I’m gonna show you how to make the most incredible homemade cherry pie filling you’ve ever tasted. This recipe is super flexible, so whether you have fresh, frozen, or even canned cherries on hand, you’re good to go. Plus, it’s gluten-free!
Here’s the magic we’ll need:
- Cherries: We want the dark ones for this recipe, fresh or frozen work best.
- Cornstarch: This thickens our filling up nicely.
- Lemon juice and zest: A little pucker and a burst of brightness, can’t go wrong!
- Salt: Just a pinch to enhance all the flavors.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar for sweetness.
- Water: A little extra liquid to help everything come together.
- Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla to round out all the flavors.
Now, this recipe is a total breeze. We’re making it all on the stovetop, and it only takes a few minutes. Even a complete beginner can whip this up with no problem.
Taste-wise, this filling is all about those beautiful dark sweet cherries. We’ll balance the sweetness with a touch of lemon juice, so it ends up on the slightly tart side. The vanilla adds a subtle depth of flavor without overpowering everything else.
As for time, this recipe is super fast! The stovetop does most of the work. Just be aware that if you’re using fresh cherries, pitting and slicing them might take a little extra time. But hey, that’s a small price to pay for homemade goodness, right?
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Homemade Cherry Pie Filling
Incredible homemade cherry pie filling you’ve ever tasted. This recipe is super flexible, so whether you have fresh, frozen, or even canned cherries on hand, you’re good to go. Plus, it’s gluten-free!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 cups pitted cherries (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh or 1 teaspoon for canned cherries)
- Up to ½ cup sugar (adjust for tartness, use less for canned cherries)
- ½ cup water (use reserved canned cherry juice if available)
- Pinch of salt (skip if using canned cherries)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice, salt (if using), sugar, and water. Heat over medium until bubbly.
- Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, lemon zest (if using), and almond extract (if using).
- Let cool slightly before using in a pie or as a topping.
Notes
- Thaw frozen cherries before using.
- Leftover filling can be frozen for later use. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Desserts
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 142 kcal
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
i Like homemade recipe