Bitter Cherry Pie – My Baking Habit

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

One factor we do very well right here within the Midwest is summer time produce. From the easiest candy corn to the juiciest strawberries and blueberries, our farmers positive know what they’re doing.

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

This 12 months, be sure to seize some and produce them residence 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 through the summer time, 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, akin to Bing or Rainier cherries, are giant and usually are a deep crimson shade or a golden-pink shade. They’re what you’ll most frequently discover in American grocery shops. 

Because the title suggests, candy cherries have a really candy taste and a agency texture. They’re implausible for snacking – I can’t get sufficient of them through the summer time months!

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

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

The tartness of bitter cherries provides an entire new taste profile to recipes like cherry clafoutis, cherry easy syrup, bitter cherry cobbler, and – after all – bitter cherry pie. 

The way to make bitter cherry pie

Bitter cherry pie is the final word traditional summer time dessert, particularly when you’re from anyplace close to Michigan, the place many of the nation’s bitter cherries are grown.

Should you 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 substances:

• 2 kilos recent 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

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

Should you can’t discover any recent bitter cherries the place you reside, otherwise you’re craving bitter cherry pie in the course of winter, search for frozen pitted bitter cherries. They are going to work simply as nicely on this recipe as recent cherries!

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

There are a pair extra substances you should utilize 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 like including a little bit of almond extract to my cherry recipes, akin to cherry cheesecake and whipped cherry butter. It’s undoubtedly elective although, so be happy to go away it out when you don’t like almond extract.

An egg wash and a sprinkle of sugar on prime of the crust earlier than baking will give a glittery, 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 cook 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 crimson 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’ll be able to 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.

While 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 would additionally do a lattice pie crust when you 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. 

Minimize 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 slicing.

Storage and freezing

Retailer leftover cherry pie within the fridge for as much as 3 days. You’ll be able to 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.

Should you freeze the entire pie, be certain that 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.

While 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 probably 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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