Easy Ina Garten Cherry Pie Recipe: Sweet Summer Perfection

Sweet cherry pie brings pure summer nostalgia to every kitchen gathering.

Delightful fruit nestled between flaky golden crusts promises an irresistible dessert experience.

Professional bakers understand that perfect pies blend simple ingredients with careful technique.

Robust cherries create a vibrant filling that transforms ordinary moments into memorable celebrations.

Rich, buttery pastry complements the bright, tangy fruit with incredible harmony.

Carefully selected ingredients elevate this classic dessert from ordinary to extraordinary.

Warm slices topped with vanilla ice cream guarantee smiles around the table: prepare to indulge.

Keeping Ina Garten Cherry Pie Fresh

• Freeze Whole Pie: Wrap the entire cherry pie tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil to preserve its delicious flavor for up to 3 months. Perfect for making ahead or saving leftovers.
• Refrigerator Storage: Keep the pie in an airtight container at 35-40°F for maximum freshness, maintaining its delectable taste and texture for 4 days. Position carefully on a flat shelf away from strong-smelling foods to protect the delicate crust.
• Room Temperature Service: Before serving a chilled slice, let the pie rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. This simple step allows the filling to soften and releases the pie's rich, sweet flavors, ensuring a mouthwatering experience with every bite.

Ways to Switch Up Ina Garten Cherry Pie

• Rustic Sour Cherry Crumble: Replace the top crust with a buttery, crispy streusel topping made from flour, brown sugar, oats, and cold butter. Sprinkle the crumble over the cherry filling before baking for a crunchy texture.
• Spiced Cherry Almond Pie: Add 1/2 cup ground almonds to the bottom crust and mix 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom into the cherry filling. Top with sliced almonds before baking for a nutty, aromatic variation.
• No-Bake Cherry Icebox Pie: Transform the recipe into a chilled dessert by using the cooked cherry filling as a base. Fold whipped cream into the cooled filling, pour into a graham cracker crust, and refrigerate for 4 hours until set.
• Boozy Cherry Bourbon Pie: Enhance the cherry filling by adding 2 tablespoons of bourbon during the cooking process. Incorporate a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon for depth of flavor.

A Wrap-Up on Ina Garten Cherry Pie

Cherry pie magic weaves culinary passion through classic American desserts.

Ina Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary sensory experiences.

Fresh cherries dance with sugar and lemon, creating rich, complex flavors that whisper comfort.

Precise techniques elevate this traditional pie from ordinary to extraordinary.

Homemade crusts provide delicate, flaky foundations for luscious cherry fillings.

Complex layers of sweetness and tartness invite you to savor each carefully crafted bite – share this masterpiece, comment with passion, and spread delicious memories that connect hearts through remarkable baking.

What Makes Ina Garten’s Cherry Pie a Dessert Staple

• Unlock Bursting Cherry Flavor: Experience a symphony of sweet and tangy cherries that dance on your taste buds, creating a vibrant filling that captures the essence of summer in every bite.
• Master Simple Pie Crafting: Discover an approachable recipe that transforms complex pie-making into an enjoyable cooking adventure, with straightforward steps that even beginner bakers can confidently execute.
• Create Stunning Visual Delight: Craft a showstopping dessert with a gorgeous lattice or full-top crust, finished with a golden egg wash and sparkling sugar that makes this pie a true centerpiece for any gathering.
• Enjoy Versatile Seasonal Treat: Embrace the flexibility of using fresh, frozen, or canned cherries, allowing you to whip up this delectable pie year-round with whatever fruit is available in your kitchen.

Key Ingredients for Ina Garten Cherry Pie

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure for the pie crust, choose unbleached for best flavor.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates flaky texture and rich taste, cold butter works best for perfect crust.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the pie crust.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without developing gluten.

• Fresh Cherries: Sweet and tart fruit for filling, ripe and firm cherries work best.
• Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and helps prevent browning of cherries.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cherry filling and balances tartness.

• Canned Cherries: Convenient alternative to fresh cherries, provides consistent flavor.
• Cherry Juice: Adds depth and moisture to the pie filling.

• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the cherry filling and create perfect consistency.

• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, subtle spice to the cherry filling.
• Egg White: Creates golden, shiny crust when brushed on top.

• Granulated Sugar: Sprinkled on top for extra sweetness and sparkle.
• Butter: Adds richness and flavor when dotted on filling.

Method to Create Ina Garten Cherry Pie

Step 1: Prepare Fresh Cherry Filling

• Sugar
• Lemon juice

Cook in a saucepan on medium heat until juices release. Remove cherries, keeping juice in pan.

Step 2: Create Thickened Cherry Sauce

Mix some juice with cornstarch until dissolved. Return to pan and cook until thickened. Pour over cherries and set aside.

Step 3: Develop Canned Cherry Sauce

• Sugar

Bring to low boil and stir until thickened.

Step 4: Enhance Cherry Mixture

• Butter
• Lemon juice

Fold in cherries and let cool.

