This cherry pie recipe is sweet, tart and bursting with juicy cherries, all tucked inside our flaky, buttery homemade pie crust. Made with fresh or frozen cherries and a hint of almond and lemon, it gives you that classic homemade cherry pie flavor any time of year—no canned pie filling needed.
I’ve said it before, but I am a pie girl through and through. Give me a slice of pie over almost any other dessert (except strawberry shortcake…my true love!). That flaky golden crust, juicy fruit filling and contrast between buttery, crisp pastry and gooey cherries? Dream. Come. True.
And while cherry pie may seem like a summer dessert, frozen cherries make this one perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas too. You can even make the whole pie ahead of time and freeze it, which is exactly the kind of dessert I want when every inch of my kitchen is already spoken for.
Cherry Pie at a Glance
- Flavor: Sweet-tart cherries with almond and lemon
- Texture: Juicy filling + flaky buttery crust
- Cherries: Fresh or frozen
- Make Ahead: Yes
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Pie Recipe
- Completely homemade: No canned cherry pie filling here! The filling starts with real cherries and a handful of simple ingredients.
- Sweet but still tart: Lemon and almond extract bring out the cherry flavor without covering it up with sweetness.
- Flaky homemade crust: That golden, buttery lattice crust is almost as good as the filling. Almost.
- Make-ahead friendly: Cherry pie needs time to cool and set anyway, making it a great dessert to get out of the way before a holiday dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients for homemade cherry pie. Here’s what really matters:
- Pie Crust: Our all-butter pie crust makes enough for the bottom and beautiful lattice top.
- Cherries: Tart cherries are our first choice, but sweet cherries work too. Fresh or frozen can both be used.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cherries. You may want to adjust it slightly depending on how tart your fruit is.
- Lemon: A little acidity brightens the filling and balances the sugar.
- Almond Extract: Just a sma