Tart Cherry Crumb Pie
By Amanda LuchtelPublished on April 30, 2024
Time
2 hours, plus 6 hours thawing, chilling, and cooling
Yield
Serves 8
Ingredients
FILLING
2 pounds frozen tart cherries ¼ cup (1 ounce) cornstarch, divided2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon almond extract ⅔ cup (4⅔ ounces) granulated sugar ½ teaspoon table saltCRUST
3 tablespoons ice water 2 tablespoons sour cream 1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour 1½ teaspoons granulated sugar ½ teaspoon table salt 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces and chilledTOPPING
1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour ⅔ cup packed (4⅔ ounces) light brown sugar 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted½ teaspoon table salt ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking sodaBefore You Begin
We developed this recipe using our winning metal pie plate, Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Pie Dish. Leftover pie can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours or refrigerated for up to three days. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Instructions
- Let 2 pounds frozen tart cherries sit at room temperature in large metal bowl until completely thawed, about 2 hours. Transfer cherries and any accumulated juices to fine-mesh strainer set over 8-cup measuring cup or large bowl. Press fruit with rubber spatula to release 1 cup juice; reserve juice and fruit separately.
- Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons ice water and 2 tablespoons sour cream in bowl. Process 1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon table salt in food processor until combined, about 5 seconds. Scatter 8 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces, over top and pulse until butter pieces are no larger than peas, about 10 pulses. Drizzle ice water mixture over top and pulse until dough forms clumps and no dry flour remains, about 12 pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
- Transfer dough to counter and knead briefly until dough comes together. Form dough into 5-inch disk, pressing any cracked edges back together. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. (Wrapped dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.)
- Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly before rolling, about 10 minutes. Roll dough into 12-inch circle on lightly floured counter. Loosely roll dough around rolling pin and gently unroll onto 9-inch pie plate, letting excess dough hang over edge. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with your hand while evenly pressing dough into plate bottom and corners with your other hand.
- Trim overhanging dough to ½ inch beyond lip of plate. Tuck overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of plate. Crimp dough evenly around edge of plate using your fingers. Wrap dough-lined plate loosely in plastic and refrigerate until dough is well chilled, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, stir 1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup packed (4⅔ ounces) light brown sugar, 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda in bowl until no dry spots remain and mixture forms clumps. Refrigerate until ready to use (mixture will firm up as it chills).
- When ready to bake, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice in small bowl. Bring ⅔ cup reserved cherry juice to boil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. (Discard remaining cherry juice or save for another use.) Whisk in 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and cornstarch mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and glossy, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- Whisk ⅔ cup (4⅔ ounces) granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon table salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons cornstarch together in large bowl. Add reserved drained cherries and toss until evenly coated and no dry sugar remains. Add thickened cherry juice mixture and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to dough-lined plate and spread into even layer. Break chilled topping into pea-size crumbs and distribute evenly over cherry mixture.
- Bake pie on prepared sheet until top is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Let pie cool on wire rack for at least 4 hours. Serve.
for the filling
for the crust
for the topping
Time
2 hours, plus 6 hours thawing, chilling, and coolingYield
Serves 8Ingredients
FILLING
CRUST
TOPPING
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
FILLING
CRUST
TOPPING
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
FILLING
CRUST
TOPPING
Test Kitchen Techniques
Why This Recipe Works
This pie, inspired by the popular crumb-topped “signature pie” of Michigan’s National Cherry Festival, uses frozen tart cherries, which are convenient, consistent, and easily accessible year-round. Tart cherries guarantee a pie with great flavor, but their juices can make for a sodden crust and gummy streusel. To avoid these pitfalls, we drained off excess liquid and used a measured amount of juice. Thickening the juice with cornstarch on the stovetop before baking concentrated its fruity flavors and ensured that the cherries stayed suspended in the filling. Tossing the cherries with added cornstarch and sugar kept the remaining juices that wept from the fruit in check. We added a dash of almond extract and a spritz of lemon juice to boost the flavor and brightness. We used a flaky, buttery pie dough for the base crust, adding some sour cream for richness and to make it even more workable, plus a simple streusel topping to mirror the Cherry Festival fan favorite. This pie is delicious all on its own, but it is even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Before You Begin
We developed this recipe using our winning metal pie plate, Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Pie Dish. Leftover pie can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours or refrigerated for up to three days. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Instructions
- Let 2 pounds frozen tart cherries sit at room temperature in large metal bowl until completely thawed, about 2 hours. Transfer cherries and any accumulated juices to fine-mesh strainer set over 8-cup measuring cup or large bowl. Press fruit with rubber spatula to release 1 cup juice; reserve juice and fruit separately.
- Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons ice water and 2 tablespoons sour cream in bowl. Process 1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon table salt in food processor until combined, about 5 seconds. Scatter 8 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces, over top and pulse until butter pieces are no larger than peas, about 10 pulses. Drizzle ice water mixture over top and pulse until dough forms clumps and no dry flour remains, about 12 pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
- Transfer dough to counter and knead briefly until dough comes together. Form dough into 5-inch disk, pressing any cracked edges back together. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. (Wrapped dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.)
- Let chilled dough sit on counter to soften slightly before rolling, about 10 minutes. Roll dough into 12-inch circle on lightly floured counter. Loosely roll dough around rolling pin and gently unroll onto 9-inch pie plate, letting excess dough hang over edge. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with your hand while evenly pressing dough into plate bottom and corners with your other hand.
- Trim overhanging dough to ½ inch beyond lip of plate. Tuck overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of plate. Crimp dough evenly around edge of plate using your fingers. Wrap dough-lined plate loosely in plastic and refrigerate until dough is well chilled, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, stir 1¼ cups (6¼ ounces) all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup packed (4⅔ ounces) light brown sugar, 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda in bowl until no dry spots remain and mixture forms clumps. Refrigerate until ready to use (mixture will firm up as it chills).
- When ready to bake, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice in small bowl. Bring ⅔ cup reserved cherry juice to boil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. (Discard remaining cherry juice or save for another use.) Whisk in 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and cornstarch mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and glossy, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- Whisk ⅔ cup (4⅔ ounces) granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon table salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons cornstarch together in large bowl. Add reserved drained cherries and toss until evenly coated and no dry sugar remains. Add thickened cherry juice mixture and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to dough-lined plate and spread into even layer. Break chilled topping into pea-size crumbs and distribute evenly over cherry mixture.
- Bake pie on prepared sheet until top is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Let pie cool on wire rack for at least 4 hours. Serve.
for the filling
for the crust
for the topping
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