Description
Homemade cherry pie filling brims with sweet-tart brilliance, showcasing ripe summer cherries in a luscious, glossy embrace. Spoon this crimson delight over desserts or enjoy straight from the jar, bringing pure orchard-fresh flavor to your culinary creations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (600 g / 21 oz) cherries, fresh or frozen, pitted
- ¾ cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) water or cherry juice
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional, but enhances cherry flavor)
Instructions
- Cherry Preparation: Combine cherries, sugar, and half the water in a medium saucepan, simmering over medium heat until juices emerge, approximately 5 minutes.
- Filling Transformation: Blend cornstarch with remaining water until smooth, then integrate into cherry mixture. Continuously stir while cooking for 3-5 minutes until the mixture develops a glossy, thickened consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Remove from heat and incorporate lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and a delicate pinch of salt. Allow the filling to cool completely before utilizing.
- Versatile Applications:
• Pie Creation: Transfer filling into pie crust and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45-50 minutes
• Cheesecake Embellishment: Elegantly spoon over chilled cheesecake
• Pastry Filling: Utilize within puff pastry turnovers or delicate pastries
• Breakfast Companion: Drizzle atop waffles, pancakes, or morning oatmeal.
Notes
- Choose ripe, firm cherries with deep red or burgundy color for maximum flavor and natural sweetness.
- Stir constantly while thickening to prevent burning and ensure smooth, glossy texture without lumps.
- Taste cherries before adding sugar, as different varieties have varied natural sugar levels; reduce sugar for tart cherries.
- Substitute sugar with honey or maple syrup for a lower-glycemic option, or use monk fruit sweetener for sugar-free version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg