Homemade Cherry Pie
Delicious for the summer, fall, or anytime!
Prep Time
2 hrs, plus cooling time
Cook Time
45-50 min.
Difficulty
Medium
Yield
1 pie
Now, let's do it!
INGREDIENTS
For the filling:
- 2 lbs pitted sweet cherries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 lemon (use for zesting and the juice)
- 2 1/2 tbsp instant tapioca
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
For the crust
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 5 tbsp ice water
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the crust first.
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Add the butter all together. With your hands, mix together while pinching the cubes of butter. It will flatten and start to turn into little pieces.
- After it's all mixed together, start adding the water, one tablespoon at a time until the dough begins to come together. Working by hand, press the dough together in a ball. Divide into 2 and flatten each piece into a disc that's about an inch thick. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for about an hour or more.
Prep the filling
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the sugar and tapioca along with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and cardamom (one or the other, or a mixture of both). Mix until it's finely ground up.
- With the cherries in a large bowl, add the sugar and tapioca and toss until well combined.
Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Take one disc out of the fridge and roll it, working swiftly, to about 12 inches. Place into a pie plate. Roll the other disc next, roughly 11 inches in diameter for the top of the pie.
- Pour the cherry mixture in the pie plate and top with the 11 inch crust.
- Press the edges together, trim any extra dough, and crimp the edges to the pie plate. Using a fork, press down on the rim of the pie all the way around. Use a butter knife to cut several steam vents in the center of the pie. Get creative, or go traditional!
- Brush the top of the pie with melted butter or heavy cream. Sprinkle sugar on top.
Bake the pie on the lowest rack for about 45 to 50 minutes until the crust is a dark golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Transfer the pie to a cooling rack for several hours.
Enjoy!
A few thoughts and some reviews.
Cherry pie has been associated with American identity and culture, often featured in paintings, literature, and songs. It represents comfort, nostalgia, and the simple pleasures of life, embodying the spirit of American home cooking and hospitality.
National Cherry Pie Day falls close to George Washington's birthday on February 22nd, which may not be a coincidence given the cherry tree myth. However, the exact origins of the holiday are a bit of a mystery, celebrated by cherry pie enthusiasts and bakers alike. In some cultures, cherry pie is associated with love and good fortune. There's an old superstition that says baking a cherry pie for someone will win their heart, making it a popular dessert for romantic occasions and a symbol of affection.