There’s nothing like a fresh Cherry Pie with juicy cherries bubbling through a rich, flaky crust. Watch the video tutorial and learn how to make the best cherry pie from scratch with our easy, homemade Pie Crust and fresh or frozen cherries. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Homemade pies are easy to make and so satisfying to eat. We change up the fruit with the seasons and make Apple Pie in the cooler months, then Blueberry Pie, juicy Peach Pie and, of course, this sweet cherry pie in Summer.
Cherry Pie RecipeMemories are made around homemade pies and there’s something so satisfying about creating a pie from scratch. The only downside to a homemade pie is in waiting for it to cool before enjoying it. For easier serving, let the pie cool almost to room temperature so the juices thicken. If you slice into a hot pie, the filling will slide out.
Don’t forget to top each slice with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. It will melt slightly into the slice, making it irresistibly good.
Homemade Cherry Pie Video TutorialIf you enjoyed this Cherry Pie video tutorial, you can check out all of our video recipes on our . I hope you’re pumped and inspired to bake your own cherry pie while cherries are in season, or you can use frozen when the craving strikes (see instructions below). Ingredients for Cherry Pie
Cherries: We love sweet red cherries here but you can use a variety of cherries and even a combination of different cherries.
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness and adds some juiciness to the filling. Use less or omit if you are using a tart cherry.
Sugar: Granulated sugar amplifies the natural sweetness of the cherries. You can adjust sugar to taste depending on the sweetness of your cherries. Add more for tart cherries.
Corn Starch: This helps to thicken the cherry pie filling to create a bubbly saucy center just like in our Cherry Sauce.
Butter: We use unsalted butter to dot the cherry pie filling before applying the crust.
Pie Crust: You will need two disks or 1 recipe for Pie Dough, to make the bottom crust and lattice top. The Best Way to Pit Cherries:To be safe, double-check that each cherry is pitted. I like to watch them one by one as I pit to see the pit exit the cherry. There are many cherry pitters on the market and these two are a great choice:
For big batches of cherries – use a countertop pitter. You can get through a lot of cherries faster.
For small projects (like cherry pie!) – you can use a hand-held cherry pitter.
Can I use Frozen Cherries for Cherry Pie?Cherries from the freezer work great when cherries aren’t in season. Using frozen cherries can be even easier since they are already pitted. Make sure frozen cherries are well thawed. Lightly rinse them and let them sit in a colander to drain well. Use 2 1/2 lbs of frozen cherries for this recipe.
Can I make a Sour Cherry Pie? Since sour cherries are generally smaller, you will need about 2 1/2 to 3 lbs (or 6 cups, pitted) of sour cherries. Since sour cherries are more tart, use 1 cup of sugar.
How to Transfer a Pie Crust to the PanTransferring pie crust to a pie pan is easy. Flour your work surface before rolling out the dough to prevent sticking.
Roll the first pie crust to a 13″ diameter circle
Roll the crust onto your rolling pin
Unroll crust over your deep dish pie panHow to Make Cherry PieA homemade cherry pie filling is easy to make and takes just a few ingredients. The cornstarch creates a thick bubbly cherry filling while the cinnamon and lemon juice amplifies the flavor of the cherries. The resulting filling is bubbly and saucy like our Cherry Sauce.
Stir together cherries and lemon juice.
Whisk together cornstarch, sugar, and cinnamon and combine with cherries. Stir until the cherries are saucy and evenly coated. How to Make a Lattice Pie CrustHere’s a quick visual reference for making a lattice pie crust for cherry pie. I still use this visual reference when making pie because I can move through the steps at my own pace.
Place 5 strips of dough horizontally over the pie filling, with the longer strips in the center and shorter strips towards the edges.
Fold back the 2nd and 4th strips halfway and place a long vertical strip of dough in the center.
Fold the strips back over the new line then fold back the alternate strips (1st, 3rd, and 5th). Continue adding and alternating strips then switch to the other side of the pie, until the lattice is complete.How to Crimp a Pie CrustYour fingers are all you need to make a beautiful crimped or scalloped pie crust.
Tuck in excess dough behind the bottom pie crust.
Crimp the crust edges by pushing the dough out with your index finger and at the same time pushing/pinching the dough around it with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand
Repeat all the way around the edge.Pro Tips for the Best Cherry Pie
Freeze the unbaked pie for 10-15 minutes while the oven preheats (this keeps crust from sagging in the oven and browning too fast).
Brush the pie crust with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 Tbsp milk or water) and sprinkle with coarse sugar just before baking.
Arrange the oven rack to the lower third of the oven to keep the crust from getting too brown.
For easier cleanup, place a sheet of foil (or slide a sheet pan) under the pie once you turn the heat down to 350˚F.I hope you take full advantage of cherry season with your own homemade cherry pie. Cherries have to be my favorite stone fruit and I’ve always loved them fresh and especially baked into desserts. From the flaky buttery crust to the juicy cherries that burst with every bite – this pie has your name written all over it! More Cherry RecipesWe are wild about cherry recipes and take full advantage of those juicy sweet cherries in Summer. These are a must-try:
Cherry Clafoutis
Black Forest Cake
Cherry Smoothies
Chocolate Cherry Cake
Cherry Upside-Down Cake
Cherry Crumble
Sparkling Cherry Lemonade
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