
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.

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!!!
Hope you enjoy this one too!

Cherry Pie

Ingredients
- 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.

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You make such gorgeous pies!!
I have to say, that a sour cherry pie is even better….it’s just that you can’t find these cherries!
This is so pretty and like Sally said, you NAILED it!! Bring on the cherries!!
This is my all time favorite pie! My brother’s too! I can’t let summer go by without making it!
What a gorgeous pie! I love summer and all things cherry.
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.
Gorgeous pie! I need to stock up on cherries now!
Are you seeing pies in your sleep yet? Lol. Great looking slice and one of my faves!
Love cherry pie – it’s so classic! Beautiful photos!
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. :-)