Make your own cherry pie filling using fresh tart pie cherries or sweet cherries.
Last weekend we made a quick trip to the Washington coast to attend my nephew's graduation! He is the oldest of all our nieces and nephews and the first to graduate.
It was a great celebration. The only problem is we have 12 more nieces and nephews that will be graduating over the next several years. Okay, so that really isn't a problem....It's just a lot of graduations to attend and who knows where they will go to college. I hope we can attend them all!
On our trip we hit a roadside fruit stand and stopped to buy fresh cherries. We have cherry trees, but our cherries won't be ready for another month. It was a treat to get some fresh picked cherries. I always tend to buy more than we can eat and ended up with a big bag after the trip. I decided to make cherry pie filling.
Usually I use sour pie cherries, but thought I'd try these sweet cherries! They were delicious and added a different flavor to the Cherry Almond Crisp I used them in.
What type of cherries do I use?
You can use sweet cherries, like a Bing or Rainier or you can use a tart pie cherry.
How is the cherry pie filling thickened?
The filling is thickened using corn starch.
Our trip was fast and over in the blink of an eye. My daughter is going to be a sophomore next year and the boys will be in 8th grade. I think these next few years will go fast and be over in the blink of an eye. I'd better slow everyone down and just enjoy the cherries!
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Cherry Pie Filling
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh cherries (or about 4 cups pitted cherries)
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup corn starch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Wash and pit cherries2 pounds fresh cherries
- Put all ingredients into a sauce pan over medium heat.2 pounds fresh cherries, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup corn starch, ¼ cup water
- Stir until sugar and corn starch are dissolved.
- Bring mixture to a simmer. Stir often to prevent scorching.
- When mixture thickens, turn heat off and let cool
Video
Notes
2. Adjust the sugar for sweet cherries to approx. ⅔ cup.
3. If using sour cherries, start with 1 cup sugar. Add a ¼ more if you like it sweeter.
4. Filling can be made ahead of time and stored in refrigerator.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Mary Carter says
Can u make a peach pie filling using same ingredients except peaches instead of the cherries, an if so do you know approximately how many peaches wud be needed for a deep dish pie?thanks in advanxe.i too have always wondered how to make the homemade fillings an glad I ran across.going to my 1st family reunion this Sat an wanna make something homemade like my grandma an I used to do years ago
Kathy says
I have only made this cherry pie filling using cherries. I'm not certain how peaches you would use instead of the cherries. Enjoy your family reunion!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
This looks absolutely scrumptious!! I need to try making this! I'll be sharing it on my FB page on Thursday morning. Glad you shared it at our party this week! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks, Michelle! This pie filling is so easy to make. Give it a try!
Adina says
You must be kidding, I was searching for a homemade cherry pie filling parallel to visiting my favorite blogs. 🙂 Search is over, I plan to make a cherry cheesecake soon and was not sure what is meant with the canned cherry pie filling, we don't have that in Germany. Now I know and it couldn't be easier, I will use your recipe for the cheesecake.
Kathy says
I've got you covered! Can't wait to see your cheesecake 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina.com says
Yep, just give me a spoon and I'll be a happy little camper! And that color is divine!
Kathy says
A spoon is all you need 🙂
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Oh wow! What a vibrant and pretty pink color. I love cherry pie and I guess I can use this filling for many more purposes as well! Thanks for sharing.
Kathy says
The color is pretty amazing!
ami@naivecookcooks says
Yum!! I have never made a cherry pie at home EVER. I think that needs to change since this pie filling looks outstanding!! 🙂
Kathy says
Or....just make the cherry pie filing instead!
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
I think I could eat these right out of the jar - who needs pie crust? So summertime perfect. 🙂
Kathy says
No crust needed...just a spoon 🙂
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Time does go by so fast, doesn't it? Better to enjoy every minute 🙂 Love cherries and this filling looks delicious. The colour is so pretty! I bet this would be great over a big spoonful of greek yogurt too!
Kathy says
It would be perfect over yogurt! Great idea!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
So glad you got to your nephew's graduation! My son Jonathan graduated last week (our first graduate) and it meant so much to us to have some family there. So jealous about your cherry trees. (But happy for you too. 🙂 This cherry filling looks absolutely scrumptious, I would love it in a hand pie!
Kathy says
I would need two hands pies...one for each hand 🙂
David @ Spiced says
That sounds like an awesome trip, Kathy! I've always wanted to visit the Northwest. And grabbing some cherries at a roadside stand? Genius! Now I want to go make cherry pie today...yum! 🙂
Kathy says
Gotta love those fruit stands 🙂
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
This post is intriguing me because I was just telling my husband that I have finally nailed pie crust but have yet to master any type of filling. With cherry season upon us, it's time to try again Kathy! Actually, I wanted to make a pie for Father's Day but had no clue on the filling and you can't just serve crust. Thanks!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
So funny Kathy, because I just made a cherry compote today!! Using it for some lemon poppyseed pancakes tomorrow morning for breakfast for my mom! Loving that it's cherry season!
Kathy says
Those pancakes sound delicious! Cherry season is here!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
Cherries are on sale right now for $1.99lb at my local store. I'm going to buy a couple of pounds and make cherry pie filling! Woohooo 😉
Kathy says
That's a great price! Go buy some cherries!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I am so happy cherry season has finally arrived, and there is nothing better than a fresh cherry pie! This filling looks so perfect, Kathy! Forget the pie, I'll just take a few jars of this!! Cheers, friend!
Kathy says
Eating it by the spoonful is totally optional:)
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
Wow, Kathy, it looks so good I want to eat it all spoonful after spoonful! It would be delicious on pies, galettes, inside hand pies, on toast...yum! I love those roadside fruit stands, when we go to B.C. we stop every 2 minutes 🙂 .
Kathy says
So many options! I'd better buy more cherries!