Step 5: Work with Frozen Cherries

Thaw frozen cherries in saucepan over medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Follow previous steps, using cornstarch and adjusting sugar to taste.

Step 6: Prepare Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out first pie crust to 12 inches diameter and place in 9-inch pie pan.

Step 7: Fill Pie Crust

Spoon cherry filling into unbaked crust. Sprinkle ground cinnamon and dot with butter pieces if using fresh cherries.

Step 8: Add Top Crust

Roll out second crust. Create lattice strips or cover completely with whole crust. Cut small steam hole if using whole crust.

Step 9: Finish Crust Edges

Pinch crust edges together. Crimp decoratively. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle granulated sugar.

Step 10: Bake Pie

Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil after 25 minutes if crust browns too quickly.

Step 11: Cool and Serve

Let pie cool on wire rack for several hours. Slice and serve, or refrigerate for next day enjoyment.

Hints for a Fantastic Ina Garten Cherry Pie

• Prep Ahead Strategically: Make filling and crust days before baking to save precious kitchen time.
• Freeze Like a Pro: Fully baked pie keeps perfectly for 2-3 months when wrapped securely.
• Crust Preservation Trick: Store unbaked pie dough in sealed containers for quick future use.
• Temperature Matters: Always thaw frozen pie slowly in refrigerator to maintain texture.
• Smart Storage Solution: Separate filling and crust can be individually frozen for maximum flexibility.

Ina Garten Cherry Pie Recipe

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4.9 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s cherry pie delivers classic American dessert perfection with sweet-tart cherries nestled in a buttery, flaky crust. Homemade comfort shines through each slice, promising pure deliciousness that will make guests beg for seconds at any gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs (680 grams) fresh, sour cherries or 3 (14.5 ounces/410 grams) cans of cherries, or 8 cups of frozen cherries
• 1 large egg white, beaten with a fork

Thickening and Sweetening Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup (40 grams) cornstarch (or 6 tablespoons if using frozen cherries)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crust and Topping:

• Homemade or ready-made pie crust
• Granulated sugar, for sprinkling on top

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Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, merge 680 grams (1.5 pounds) of pitted and halved fresh cherries with 150 grams (3/4 cup) of granulated sugar and 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) of fresh lemon juice. Simmer over medium heat until cherries release their natural juices.
2. Extract cherries from the liquid, keeping the syrup in the pan. Whisk 40 grams (1/3 cup) of cornstarch with a small portion of the reserved juice until completely smooth and lump-free.
3. Return cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, stirring continuously until the liquid transforms into a thick, glossy consistency. Gently fold the thickened sauce over the cooked cherries and set aside to cool.
4. Drain liquid from three 411-gram (14.5 ounces) cans of preserved cherries, reserving 80 milliliters (1/3 cup) separately. Combine the reserved liquid with additional cornstarch.
5. Transfer the cherry liquid to the saucepan, incorporating 150 grams (3/4 cup) of sugar. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring until it reaches a smooth, viscous texture.
6. Incorporate 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) each of unsalted butter and lemon juice into the sauce. Carefully fold the prepared cherries into the mixture and allow to cool completely.
7. Defrost 1.9 kilograms (8 cups) of frozen cherries in a saucepan over medium heat, allowing approximately 10-15 minutes for juice extraction. Adjust cornstarch to 90 grams (6 tablespoons) and sugar quantity based on fruit’s natural sweetness.
8. Preheat the oven to 204 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit). Prepare a 23-centimeter (9-inch) pie dish and roll out pie crust to approximately 30 centimeters (12 inches) in diameter.
9. Carefully transfer the first crust layer into the pie dish. Distribute the cherry filling evenly, optionally sprinkling ground cinnamon and dotting with small butter fragments for enhanced flavor.
10. Roll out the second crust, creating either a decorative lattice pattern or a complete top layer. If using a full crust, create a small steam vent to prevent pressure buildup.
11. Seal the pie’s edges by pressing crusts together, creating an elegant crimped border. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle granulated sugar for a golden, glistening finish.
12. Bake for 40-45 minutes, protecting the crust with aluminum foil if browning occurs too rapidly, typically around 25 minutes into baking.
13. Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack for several hours, enabling the filling to set properly. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled, cutting into neat slices.

Notes

• Prep ahead by making cherry pie filling and crust days before baking, keeping ingredients fresh in the refrigerator.
• Freeze entire baked pie for convenient storage, allowing enjoyment of homemade dessert weeks later.
• Separate freezing options work perfectly for filling and crust, maintaining optimal texture and quality.
• Thawing frozen pie overnight in refrigerator ensures gentle temperature transition and preserves delicate flavors.
• Room temperature serving enhances the pie’s rich taste, letting sweet cherry essence shine through.
• Refrigerate leftover pie slices in sealed container up to 3-4 days for continued deliciousness.
• Warm slightly before serving chilled pie to revive its original freshly-baked warmth and appeal.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 100 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg