Description
Delight in the festive flavors of this classic Christmas Cherry Pie, featuring a luscious cherry filling infused with vanilla and almond extracts, enveloped in a flaky, golden-brown pie crust. Perfect for holiday celebrations, this pie combines sweet and tart cherries with a smooth, thick filling, creating a comforting and visually appealing dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 tablespoon butter
Pie Crust
- 1 package pie crusts (2 crusts)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the pie and achieving a golden crust.
- Prepare the filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Stir consistently to blend the flavors and dissolve the cornstarch.
- Cook the filling: Continue cooking the mixture until it bubbles and thickens, indicating the filling has reached the right consistency for the pie.
- Cool the filling: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the cherry filling to cool to room temperature before assembling the pie to prevent a soggy crust.
- Assemble the pie: Place one pie crust into a pie pan. Pour the cooled cherry filling evenly over the crust, then dot the filling with small pieces of butter to add richness.
- Cover and seal: Place the second pie crust over the filling and carefully seal the edges by pressing them together to encase the filling securely.
- Vent the pie: Cut several slits into the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking, which helps avoid a soggy filling and uneven cooking.
- Bake: Place the pie on the middle rack of the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Notes
- Using frozen cherries? Thaw and drain any excess juice before cooking to avoid a watery filling.
- For extra flakiness, chill your pie crust before assembling.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic holiday treat.
- You can sprinkle a little sugar on top of the crust before baking for a sparkling finish.
- If the edges brown too quickly, cover them with foil to prevent burning.
