Description
A luscious homemade cherry pie filling bursting with fresh cherries, balanced sweetness, and a hint of almond. Perfect for pies, tarts, or even as a topping for desserts and breakfast dishes.
Ingredients
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6 cups fresh cherries (Rainier or Bing), pitted
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1 cup water
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2 Tbsp 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 tsp almond extract
Instructions
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Prepare cherries
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Pit cherries if not already done.
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Cook filling
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In a large saucepan, combine water, lemon juice, and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
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In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water until smooth.
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Stir cornstarch mixture into simmering liquid. Cook until thickened, about 2 minutes.
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Add cherries and flavor
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Add cherries and almond extract to the thickened mixture.
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Simmer for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently until cherries soften and filling thickens.
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Cool and use
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Remove from heat and let cool before using as pie filling or dessert topping.
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Notes
Cherry types: Bing cherries yield a deep red color and tart flavor; Rainier cherries are sweeter and golden.
Sweetness: Adjust sugar to taste depending on cherry sweetness.
Storage: Keeps refrigerated up to 5 days or can be frozen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pie Filling / Dessert
- Method: Stove-top simmer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cherry pie filling, fresh cherry topping, homemade pie filling