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Sweet Cherry Pie

Sweet Cherry Pie

Meghan
Sweet Cherry Pie is a homemade fresh cherry pie with a flaky homemade pie crust. Gluten free pie options included.
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cool Time 2 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

For the Pie Dough:

  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces)
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening (cut into 1/4-inch pieces)
  • 1/4 cup vodka (cold)
  • 1/4 cup cold water

For the Cherry Filling:

  • 2 red plums (halved and pitted)
  • 6 cups pitted sweet cherries, halved (about 2 pounds, or 6 cups pitted frozen cherries, see note)
  • 1/2 cup sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
  • 1/8 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 teaspoons bourbon (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons instant tapioca (ground)
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into 1/4-inch pieces)
  • 1 large egg (lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water)

Instructions
 

Make the Pie Dough:

  • Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor until combined, about two 1-second pulses. Add butter and shortening; process until homogenous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour).
  • Add remaining 1 cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.
  • Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into 2 equal balls and flatten each into a 4-inch disk. Cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
  • Remove 1 disk of dough from refrigerator and roll out on generously floured (up to ¼ cup) work surface to a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll into pie plate, leaving at least 1-inch overhang. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with 1 hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Refrigerate until dough is firm, about 40 minutes.
  • Adjust oven rack to lowest position, place baking sheet on oven rack, and heat oven to 400°F.

Make the Filling:

  • Process plums and 1 cup halved cherries in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
  • Strain puree through fine-mesh strainer into large bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid; discard solids. Stir remaining halved cherries, sugar, salt, lemon juice, bourbon (if using), tapioca, and cinnamon (if using) into puree; let stand for 15 minutes.

Assemble and Bake the Pie:

  • Transfer cherry mixture, including all juices, to dough-lined plate. Scatter butter pieces over fruit. Roll second disk of dough on generously floured work surface (up to ¼ cup) to 11-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll over pie, leaving at least ½-inch overhang. Flute edges using thumb and forefinger or press with tines of fork to seal. Brush top and edges with egg mixture. With sharp knife, make 8 evenly spaced 1-inch-long vents in top crust. Freeze pie 20 minutes.
  • Place pie on preheated baking sheet and bake 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake until juices bubble around the edges and crust is deep golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes longer.
  • Transfer pie to wire rack; let cool to room temperature so juices have time to thicken, 2 to 3 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.

Notes

Measure the fruit first then let thaw before using. The frozen cherries should be cut in half as well.
All Butter Pie Dough Recipe
Gluten Free All Butter Pie Dough Recipe
Source: Adapted from Cook's Illustrated
You're Gonna Bake It After All
bakeitafterall.com
Keyword dessert, fruit, gluten free, pie