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A quick and easy recipe for a fresh-tasting, glossy cherry pie filling using fresh or frozen cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract. Perfect for pies, tarts, bars, cheesecakes, or as a topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 cup water (or cherry juice)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pit fresh cherries; if using frozen cherries, measure 4 cups and keep them frozen until cooking.
  2. Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until lump-free.
  3. Combine cherries, lemon juice, and water (or cherry juice) in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Gradually stir in the sugar-cornstarch mixture, blending it evenly with the fruit.
  5. Bring to a simmer, stirring often and scraping the bottom, then maintain a gentle simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
  6. If using frozen cherries or if excess liquid appears, cook 1–2 minutes longer and/or reduce added water until thickened.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
  8. Let the filling rest about 10 minutes to cool and thicken before using.

Notes

Whisk sugar and cornstarch together before cooking to prevent lumps., Stir from the bottom of the pan to avoid stuck bits and ensure even thickening., The sauce should be clear and glossy, leaving a visible path when a spoon is dragged through it., If too thin, simmer longer; if too thick, whisk in warm water or cherry juice to adjust., Strain hot filling through a fine sieve if lumps appear., Flavor variations include substituting almond extract with vanilla, adding a tablespoon of butter, or swapping half the sugar for light brown sugar., Reserve 1 cup of cherries to fold in after thickening for extra texture or mash some for a smoother sauce., Store filling up to 1 week refrigerated or freeze up to 3 months., Reheat gently to maintain glossy texture., Use in pies, tarts, bars, cheesecakes, or over ice cream.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://margorecipes.com/homemade-cherry-pie-filling-fresh-easy-recipe-for-perfect-cherry-pies/