Another pie rendition. Like jazz, once you know the formula you can start to riff off the pattern with different fruits and berries and pie shell shapes. Is that how jazz works? I might be wrong about that but you get the idea. For early summer I thought a quick picnic pie would be nice. We have done these before with strawberries, but in a fold over crescent shape. You can find that on the picnic page here. With cherries we will make the pie round.

To make these pies we will be using the same pie dough formula and process we have used in the past. You can find the formula and process on the blueberry pie page here. You will want to make this pie dough the day before the pie so that it can chill over night in the fridge. It will take you 5 minutes to make this dough.

PIE FILLING INGREDIENTS:

ROUGHLY 4 CUPS OF PITTED CHERRIES, 2/3 CUP SUGAR, 1/4 CUP CORNSTARCH, 1 1/2 TABLESPOONS LEMON JUICE, A DASH OF VANILLA, A DASH OF ALMOND EXTRACT ( BUT USE THIS SPARINGLY), A COUPLE OF TABLESPOONS COLD BUTTER CUT INTO CUBES, EGG WASH ( 2 EGG YOLKS, 4 TABLESPOONS HEAVY CREAM), SUGAR FOR DUSTING

Pitting the cherries will be the most tedious part of this pie, unless you have a cherry pitter. Some say it is worth buying one even if you only make cherry pie once a year!

Once your cherries are pitted, place them in a bowl and mix with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, and almond extract. Place in fridge to chill while you roll out your dough.

Roll your dough and cut it into rounds. Each pie will use a top and a bottom. You can watch the tutorial below to get an idea of how to roll, cut and fill your pies. Once you have rolled and cut, you can start filling you pies with the cherry filling. Dollop with butter on top of the cherry filling. With the egg wash or a bit of water wet the edge of the bottom pie layer. Put the top pie shell on and seal shut. Fork the edges. Egg wash the top. Sprinkle the top with sugar. Score with a knife, three cuts. Then chill in the fridge for 15 minutes or so.

Once chilled and the oven is at temp, 375 degrees F, you can bake! They are done when they are golden and bubbly.