Cherries Archives

Sharing an easy recipe on how to make a homemade cherry pie filling with fresh cherries from the Northwest.

Apparently, cherry pie filling doesn’t have to come from a can. Until this summer my cherry desserts required a can opener.

But with a box full of cherries, compliments of Northwest Cherries I decided it was time to step up my game and figure out how to make homemade cherry pie filling.

HOW TO MAKE CHERRY PIE FILLING

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients for this pie filling include water, sugar, cornstarch and pitted cherries.

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons corn starch
2-3 pounds of pitted cherries

Making a cherry pie was a big deal for me. I was surprised at how fulfilling I felt making this recipe.

INSTRUCTIONS

In full disclosure, there is some work on the front end of this recipe. When I finished pitting the cherries, my cutting board looked like a scene from Dexter. After you have your pitted cherries follow the instructions below.

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN.

BRING TO A BOIL AND REDUCE HEAT TO LOW.

STIR FREQUENTLY FOR ABOUT 10-12 MINUTES

COOL SLIGHTLY.

REFRIGERATE FOR UP TO A WEEK OR FOLLOW CANNING INSTRUCTIONS TO FREEZE.

Considering the amount of cherry splatter the cleanup was easy and worth the effort for my first homemade pie filled with fresh cherries.

THE CRUST

To play it safe and manage my expectations I used a pre-packaged crust. I added a few star cutouts and I was pretty darn proud of myself.

I reminded myself it was just a pie. Or was it?

I was nervous about how my first cherry pie filling would taste. Would it be too sweet or too tart? Turns out it was just right.

My family devoured the pie and the compliments were legit!

Looking for more fresh cherry recipes? Check out this list.

**disclosure: I received Northwest Cherries for this post. But, I had no help with making this homemade cherry pie filling. ;0)

Check out my other cherry recipes

No Bake Cherry Crumble

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake (so easy)

Have you seen the Christmas in July Hallmark movies? I may have had a movie running in the background over the weekend. Until I heard the words hot chocolate and snow in the same sentence. and then I decided it was too soon. I would however love to see a few Hallmark movies with almost empty nesters. And, they could serve this cherry crumble recipe.

My three children were home over the 4th of July. It was pure bliss to have them together. Usually I make this cherry crumble over the 4th of July holiday, but being in the mountains this year we were outside and out of the kitchen.

One of my favorite parts of summer are the impromptu barbecues with friends and neighbors. And, summer is packed with three holidays that translate to the perfect season for a chilled dessert. With Memorial Day and 4th of July in our rear view windows, we still have Labor Day with this red and white cherry crumble dessert.

A can of blueberry filling or fresh blueberries would add a little patriotic blue too!

This cherry crumble dessert is a favorite at our house. It is easy to prepare with less than ten ingredients. And, it travels well in the car or down the block.

This recipe is from a friend’s mother. When I pulled out her original recipe, it was emailed to me seventeen years ago. We lived in Westerville, Ohio at the time. And, now my youngest is getting ready to return to the state where he was born. #I blinked

Cherry Crumble Details

This dessert is served chilled which makes it perfect for warm summer nights and sunset views. The cherry filling adds the perfect taste of tart with the chilled goodness of whipped topping and cream cheese.

cherry crumble recipe

The best part of this recipe is it only has eight ingredients. And, this time of year I usually have the ingredients on hand. Yes, I keep a tub of Cool Whip in my freezer most months of the year. Doesn’t everyone?

With the cherry filling, whipped topping and cream cheese I pull back on the white sugar to about a 1/4 of a cup. I could probably reduce it by 1/2 and no one would miss the sweet.

The best cherry crumble recipe

adapted from Kristin Diliberti

Print Recipe

Course Dessert

Ingredients

CRUST
2 CUPS FLOUR
1 CUP BUTTER SOFTENED
1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
1 CUP CHOPPED PECANS
FILLING
16 OZ CREAM CHEESE
1 1/2 CUPS SUGAR I REDUCED BY 1/4 CUP
1/2 TEASPOON VANILLA
8-9 OUNCE COOL WHIP

Instructions

MIX CRUST INGREDIENTS AND SPREAD 2/3 INTO 9X13 BAKING PAN.
SPREAD REMAINING CRUST INGREDIENTS INTO SMALLER PAN
BAKE CRUST AT 350 FOR 20-25 MINUTES. LET COOL
WHILE BAKING BLEND FILLING INGREDIENTS.
SPREAD 1/2 OF FILLING ONTO 9X13 PAN
ADD CHERRY FILLING
ADD FINAL LAYER OF FILLING OVER THE CHERRY FILLING
CRUMBLE SMALL PAN OF CRUST AND SPRINKLE OVER TOP OF FILLING
REFRIGERATE TO LET IT SETTLE

HOW TO MAKE A CHERRY PIE FILLING