It has taken me years to make a cherry filling that I'm happy with. This one is pretty versatile, it fills one 9-inch pie or two 6-inch pies. I've been experimenting with the smaller size because with a household of three those large pies are hard to finish at their peak. I use a standard all butter pie crust, you can go double crusted or use a streusel topping or triple crust it if you're feeling sassy. My standard recipe uses cherry lemonade as the liquid, mostly because it is a staple in the house during cherry season. If you're working with frozen cherries you can use cherry juice, plain water or, as I did today, you can use Root for a cherry-root beer pie that is something special. Add some vanilla ice cream and you'll be in hog heaven.
Cherry Pie Filling
1000 grams/ 2.2 pounds pitted cherries
150 grams/ 3/4 cup sugar
50 grams/ 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
4.5 grams/ 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
12 grams/ 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
7 grams/ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
28 grams/ 1/4 cup cherry lemonade
In a medium sauce pot combine the cherries, sugar, brown sugar, salt, tapioca starch, cornstarch and cherry lemonade. Stir to combine. Set the mixture over medium high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring. Adjust the heat to medium and cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a stainless steel bowl set over an ice bath and cool completely before using. Pie filling may be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before using.
Years Past
July 9, 2009
