Cherry Pie — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

Sour cherries are what make this pie; sweet ones bake out flat, so tart fruit and real sugar carry it. Cook the filling with cornstarch on the stove until it visibly thickens before it ever reaches the shell. That step is the difference between clean slices and a soupy bottom.

Vegetarian

Contains dairy · eggs · gluten

Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 9 servings

Sour cherries

Tart cherries hold their shape and acidity through baking; sweet ones turn to mush.

5 cups pitted

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Cornstarch

Thickens the released juice into a gel that slices instead of running.

1/4 cup

Local / market

Unrefined sugar

Balances the tartness without burying the fruit; adjust to how sour the cherries are.

1 cup

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Baking flour

A low-protein flour keeps the crust tender rather than tough.

2 1/2 cups

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Butter

Cold butter cut into the flour makes the flaky layers; it has to stay cold.

1 cup

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Egg

Beaten for the wash that browns and gilds the lattice.

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The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat

A reasonable little indulgence. · plan ahead — needs marinating, soaking, or resting time

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerOne-potSheet pan

The Method

Make the doughCut cold butter into flour and a pinch of salt until pea-sized, add ice water until it just holds, then chill both disks 1 hour.
Cook the fillingSimmer cherries, sugar, and cornstarch over medium until the juice turns glossy and thick, about 5 minutes, then cool.
Build the latticeRoll the bottom crust, fill, then weave strips over the top and crimp the edge.
Wash and ventBrush the lattice with beaten egg; the open weave vents steam so the filling sets.
BakeBake at 425F for 20 minutes, drop to 375F for 30-35 more until the filling bubbles thickly through the gaps.
Cool fullyRest at least 3 hours; the gel finishes setting as it cools or it will run when cut.

The Toolkit

Pie dish 9-inch · Cherry pitter · Rolling pin · Pastry blender · Pastry brush · Cooling rack

Straight Answers

Can you make Cherry Pie in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Cherry Pie? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Cherry Pie ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Cherry Pie gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Cherry Pie vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.542

Cherry Pie, and where to source it