I wanted to make it again. But then I walked by this enormous bin of bing cherries on sale.
And I decided it was time to learn how to make a cherry pie.
My summer intern, Rachel, happened to be working with me in the kitchen that day. And since she had never before used a cherry pitter, she volunteered for the lucky job of pitting a zillion cherries! Our little cherry pitter (see below) made quick work of the project, but it definitely made us want to give props to the generations of bakers who came before us and did this by hand.
I forgot to take a picture of our champion cherry pitter, so here is a photo from OXO. This little guy is the best invention ever — pits cherries like a PRO! (I’ve included an Amazon affiliate link if you want to click to buy one of your own.) :)
By this point, after making so many pies, I had my recipe for How To Make A Pie Crust completely memorized. But Rachel and I were kind of surprised to learn how easy it was to make cherry pie filling!
We ended up opting for the method that just tosses the cherries in a dry mix, rather than cooking them on the stove. (Very similar to my recipe for Peach Bourbon Pie.) So once the cherries were pitted, it literally just took a minute or so to toss together the cherry pie filling. We quickly laced up the lattice crust, and then it was time to Gimme Some Oven, baby! ;)
Needless to say, I think that we both agreed that the impulse cherry buy paid off. Homemade cherry pie is the best!!!
This cherry pie recipe turned out to be absolutely wonderful! I was a little worried if I would like the cherry pie filling recipe made with sweet bing cherries instead of the typical canned tart cherries. But the pie was definitely not overly-sweet, and I loved the freshness of the bing cherries. The perfect pie to celebrate summer!!!
A delicious cherry pie recipe made with a fresh sweet cherry pie filling.
Ingredients
Scale
1 unbaked double pie crust recipe
5 cups sweet cherries, pitted
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup corn starch
1 Tbsp of butter, cut into tiny pieces
1 Tbsp. milk
sugar for sprinkling (I used turbinado)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Toss together the pitted cherries, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, almond extract, vanilla extract and corn starch in a large bowl until evenly coated.
Roll out the bottom pie crust, and gently lay it in a 9-inch pie pan. (See detailed instructions here.) Transfer the cherry filling to the pie crust, and sprinkle with little dots of butter.
Roll out the top pie crust, and either lay on top and cut a few slits in the middle to make a full double pie crust (detailed instructions here). Or cut the top pie crust into strips to make a lattice pie crust.
Brush pie crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or freeze for 10 minutes, before baking.
Place the pie in the middle rack, with a baking sheet or pie of aluminum foil on the rack below to catch any pie drippings. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temp to 350°F and cook for 35-45 additional minutes, or until the crust is nicely golden and the filling is thick and bubbly.
Remove and allow to cool completely before serving.
Gorgeous Sweet Cherry Pie with lattice top, Ali! Loving your series on pie and can just imagine a second series as we approach the fall and winter holiday seasons. Stunning photography, too, as always. Bravo, girl!
Hey Ali, I’ve got that same cherry pitter. It is awesome! I just clicked on your Amazon link to order one for my sister. (Saving it for her Christmas stocking.) She’s makes cherry preserves every year, so that’s a perfect gift for her. Yay! It always feels good to get an early start on Christmas shopping. Thank you. :-)
Ali – I am in love with this pie!! It is perfection. Complete perfection. Nothing beats cherry pie and you nailed it my friend. I need that cherry pitter.
Your cherry pie looks perfect in every way! It’s so hard to get pie to come out in one beautiful piece but you did it! I have to say it’s a toss up for me Cherry or Blueberry pie?
I made this pie yesterday but I didn’t use the crust recipe, it is AWESOME! Heaven!! I did take a photo on Instagram but my account is private so I don’t think you can so it if I hashtag it.
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
That’s great, Terri, we’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for giving the recipe a try! : )
I made this pie last night with fresh picked cherries. The flavor was great and and the pie looked beautiful but unfortunately it was super liquidy and the filling fell out when you picked up a slice. I will have to try again next time I get cherries.
Sadly, this recipe was a failure for me. Cherries undercooked, runny & not nearly sweet enough. Followed your recipe & directions & my oven is accurate. I’ll go back to making my cherry pie w/ cooked filling.
Thx for this op to share my experience!
Hey, I’m Ali!
My favorite thing in life is time spent around the table. And all the better with some seriously tasty food to bring us all together. more about me »
I really need to get one of those cherry pitters! I love the crust! Great job on it! Just beautiful!
I love the idea of the dry mix filling. I shall try this out…and the lattice thing too.
This looks wonderful!
Loving this pie-athon!! Can we bake together someday?
I love a good cherry pie in the summer and yours is beautiful! My absolute favorite pie, though, is apple pie. Something to look forward to!
Gorgeous pie!
Gorgeous pie Ali! And I agree – that cherry pitter is amazing.
Holy Gorgeous Pie Batman!
Gorgeous Sweet Cherry Pie with lattice top, Ali! Loving your series on pie and can just imagine a second series as we approach the fall and winter holiday seasons. Stunning photography, too, as always. Bravo, girl!
This is so pretty and your lattice crust is perfection!
Such stunning pictures Ali!
Hey Ali, I’ve got that same cherry pitter. It is awesome! I just clicked on your Amazon link to order one for my sister. (Saving it for her Christmas stocking.) She’s makes cherry preserves every year, so that’s a perfect gift for her. Yay! It always feels good to get an early start on Christmas shopping. Thank you. :-)
Love cherry pie – it’s so classic! Beautiful photos!
Are you seeing pies in your sleep yet? Lol. Great looking slice and one of my faves!
Gorgeous pie! I need to stock up on cherries now!
Ali – I am in love with this pie!! It is perfection. Complete perfection. Nothing beats cherry pie and you nailed it my friend. I need that cherry pitter.
What a gorgeous pie! I love summer and all things cherry.
This is my all time favorite pie! My brother’s too! I can’t let summer go by without making it!
This is so pretty and like Sally said, you NAILED it!! Bring on the cherries!!
I have to say, that a sour cherry pie is even better….it’s just that you can’t find these cherries!
You make such gorgeous pies!!
Your cherry pie looks perfect in every way! It’s so hard to get pie to come out in one beautiful piece but you did it! I have to say it’s a toss up for me Cherry or Blueberry pie?
I am swooning over the gorgeous lattice crust, Ali! Perfection!
This looks fabulous! Love the lattice crust.
Oh goodness, I’m loving this sweet cherry pie :) so delightful!
That is one very good looking pie!!!!! Great step by step guide!!!
Great looking pie, easy to follow recipe, but the almond extract made the filling taste a bit “off”. Trying again sans almond extract tomorrow.
I made this pie yesterday but I didn’t use the crust recipe, it is AWESOME! Heaven!! I did take a photo on Instagram but my account is private so I don’t think you can so it if I hashtag it.
That’s great, Terri, we’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for giving the recipe a try! : )
Hi!
Could you make this pie with frozen sweet cherries? The recipe looks sooo good!
Thank you.
Donna
Hi Donna! We think that’s fine, we hope you enjoy!
I made this pie last night with fresh picked cherries. The flavor was great and and the pie looked beautiful but unfortunately it was super liquidy and the filling fell out when you picked up a slice. I will have to try again next time I get cherries.
Oh no, we’re so sorry to hear that, Tara! :(
Sadly, this recipe was a failure for me. Cherries undercooked, runny & not nearly sweet enough. Followed your recipe & directions & my oven is accurate. I’ll go back to making my cherry pie w/ cooked filling.
Thx for this op to share my experience!