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Grandma’s Cherry Pie

Posted on Published: Categories Holiday Classics, Pies and Tarts, Recipes

By: Author Judy Kahansky

Grandma’s Cherry Pie makes everyone smile! Thousands have baked this simple cherry pie recipe and you can too!

We’ll take you through it step by step and have a really great video too!

Sound good?

The flaky pie crust is an all butter pie crust it’s just so delicious and bakes up perfectly every time. 

Table Of Contents
  1. Ingredients you will need to make your pie:
  2. TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST PIE
  3. Notes & FAQs to help you make the best cherry pie ever!
  4. HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHERRY PIE
  5. More Old Fashioned recipes…
  6. Check out these Reader Faves!

Our cherry pie recipe is so popular during the holidays too.  Folks love to serve this amazing juicy pie at Thanksgiving and it’s just the best Christmas Pie ever!

slice of grandma's cherry pie on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top white brick wall in background

Another popular Holiday Pie is our Razzleberry Pie recipe.  You’ll love the flavors from the triple berry pie filling!

This post was originally published on July 29, 2016 and updated on April 29, 2018. 

You will need:  frozen cherries (sweet or sour), white sugar, corn starch, fresh lemon juice, unsalted butter, and all purpose flour.

A recipe inspired by Grandma!

Cherry Pie and summer go together like bees and honey!  Am I right?  The sweet juicy goodness of cherries smothered in a buttery flaky pie crust, well I don’t think there is anything that tastes sweeter.

My Grandma was a wonderful pie baker.  Feeding the farm hands was a lot of work, and she perfected her pie crust and baking skills until they were an art form.

slice of cherry pie on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, white plate on a red & white striped table runner

Fruit pies that just melted in your mouth, is one of my fondest memories.

Cherry Pie was my Dad’s absolute favourite and Grandma always had a fresh cherry pie made when she knew we were coming for a visit!

Turns out my sweetie Mark loves cherry pie too!  So I try to make it often.  There’s nothing better than a cherry pie warm from the oven, with a scoop of ice cream running down the sides.  Hungry?  Me too!

This Pie recipe is so popular it’s been featured at Ice Cream Inspiration as part of their weekly meal plan series! And also over at Operation 40K as part of a Cherry Pie Roundup! 🙂

Cherries are everywhere in the grocery stores and markets just about all year long and we eat them at home just like peanuts.

But when I’m ready to bake a pie, I want the easiest way possible, so I use fresh frozen cherries.

Making your cherry pie filling is the main part of this recipe, so we want the best ingredients possible!

Ingredients you will need to make your pie:

You will need:  frozen cherries (sweet or sour), white sugar, corn starch, fresh lemon juice, unsalted butter, and all purpose flour.

Now let’s discuss the elephant in the room.  What’s that you say?

Most people I talk to are really intimidated when it comes to making pies.  But you really don’t have to be!

  • overhead image of cherry pie with lattice top pie crust baked on a pink & white table runner
  • freshly baked cherry pie with a braided and lattice top butter pie crust on a white and red table runner
  • grandma's cherry pie two slices with lattice pie crust top ready to eat
  • side view of baked pie with braided pie crust edging on a lattice pie crust. pie is in a white dish with red and white striped table napkin
  • grandma's cherry pie, two slices on white plates, pink striped table runner, remainder of pie in white dish with pie server
  • slice of homemade cherry pie on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top

It’s kind of like building in layers.  Not quite as easy as some cakes, but not as difficult as others!

And take a little time.  Homemaking Arts are making a comeback, but we must acknowledge they can’t be multi-tasked.

That’s what Simple Living is all about right?  Being mindful of the task at hand.  Like feeling the pastry dough as you work it with your hands, and the rolling pin.

So let’s get started!

TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST PIE

  1. You will need pastry dough for a two crust pie.  
  2. Follow the instructions carefully. 
  3. Watch the pie crust video first to get some practice.  Mix the dough, let it chill and then roll it out.  Pie crust loves to be cold!
  4. We use frozen cherries – sour or sweet & give the sugar adjustment below in the recipe card.
  5. Let the pie filling cool just a bit before you pour it into the pie shell.
  6. Bake your pie in the bottom third of the oven, and make sure you place a sheet of aluminum foil, or tray on the very bottom to catch any spills!
  7. Be sure you bake your pie long enough. Baking fruit pies isn’t hard, but there are some important tips to follow to avoid the dreaded soggy bottom!
  8. The filling should bubble up and to keep it from running over, use a Pie Bird.

 This is the cherry pie recipe my Grandma used. I can still smell a freshly baked pie right from the oven.  That sweet and tangy cherry aroma, combined with the buttery pie crust!

Notes & FAQs to help you make the best cherry pie ever!

Can you make the recipe with frozen cherries

Absolutely! We use frozen pitted sweet cherries in this recipe.

How long to bake the pie?

Great question! The time shown in the recipe card is fairly accurate, but it all depends on the altitude you live at and your oven. If unsure, use less time, as you can always add on more time if needed.

Do you pre bake pie crust?

This recipe does not require you to pre bake the pie crust.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHERRY PIE

Everything you need to make a sweet, delicious cherry pie from scratch is right here.

This is an old fashioned recipe and a classic, passed down from my Grandma to me, and now from me to you!  I’m so happy that you’re here, and that you are thinking of making this amazing pie for your family.

Cherry Pie is right up there alongside Pumpkin Pie when it comes to the holidays.

We love our pie with ice cream, but whipped cream will do just as well.  My advice though?  Double the batch, and bake two pies.  Just wrap one up and pop it in the freezer until the next time.

xo, Judy

grandma's cherry pie on a white plate with ice cream, and the rest of the pie in a white pie dish in the background
Yield: 6

Grandma's Cherry Pie is Everyone's Favourite!

Grandma's Cherry Pie recipe is a simple, yet tried and true recipe that uses sweet frozen cherries and that will turn a novice baker into a rockstar! Homemade Cherry Pie tops the list of favorite summer fruit pies.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cherries, sweet - frozen or fresh pitted cherries*
  • 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp sugar* (1 cup sugar sour cherries)
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • pie crust for a 2 crust pie (bottom layer and lattice pie crust top)

Instructions

  1. If using frozen cherries, make sure they are thawed.
  2. Cook cherries in a saucepan over medium heat until they start to simmer and the juice releases stirring continuously – you don’t want the cherries or sugar to burn. Remove from heat.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and cornstarch together. Add the lemon juice. Pour the mixture into the hot cherries and mix thoroughly.
  4. Put the cherry mixture back onto low heat, bring to a simmer once more and keep cooking until the filling has thickened, again stirring often. This should take about 2 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and let it cool before using.
  6. Pour the cherry pie filling into your prepared pie crust, top with the second crust and crimp the edges.
  7. I would use a pie crust shield to keep the edges from overbrowning. 
  8. Place the cherry pie on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes at 400F
  9. Reduce heat to 375F and then bake for another 30 to 35 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool.  

Notes

*Since updating this recipe I now use sweet frozen cherries as they are easier to find at the grocery store. If you do use sour cherries, increase to sugar to 1 cup.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 342Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 121mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 3gSugar: 47gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me @pieladybakes or use our hashtag! #pieladybakes xo

© Judy
Cuisine: North American / Category: Dessert

More Old Fashioned recipes…

 

overhead view of two pieces of cherry pie on white plates with rest of pie in a white pie dish with pie server on a pink & white striped table runner

Check out these Reader Faves!

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Hi there, I'm Judy, it's awesome to meet you! I'm a writer, master pie baker and I've been helping people reach their personal and career goals for over 30 years.   I believe everyone should experience the joy of creating old fashioned recipes, just like Mom or Grandma used to make. And I also help you to create those memories for you and your family with Simple, Delicious, Wholesome recipes that you can learn to make. We also help you discover that Simple Living isn't just a concept.  It's a state of mind. Comforting food and Simple Living. It's all here. You can read more on my About page!

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