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overhead view of cherry pie with lattice work.
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Meaningful Eats

Gluten-Free Cherry Pie

8 servings
This gluten-free cherry pie has it all! A flaky, crisp bottom, a thick and juicy cherry filling, and a picture-perfect golden lattice top.
My top tips? Use my tried-and-true gluten-free pie crust recipe and pre-cook the filling to help achieve a crisp, golden bottom crust!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 50 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

Gluten-Free Pie Crust

  • 1 cup (226g) butter, frozen until solid
  • 4 tablespoons (48g) shortening, frozen until solid
  • 3 cups (450g) gluten-free measure-for-measure flour
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Cherry Pie Filling

  • 5 cups (794 to 850) pitted sweet, dark cherries, some halved and some quartered (you'll start with around 2 pounds whole fruit)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 large lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • sanding sugar optional

Instructions

For the gluten-free pie crust:

  • Be sure to freeze your butter and shortening in advance!
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, sugar and salt.
  • In a small measuring cup, add the egg and vinegar. Whisk until completely smooth, then add cold water until the mixture measures ½ cup and whisk to fully combine. Refrigerate the egg-vinegar mixture until ready to use.
  • Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the butter. Add the grated butter to the dry ingredients and toss to coat.
  • Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the shortening. Add the grated shortening to the dry ingredients and toss to coat.
  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the egg-vinegar mixture over the flour and butter mixture. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir and toss to distribute the moisture evenly. Continue adding the egg-vinegar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring after each addition, until the dough begins to come together in large clumps. Repeat until you’ve added about 10 tablespoons.
  • Transfer the dough to a bowl and use your hands to knead it together. You may need to gather and firmly press it a few times until it comes together. If the dough feels too dry, add another tablespoon of the egg-vinegar mixture—but don’t be tempted to add too much liquid! The dough should be moist enough to hold together when pressed, but not sticky.
  • Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gather it together with your hands, pressing any loose bits into the dough to form a cohesive ball.
  • Gently divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disc about 1 inch thick. Wrap both discs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 2 days.

For the cherry filling:

  • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, combine pitted sweet, dark cherries (some halved and some quartered), lemon juice, granulated sugar, kosher salt, cornstarch, and water.
  • Set the pan over medium heat. Stir frequently as the mixture begins to warm and the cherries start to release their juices. Once it reaches a bubble, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the filling thickens and becomes glossy.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in almond extract. Let the filling cool to room temperature before using it in your pie.

To roll out:

  • If the dough has been in the refrigerator longer than 1 hour, let one disc sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling.
  • Place the dough on a lightly floured pastry mat or a silicone baking mat. Roll one disc of dough into a circle 12 inches in diameter. You may need to press it together if it starts to split or break on the edges. This is normal; gluten-free pie crust requires a bit of patience to roll out.
  • After rolling, use the pastry mat to flip the dough onto a 9-inch pie plate. Gently ease the dough into the pan. Trim any excess edges with scissors.
  • Add the cooled cherry filling to the prepared bottom crust and spread it evenly.
  • Roll out the second disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Use a knife or pastry wheel to cut it into strips about ½ to ¾ inch wide. Arrange the strips over the filling in a lattice pattern, gently pressing the edges to seal. Trim any excess and shape the edges as desired.
  • Lightly brush the top crust with milk or an egg wash, if desired, for a golden finish.
  • Place the pie in the freezer for 15 minutes or up to 1 hour until chilled and firm.
  • Place a pizza steel in the oven. (A pizza steel helps to ensure a crispy bottom crust.) Preheat the oven to 400°F.

For the egg wash:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, water and salt for the egg wash.
  • Remove the pie from the freezer. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of the galette with egg wash. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired.
  • Place the assembled pie directly on the hot pizza steel and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Without opening the oven, reduce the temperature to 375°F and continue baking for another 30 to 40 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
  • Remove from the oven and cool completely before slicing to allow the filling to set, about 4-6 hours.

Notes

To Make-Ahead:  The filling and dough can be made up to 2 days in advance. Wrap the dough discs in plastic wrap and store the cooked filling in an airtight container, then refrigerate.
To Store: Let the pie cool completely to ensure the filling sets properly, then store it loosely covered. The pie will keep for 1 day at room temperature or 4 days in the refrigerator.
To Freeze: Wrap the cooled pie (or individual slices) in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 573kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 635mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 824IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg