Homemade Cherry Pie Filling

Name: Homemade Cherry Pie Filling
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6-8 servings.
Ingredients: 2/3 cup sugar; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 4 cups fresh tart cherries, pitted; 1-1/2 cups water; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 6 drops red food coloring, optional; ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT:; Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)

Fresh tart cherries give this pie filling a homemade flavor that's superior to canned.

Ingredients

2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups fresh tart cherries, pitted
1-1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
6 drops red food coloring, optional
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT:
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add the cherries, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in food coloring if desired. Yield: 4 cups.
For a lattice-crust pie: Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry; add filling. Make a lattice crust; trim, seal and flute edges. Cover edges loosely with foil.
Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Editor's Note: This recipe makes enough for a 9-in. pie. To use in other dessert recipes, a 21-oz. can of commercial pie filling is equal to 2 cups.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 359 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 277mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Originally published as Homemade Cherry Pie Filling in Backyard Living May/June 2006

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Robert

Jul 18, 2017

I subsituted 1/4 of the water with orange brandy, which I added once the sauce was thickening. I also added 2 tsp of cinnimon, 1 tsp of cardanom, a pimch of cayenne, and almond. Also used unsalted butter.
sugarcrystal

Aug 2, 2015

Great recipe. Store bought stuff doesn't really do it for me. My only change was to add a dash of cinnamon, cloves, & almond extract.
rippleon2000

Sep 18, 2014

Had a bunch of fresh cherries that didn't work so well after freezing in a couple of recipes we tried. Turned out delicious with this recipe!
Pie_Pie_Pie

Jun 29, 2013

It turned out with a jelly-like consistancy, I'd look else where. It tasted kind of bitter, maybe I need to pick different cherries, but I think it needed more sugar.
mom24_4evermom

Apr 5, 2013

Easy, delicious, exactly what I was looking for. Not gelatin like at all, for me.
lovedega88

Nov 27, 2012

Such an easy recipe and it turned out perfect! Very good! I will be using this recipe again and again.
jopine

Jun 7, 2011

this was very good me and my sister loved it :D
oticu

Jun 1, 2010

It came out completely bland and looking like gelatin. My husband and I did not like it at all.