Cherry Pie · Lattice-Top
Lattice-Top Tart Cherry Pie
Juicy tart cherries in a glossy, sliceable filling under a golden, sugared lattice. Frozen cherries work all year, and the step-by-step weave is easier than it looks.
- Prep
- 1 hr
- Cook
- 1 hr 5 min
- Total
- 7 hr 25 min
- Serves
- one 9-inch pie
- Level
- Hard
Ingredients
- Crust
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (315 g), plus more for rolling
Swaps for all-purpose flour
Instead of all-purpose flour
- Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour: The same amount, a blend that includes xanthan gum. A little grittier and more crumbly, browns faster and dries out sooner.
- Bread flour: The same amount. More gluten: chewier cookies and bread, tougher cakes.
- Whole wheat flour: Up to half of the flour. Nuttier, darker and denser.
All 4 swaps for all-purpose flour
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Swaps for granulated sugar
Instead of sugar
- Less sugar: Up to ¼ less in cookies, muffins and quick breads. Less browning and spread, a drier, more cake-like texture, and bakes go stale sooner.
- Brown sugar: The same amount, packed. Moister and chewier, with a caramel flavor and darker color.
- Coconut sugar: The same amount. Darker and caramel-like, a little less sweet; cookies spread slightly less.
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cubed (227 g)
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- ⅜–½ cups ice water
- Cherry filling
- 6 cups tart cherries, pitted; fresh, or frozen and thawed and drained (about 900 g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar, 200 g
Swaps for granulated sugar
Instead of sugar
- Less sugar: Up to ¼ less in cookies, muffins and quick breads. Less browning and spread, a drier, more cake-like texture, and bakes go stale sooner.
- Brown sugar: The same amount, packed. Moister and chewier, with a caramel flavor and darker color.
- Coconut sugar: The same amount. Darker and caramel-like, a little less sweet; cookies spread slightly less.
- ¼ cup cornstarch, 32 g
Swaps for cornstarch
Instead of cornstarch
- All-purpose flour: 2 tbsp flour for each 1 tbsp cornstarch. Sauces turn cloudy instead of glossy and a bit heavier.
- Arrowroot: The same amount. Very clear and glossy; can turn slimy in dairy sauces.
- Potato starch: The same amount. Thickens fast with a clear gloss; don't boil it long.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 pinch salt
Swaps for salt
Instead of salt
- Kosher salt: About twice as much Diamond Crystal, or about 1¼ times as much Morton. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Swaps for lemon juice
Instead of lemon juice
- Lime juice: The same amount. A different, more floral aroma; works almost everywhere.
- Bottled lemon juice: The same amount. More sour and flatter; fine in cooking and baking, less bright in dressings and drinks.
- White wine vinegar or white vinegar: Half as much. Sharper, with no citrus aroma.
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, cut in small bits
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- Finish
- 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water
Swaps for egg
Instead of eggs
- Flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Binds well but gives less lift, so bakes are a little denser and flatter, with a mild nutty taste and brown flecks.
- Chia egg: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Works like a flax egg: good binding, little lift, slightly denser crumb.
- Unsweetened applesauce: ¼ cup for each egg. Moister and denser, with a soft, slightly gummy crumb if you swap more than one egg.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar
Different pan? Written for 9-inch pie plate; rescale the amounts for an 8x8, 9x13, round, loaf or sheet pan.
Cooking for a crowd? Pans, timing and salt for 12 to 50.
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Steps
- Make the crust:the flour, sugar and salt, then
whisk (how to whisk)
Whisk Beat ingredients with a whisk to mix them smoothly or to add air. 1. Use a bowl big enough to whisk without splashing; set it on a damp towel to stop it spinning.2. Hold the whisk loosely and move it in quick circles or side to side, touching the bottom.3. For lumpy mixtures, add liquid a little at a time and whisk after each.4. For sauces on the stove, keep the whisk moving across the whole bottom of the pan. Done when: The mixture is even with no lumps or streaks of egg. How to whisk: mistakes to avoidthe cold butter with a pastry blender until the pieces are pea- to almond-size.cut in (how to cut in butter)
Cut in butter Break cold butter into the flour in small pieces, for flaky biscuits, scones and pie crust. 1. Cut very cold butter into ½ inch cubes and toss them in the flour.2. Press down through the butter with a pastry blender, two knives or a fork.3. Keep cutting and tossing so the bits stay coated.4. Stop while you still see butter. Done when: The mix looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-size pieces of butter left; those make the flakes. How to cut butter into flour: mistakes to avoid - Toss with 6 tablespoons of ice water using a fork, adding more a tablespoon at a time until a squeezed handful holds together.
- Divide the dough in half with a bench scraper, press each half into a disk, wrap and refrigerate.⏱ Chill dough: 1 hr
- Roll one disk into a 12-inch circle and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish, leaving the overhang. Refrigerate it.
- Roll the second disk into an 11-inch circle on a sheet of parchment. Cut it into 10 strips about 1 inch wide with a knife or pizza wheel. Slide the parchment onto a sheet pan and refrigerate.⏱ Chill strips: 15 min
- In a large bowl, stir the sugar, cornstarch and salt so there are no lumps, then toss in the cherries, lemon juice and almond extract (if using).
- Pour the filling into the chilled crust and dot with the butter bits.
- Lay 5 strips across the pie, evenly spaced. Fold back every other strip halfway.
- Lay one strip across the other direction near the fold, then unfold the folded strips over it.
- Fold back the alternate strips, lay the next crosswise strip, and unfold again. Repeat until the lattice is woven, then do the other half the same way.
- Trim the strips even with the bottom crust overhang. Fold the edge under andit.
crimp (how to crimp)
Crimp Press the edge of a pie crust or pastry into a pattern that seals it and looks finished. 1. Trim the dough to about a 1 inch overhang and fold it under so it sits on the rim.2. For a fork crimp, press the tines into the edge all the way around.3. For a fluted edge, push the dough between the thumb and finger of one hand with a finger of the other.4. Chill the crust for 20 minutes so the edge holds its shape in the oven. Done when: The edge is sealed all the way around and stands up a little above the rim. How to crimp a pie crust: mistakes to avoid - Chill the whole pie while the oven heats so the pastry holds its shape.⏱ Chill pie: 20 min
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the lower third and a sheet pan on it.425°F
- Brush the lattice and edge withand sprinkle with coarse sugar.
egg wash (how to egg wash)
Egg wash A beaten egg (sometimes with water or milk) brushed on dough so it bakes golden and shiny. 1. Beat an egg with 1 tablespoon of water or milk and a pinch of salt until no streaks of white remain.2. Brush a thin, even layer on the dough with a pastry brush.3. Keep it off cut edges of puff pastry and off the pan, where it glues things down.4. Sprinkle sugar or seeds on right away, if using. Done when: The surface looks evenly wet with no puddles in the creases. Safety: Raw egg: wash the brush, and your hands, when you're done.How to make and brush on an egg wash: mistakes to avoid - Bake on the hot sheet pan to set the crust.425°F⏱ Bake hot: 20 min
- Lower the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake until the crust is deep golden and the filling bubbles thickly in the center, not just at the edges. Cover the edge with foil if it browns too fast.375°F⏱ Finish baking: 45 min
- Cool the pie on a rack until the filling is set.⏱ Cool: 4 hr
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- Cornstarch only thickens once it boils. Wait for slow, thick bubbles in the center before you take the pie out.
- For sweet cherries, cut the sugar to 1/2 cup and add 1 more tablespoon of lemon juice.
- If the strips get soft while weaving, slide the whole pie into the fridge for 10 minutes.
Storage
Covered at room temperature 1 day, then refrigerate up to 4 days.
Make ahead
Bake the pie a day ahead; it slices even more neatly once fully set.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage. In season: cherries (June to July).
Quick answers
- Can I make it ahead?
Bake the pie a day ahead.
- What can I swap?
- Instead of all-purpose flour: Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour.
- Instead of sugar: Brown sugar, the same amount, packed.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 550 2,300 kJ
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 76 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
- Sugars
- 38 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Saturated fat
- 16 g
- Sodium
- 250 mg
Whole recipe, 8 servings: about 4,390 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 13 of 13 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 8 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Not counted: almond extract (optional).
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Gear for this recipe
- See price on Amazon: 9-inch pie dish (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Pastry blender (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Rolling pin (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Bench scraper (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: 8-inch chef's knife (opens Amazon)
-
See price on Amazon: Parchment paper sheets (opens Amazon)
Parchment paper sheets
Roll and cut the lattice on parchment so you can chill the strips flat.
Suggested: Reynolds
- See price on Amazon: Half sheet pan (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Pastry brush (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Nesting mixing bowls (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Measuring cups and spoons (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Wire cooling rack (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Fluted pastry wheel (opens Amazon)
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Cleanup score 3/5 (some cleanup): 3 things to wash, pie dish, sheet pan, mixing bowl.
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