Fresh Cherry Pie

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

Fresh cherries and a hint of vanilla poured into a homemade crust make this classic cherry pie the perfect dessert for any summer gathering.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1/4 cup cold water, or as needed
1 pinch salt
2 pounds fresh Bing cherries, pitted
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons tapioca flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter

Directions

1 Whisk flour and salt together in a bowl. Cut in butter with 2 knives or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork, until flour mixture is moistened. Do not add more water than you need: when you squeeze a handful of the moistened pastry mixture, it should form a ball.
2 Divide the dough in half and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate, at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
3 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4 Meanwhile, mix cherries, sugar, and tapioca flour together in a saucepan; let sit until the sugar draws out the cherries' juices, about 10 minutes. Heat the cherry mixture over medium heat until the juices begin to thicken and run clear, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in butter and vanilla extract. Let sit until filling has cooled to lukewarm, 5 to 10 minutes.
5 Roll out half the pastry to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate. Spoon filling into crust using a slotted spoon to drain excess syrup; dot with butter. Cut leftover dough into strips with a sharp paring knife or pastry wheel. Lay strips on top of the pie, pressing to seal the edges.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until crust is a golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes.