My favorite cherry pie recipe is easy! You need a little patience when pitting the cherries, but I promise it’s worth it. You can use sweet cherries, sour cherries, or a combination of both.
1 (9 inch) double crust homemade pie crust, our recipe makes enough for 2 single crust pies
2 ½ pounds (1300g) whole fresh cherries, about 5 cups pitted
2/3 cup (130g) granulated sugar, plus more for top
1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into small squares
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1Roll out half of the pie dough to fit a 9-inch pie dish (keep the remaining dough chilled). To prevent sticking, sprinkle flour on your work surface and rolling pin. Roll from the center outwards for even thickness, lifting and rotating the dough by a quarter turn as you go. Check the size by inverting the pie dish over the dough (it should be about 2 inches larger).
2Carefully place the dough into the pie dish without stretching it, and trim the edges to within 1 inch of the dish. Refrigerate while you prepare your filling.
1Pit the cherries and cut them in half. Then, cut half of the mixture into quarters (the variation of sizes makes a better filling).
2Add pitted cherries to a large bowl, then add the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, almond extract, lemon juice, and salt. Gently toss to combine. Set aside.
3In a large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, almond, lemon juice, and salt. Give it a gentle toss, then set aside on the counter while you roll the top crust.
1Roll out the remaining dough to a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. If the dough sticks to the surface, add more flour.
2Spoon cherry pie filling into the prepared pie crust, but leave most of the liquid pooled at the bottom of the bowl (it makes the pie soggy). Scatter the little squares of cold butter over the filling.
3Carefully place the top round of dough over the filling. Use a knife or pair of kitchen scissors to trim dough to within 1 inch of the edge of the dish.
4Fold the edges of the top crust underneath the edges of the bottom crust, pressing the edge to seal it to create a thicker, 1/4-inch border that rests on the lip of the pie dish. Crimp the edges as desired.
5Whisk the egg yolk and cream to create an egg wash, then brush it over the crust. Sprinkle with extra sugar and refrigerate the pie for 10 minutes before baking.
6Cut 3 to 4 slits through the top pie crust to let steam escape in the oven.
1Before baking, position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and place a baking sheet on it. This will catch any potential drips from the pie. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
2Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for another 35 to 45 minutes. The pie is done when the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling enthusiastically.
3If you notice the crust edges browning too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil and continue baking until the pie is fully cooked.
4Allow the pie to cool for 3 to 4 hours before cutting for the best results (this gives the filling time to thicken and set properly).