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Michigan tart cherry pie
Lattice-topped sour cherry pie from Traverse City
AmericanTraverse City, on the shores of Lake Michigan, calls itself the cherry capital of the world and holds a National Cherry Festival every July, where this bright red, lattice-topped pie is everywhere. It uses Montmorency sour cherries, not sweet ones, so the filling is sharp and jammy with a hint of almond. Frozen or jarred pitted sour cherries work well. Chef's tip: cook the filling on the hob until it thickens before it goes in the pie, so the bottom crust doesn't drown.
- Total time
- 100 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 11 ½ oz plain flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 8 oz cold butterdiced
- ½ cup ice-cold water
For the filling
- 7 oz sugar
- 1 ⅜ oz cornflour
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ oz butter
- 1 tbsp milkfor brushing
- 1 tbsp demerara sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rub the 8 oz cold butter into the 11 ½ oz plain flour, ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp sugar until like coarse crumbs, stir in the ½ cup ice-cold water to bring together, halve into discs and chill 1 hour.
65 minStep 2: Put the 2 lb pitted sour cherries, fresh or frozen, 7 oz sugar and 1 ⅜ oz cornflour in a pan and cook over a medium heat, stirring, for 6–8 minutes until the juices boil and turn thick and glossy. Stir in the ¼ tsp almond extract, 1 tbsp lemon juice and ½ oz butter and cool.
15 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan) with a tray inside. Roll one disc to line a 23 cm pie dish and spoon in the cooled filling.
10 minStep 4: Roll the other disc and cut 2 cm strips. Weave them into a lattice over the top, trim and crimp. Brush with 1 tbsp milk and sprinkle with 1 tbsp demerara sugar.
15 minStep 5: Bake on the hot tray for 20 minutes, then at 350°F (325°F fan) for 35–40 minutes, until golden and the filling bubbles thickly between the lattice.
60 minStep 6: A common mistake is cutting it hot; cool at least 3 hours so the filling sets.
180 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does michigan tart cherry pie take?
- About 100 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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