Description
Making cherry pie filling ahead of time lets you take advantage of cherry season for fresh fruit helping you get ahead on your Thanksgiving pie prep. Use frozen cherries, and you can make cherry pie year round. This recipe makes enough for one 9” pie plus enough for half a batch of Mini Cherry Pies or Cherry Hand Pies and a Black Forest Cherry Tart.
Ingredients
Scale
Make Ahead Cherry Pie Filling
- 2 pounds frozen sweet cherries (fresh is good too)
- 28 ounces canned or jarred sour cherries
- 1/2 cup dried sour cherries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla sugar (optional but awesome)
- 3 and 1/2 Tablespoons arrowroot or tapioca starch (32 g)
- 1 Tablespoon amaretto (optional, see note)
Equipment
- Cherry pitter , only if using fresh cherries
Instructions
Prep the Cherries
- Chop the frozen cherries into quarters. Pit the cherries if you are using fresh cherries. Skip this step if you want to keep the cherries whole. There is no need to thaw the cherries.
- Drain the sour cherries in a sieve over a bowl, pressing out as much of the water as possible.
- Cover the dried cherries with the cherry water.
- Bring the water to a boil and let the cherries soak for 5 minutes.
- Press out the excess water and then chop the cherries.
Thicken the Cherry Juices
- Add all the cherries to a skillet and sprinkle over the sugar and vanilla sugar.
- Mix the arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of water in a small cup. Keep the cup near the stove.
- Place the cherries over medium heat on the stove. Stir the cherries frequently until all the sugar dissolves in the juices and the juices start to boil.
- Once the cherry juice is boiling, reduce the heat to low and sprinkle over the starch slurry.
- Stir the cherries just until the juices start to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the amaretto if using.
Use or Store
- The filling is ready to use immediately, though you can store it in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze it in a plastic bag with all the air removed for up to 3 months.
Notes
Flavor Variations
- Cherry Maple Bourbon Filling: Use maple sugar instead of the vanilla sugar and stir in 1 tablespoon of bourbon at the end of cooking.
- Cherry Lime Tequila Filling: Add in the zest of 1 lime with the granulated sugar and stir in 1 tablespoon of tequila at the end of cooking.
- Black Forest Cherry Filling: Stir in 1 tablespoon of kirsch and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract at the end of cooking. Cool down the filling and then mix in 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Baking building blocks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
