Description
This homemade Cherry Pie Filling bursts with the sweet-tart flavor of fresh cherries, perfectly balanced with a hint of almond extract and thickened to a luscious, glossy finish. Ideal for pies, tarts, or topping your favorite desserts!
Ingredients
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6 cups fresh cherries (such as Rainier or Bing), pitted
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1 cup water
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2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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¼ cup cornstarch
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¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
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Prepare Cherries:
Pit the fresh cherries and set aside. -
Mix Ingredients:
In a large saucepan, combine water, lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Whisk until smooth and no lumps remain. -
Cook Filling:
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes translucent (about 5 minutes). -
Add Cherries:
Stir in the cherries and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the cherries soften and the filling thickens further. -
Finish:
Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. -
Cool:
Let cool completely before using in your pie or dessert recipe.
Notes
For a thicker filling, add an additional tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water
This filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
If using frozen cherries, reduce the water slightly to account for excess moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert Filling
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cherry pie filling, fresh cherry filling, homemade pie filling, dessert filling, fruit filling