Grandma’s Cherry Pie
Grandma’s Cherry Pie makes everyone smile! Thousands have baked this simple cherry pie with frozen cherries and you can too!
We’ll take you through this homemade cherry pie recipe step-by-step. We even have a 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.
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!

Another popular Holiday Pie is our Razzleberry Pie recipe. You’ll love the flavors from the triple berry pie filling!
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 shouldn’t be!
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.
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!
Ingredients
Before starting, head to the grocery store and get all the ingredients you need. For equipment, be sure to have a large bowl.
- Frozen cherries (sweet or sour)
- White sugar
- Corn starch
- Fresh lemon juice
- Unsalted butter
- All purpose flour

How to make the best cherry pie
Everything you need to make a sweet, delicious cherry pie from scratch is right here, from the crust, to the delicious homemade cherry pie filling.
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 you’re thinking of making this amazing pie for your family.
Cherry pie is right up there alongside pumpkin pie when it comes to the holidays.
My advice though? Double the batch, and bake two pies. Just wrap one up and pop it in the freezer until the next time.

TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST PIE
- You will need pastry dough for a two crust pie.
- Follow the instructions carefully.
- 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!
- We use frozen cherries – sour or sweet & give the sugar adjustment below in the recipe card.
- Let the pie filling cool just a bit before you pour it into the pie shell.
- 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!
- 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!
- 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 I use frozen cherries to make cherry pie?

Absolutely! Our favorite way is to use frozen pitted sweet cherries. That’s what we use in this recipe. If you have tart cherries, be sure to add more sugar.
Can I use fresh cherries to make cherry pie?
Of course you can use fresh cherries, though this’ll require a little more preparation and a cherry pitter would be useful. Be sure to use fresh sweet cherries to get that delicious cherry flavor. If you have particularly sour cherries, remember to add more sugar to your cherry mixture.

How long does it take to bake fruit pie?
Great question! The time shown in the recipe card is fairly accurate, but it all depends on your altitude and oven temperature. If unsure, use less baking time, as you can always add more time if needed.
Do you need to pre bake pie crust?
This recipe does not require you to pre bake the pie crust.

How to serve cherry pie
Always use a sharp knife to cut into slices.
We love our pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but whipped cream will do just as well.
How to store pie
You should let the center of the pie cool to room temperature first.
Remove the pie from its pan and place it on a wire rack.
Once cool, store in an airtight container, or use plastic wrap. Your pie should last on the shelf for 2-3 days.

Recipe variations
There’s lots of different ways you can experiment with your pie. For the dough, try adding almond extract for a nuttier flavor.
For the cherry filling, you could try using fresh cherries.
If you have excess dough, you could even make a lattice top.
Where did I get my inspiration for this recipe?
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.
Fruit pies that just melted in your mouth, are one of my fondest memories.

Cherry pie was my Dad’s absolute favorite 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 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 grocery stores and markets, just about all year long. 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!
Enjoy!
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the Pie Lady Bakes community where you will find vintage recipes like Mom and Grandma used to make, but that are so easy!
If you haven’t already joined, here is the link where you can sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes and it’s absolutely free!
See you soon!
Judy
★★★★★
If you have made this delicious cherry pie, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to give it a 5 star rating!
★★★★★

Grandma’s Cherry Pie is Everyone’s Favourite!
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Equipment
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
- If using frozen cherries, make sure they are thawed.
- 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.
- In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and cornstarch together. Add the lemon juice. Pour the mixture into the hot cherries and mix thoroughly.
- 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.
- Remove from heat and let it cool before using.
- Pour the cherry pie filling into your prepared pie crust, top with the second crust and crimp the edges.
- I would use a pie crust shield to keep the edges from overbrowning.
- Place the cherry pie on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes at 400F
- Reduce heat to 375F and then bake for another 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
VIDEO
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Baker’s Delight: Fun Baking Printables for Your Kitchen
Visit my Etsy shop to discover whimsical watercolor and soft pastel baking prints that will add a touch of magic to your kitchen!
More Old Fashioned recipes…
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Cherry Almond Tarts
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Old Fashioned Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Freeze Dessert
