Made with tart cherries and flaky pie crust, bitter cherry pie is the last word summer season pie. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to savor each chunk of the season.

One factor we do rather well right here within the Midwest is summer season produce. From the perfect candy corn to the juiciest strawberries and blueberries, our farmers certain know what they’re doing.

Many of the nation’s tart cherries come out of Michigan. If you happen to dwell in Michigan or one of many neighboring states, you most likely have seen piles of those brilliant purple beauties at your farmers’ markets.

This 12 months, ensure you seize some and convey them house to make this bitter cherry pie. 

Bitter cherries vs. candy cherries

I’ve been utilizing my do-it-yourself cherry pie filling to make the whole lot from do-it-yourself cherry pie to cherry crisp and cherry turnovers for years now. 

The one draw back to that pie filling is that it makes use of candy cherries. And whereas candy cherries are nice and straightforward to search out at most grocery shops throughout the summer season, bitter cherries are a seasonal favourite for a lot of of us.

So what’s the distinction between bitter cherries and candy cherries?

Candy cherries, reminiscent of Bing or Rainier cherries, are massive and sometimes are a deep purple shade or a golden-pink shade. They’re what you’ll most frequently discover in American grocery shops. 

Because the identify suggests, candy cherries have a really candy taste and a agency texture. They’re improbable for snacking – I can’t get sufficient of them throughout the summer season months!

Bitter cherries, also referred to as tart cherries, are brilliant purple with a much less agency texture. And, because the identify tells us, they’ve a extra tart taste than candy cherries.

Most individuals don’t prefer to snack on bitter cherries, and for the reason that fruit is extra delicate than candy cherries, they’re fashionable to prepare dinner and bake with.

The tartness of bitter cherries provides a complete new taste profile to recipes like cherry clafoutis, cherry easy syrup, bitter cherry cobbler, and – in fact – bitter cherry pie. 

The way to make bitter cherry pie

Bitter cherry pie is the last word basic summer season dessert, particularly for those who’re from anyplace close to Michigan, the place a lot of the nation’s bitter cherries are grown.

If you happen to grew up loving bitter cherry pies made by your grandma, you’re going to adore this nostalgic recipe. And even higher information, it’s simpler to make than you assume!

Substances you’ll want

To make my bitter cherry pie, you’ll want a number of required elements:

• 2 kilos contemporary or frozen tart/bitter cherries
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pie crust for a 9-inch double-crust pie

If you happen to dwell in an space the place bitter cherries are grown, chances are high good that you just’ll be capable to discover some contemporary bitter cherries at your farmers’ markets beginning in June. 

If you happen to can’t discover any contemporary bitter cherries the place you reside, otherwise you’re craving bitter cherry pie in the midst of winter, search for frozen pitted bitter cherries. They may work simply as effectively on this recipe as contemporary cherries!

Your pie crust generally is a do-it-yourself pie crust, but it surely doesn’t need to be. You should use your favourite store-bought pie crust, too. 

There are a pair extra elements you should use to make your bitter cherry pie much more particular:

• ¼ teaspoon almond extract, so as to add to the filling
• Egg wash, for the crust
• Granulated sugar, for sprinkling on the crust

Cherries and almonds go nice collectively, so I really like including a little bit of almond extract to my cherry recipes, reminiscent of cherry cheesecake and whipped cherry butter. It’s undoubtedly non-obligatory although, so be happy to go away it out for those who don’t like almond extract.

An egg wash and a sprinkle of sugar on prime of the crust earlier than baking will give a shiny, fairly end to your pie.

Making bitter cherry pie

To make your bitter cherry pie, you first have to make the pie filling.

Add the cherries, water, lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch to a big saucepan over medium warmth. Carry the combination to a boil, then scale back the warmth to low and prepare dinner, stirring ceaselessly, for 5-10 minutes.

The filling is completed when the cherries have launched their juice and the “goo” is thick and a transparent, deep purple shade.

Take away the pan from the warmth and add the vanilla and the almond extract, if utilizing.

Let the filling cool earlier than assembling the pie. You possibly can simply make the filling forward of time and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 3 days or within the freezer for a few months.

If you’re able to assemble the pie, preheat the oven to 425°F. Place one of many oven racks within the backside third of the oven, ideally on the bottom rack setting.

Roll half of the pie dough and place it in a 9-inch pie plate and trim the sides as wanted. Add the cherry filling to the pie crust. 

Roll the remaining dough till it’s sufficiently big to cowl the pie. Place it over the filling and seal and crimp the sides. You might additionally do a lattice pie crust for those who like!

Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet. Whisk collectively the egg and water and gently brush it excessive of the pie, then sprinkle with the sugar. 

Lower vents into the highest of the pie with a pointy knife to permit steam to flee.

Bake the pie at 425°F for quarter-hour. Leaving the oven closed, scale back the temperature to 350°F and proceed baking for 40-45 minutes, till the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.

Let the pie cool for no less than 2 hours earlier than reducing.

Storage and freezing

Retailer leftover cherry pie within the fridge for as much as 3 days. You possibly can cowl it with plastic wrap, foil, or retailer it in a pie keeper.

If you wish to freeze your bitter cherry pie, I like to recommend both freezing the filling or freezing the assembled, however unbaked, pie.

If you happen to freeze the entire pie, ensure to make use of a metallic or disposable pie pan. Assemble the pie however skip the egg wash. Place it within the freezer for 2-3 hours, or till frozen stable.

Wrap the frozen pie in plastic wrap, then heavy-duty foil. Freeze for 2-3 months.

If you’re able to bake the pie, unwrap it whereas the oven preheats. Brush with the egg wash. Bake on the directed temperatures. You’ll possible want so as to add an additional 20-Half-hour of additional time on the finish for the reason that pie was frozen.

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