The Best Cherry Pie Recipe: A Sweet & Simple Guide to Pie Perfection
Are you ready to bake the most delicious cherry pie of your life? This recipe focuses on creating a perfectly balanced pie – not too sweet, not too tart, with a flaky crust that melts in your mouth. Let's get started!
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very cold and cut into cubes
- ½ cup ice water
For the Filling:
- 4 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries (if using frozen, do not thaw)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional, but highly recommended!)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions:
Making the Crust:
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
- Cut in butter: Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Work quickly to prevent the butter from melting.
- Add ice water: Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- Chill the dough: Form the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a flakier crust.
Making the Filling:
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, gently combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, almond extract (if using), cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Assembling and Baking the Pie:
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate.
- Add the filling: Pour the cherry filling into the pie crust.
- Top with the crust: Roll out the second disc of dough and either place it over the filling or cut it into strips for a lattice top. Crimp the edges to seal. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, cover the edges with foil.
- Cool: Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before serving. This allows the filling to set properly.
Tips for Pie Perfection:
- Use cold ingredients: Cold butter and ice water are crucial for a flaky crust.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing develops the gluten, resulting in a tough crust.
- Blind bake (optional): For a crispier bottom crust, you can pre-bake the crust for 15 minutes before adding the filling.
- Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet pie, reduce the sugar by ¼ cup.
- Add a touch of spice: Experiment with other spices like allspice or cardamom.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve your warm, delicious cherry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!
This recipe provides a solid foundation for creating a truly unforgettable cherry pie. Remember to adjust the sweetness and spices to your personal preference. Happy baking!
