Eat Your Colors - June / July 2024

Cherry Pie

There’s nothing quite like a cherry pie. Yes, I may be biased since I grew up on cherry pies. It didn’t matter that the hot summer days made it a sin to pre-heat an oven to 375 degrees. Just the taste for a cherry pie, baking for 45-50 minutes on a hot, sweaty day somehow made it bearable.

When I was child, the trick was to leave the house as the pie was being made. I would go to the back yard or go up the block with my bike. Or hang out in the cool of our basement and try not to let the aroma of pie intoxicate me. In the winter (we had pies all year round) it was comfortable to stay home while the pies baked, but summer? No- you had to go outdoors, maybe the pool or anything else- just away from the oven. And while I’m on the subject of cherry pie, I felt the very same way about blueberry pie and apple pie. I rather have fruit pies than cakes- and you all should know by now that this boy loves cake! But pies? Oowieeee!

As I grew older, I started making my own pies. I make a pretty good and flaky pie crust from scratch. But sometimes (and lately these days), I grab a box of puff pastry sheets to make my pie crust and classic lattice top. I like using fresh cherries too. I call them berry pies so that Henry will eat themif I call it cherry pie, he’ll say, “I don’t really like cherry pie.” If I call it berry pie, he’ll ask for seconds. shhhhhh!

I have no-shame buying, claiming and eating a good store-bought pieFarmers Markets in my area have pretty good ones. The fact that I don’t have to spend time in my kitchen with a hot stove on in the summer, makes buying a delicious pie so worth the high price. They’re so expensive that now they sell them in halves. A half a pie can be $10-12 easy!

I’m not opposed to making a quick and easy cherry pie made from puff pastry sheets and good-quality frozen cherries. I try to make it fresh, but if I don’t want to take the time, I have the cherries and the pastry in my freezer just waiting to be thawed.

Here’s how I make my quick and easy cherry pie…

Cherry Filling:

• 2 cups fresh / frozen cherries, pitted

• 1/3 cup of granulated sugar

• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Lattice Top:

• 2 sheets store-bought puff pastry, thawed

• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cherry filling ingredients until well combined.

2. Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. Place in pie dish.

3. Spoon the cherry filling into the center of the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

4. Use a pastry cutter or a knife to cut strips of pastry for the lattice top.

5. Place the strips on top of the filling, weaving them into a lattice pattern. Trim the excess pastry from the edges.

6. Brush the lattice top with the beaten egg for a golden glaze.

7. Bake the pie for 40-50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Tips:

• Use a mixture of sweet and tart cherries for the best flavor.

• Don't overfill the pie crust, the filling will expand during baking.

• Brush the lattice top with a little bit of milk or cream for an extragolden glaze.

• Instead of a lattice top, try cutting out shapes with your cookie cutters. I often punch out different size circular shapes and create a pretty pattern on top of the pie.

• VEGANize it by using vegan puff pastry and plant-based milks in place of an egg-wash. It’ll turn out just as golden. I use oat milk.

• Add chopped strawberries and whole blueberries for a berry pie.

• Make the same fruit pie with just blueberries or just peach slices or with any fruit that you like.

• Sprinkle pistachio dust or whatever crushed nuts you like.

Enjoy your delicious homemade cherry pie!

Cherry pie is great on its own, but adding some extra toppings can take it to the next level!

Vanilla Ice Cream: A classic that's hard to beat.

Whipped Cream: Add a dollop for sweet contrast.

Almond Slivers: Sprinkle sliced almonds or any nut on top for a crunchy texture & nutty flavor.

Caramel Sauce: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the pie for something sweet and salty.

Fresh Fruit: Add fresh cherries, blueberries, or raspberries on top for a pop of color and flavor.

Coconut Flakes: Sprinkle some toasted coconut flakes for a tropical twist.

Chocolate Shavings: Add some dark chocolate shavings for an indulgent treat.

Custard: Top with a drizzle of creamy custard for an extra-rich dessert.