Simple Puff Pastry Cherry Pie

Let’s make a perfect summer cherry dessert with puff pastry, which makes this recipe super easy. Just imagine a juicy sweet cherry filling with super crispy pastry. I think it is a perfect dessert for summer family gatherings. Plus, with my easy puff pastry cherry pie recipe, it will take you less than an hour to make.

What is a Simple Puff Pastry Cherry Pie?

A Puff Pastry Cherry Pie is a delicious dessert made with light puff pastry and filled with a sweet and tart cherry filling. The puff pastry provides a light, crunchy, buttery crust. This is the perfect complement to the juicy, slightly tart cherries. They are usually easy to prepare and require just a few ingredients: flaky pastry, fresh or canned cherries, sugar, and some corn flour or starch to thicken the filling. Some recipes may also call for a touch of vanilla or almond extract to help bring out the flavor.

Why it is a Perfect Summer Dessert

There are several reasons why this pie is considered one of the best summer desserts:

• Seasonal ingredients: Summer is the peak season for cherries, which ensures that they are fresh, flavorful, and in abundance. Using fruit that is in season enhances the flavor and quality of the dessert.
• Ease of preparation: The use of pre-made puff pastry sheets simplifies the preparation process and makes it accessible to even the most novice baker. You can enjoy a homemade pie with minimal effort thanks to the minimal ingredients and simple steps.
• Light and refreshing: Perfect for warm summer days, the combination of a flaky, airy crust and a juicy fruit filling makes this pie light and refreshing.
• Versatile: It can be served warm with a scooped vanilla ice cream or refrigerated for a refreshing indulgence. Its versatility makes it a great choice for a variety of occasions, from casual family gatherings to more formal summer events.

Puff Pastry Cherry Pie Ingredients

• Puff Pastry: Puff pastry has a light, flaky, buttery texture and forms the crust of the pie. It’s made by layering layers of dough and butter, which then puffs up when baked to form delicate, crispy layers.
• Cherry: Cherries are the filling’s star ingredient. They have a sweet-tart flavor that is the perfect balance to the buttery puff pastry. 
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the cherry filling and adds a rich, caramel-like flavor to the pie. It helps create a slightly thick and glossy filling and enhances the natural sweetness of the cherries.
• Vanilla Sugar: Vanilla Sugar imparts a delicate vanilla aroma and flavor to the filling, complementing the cherries and adding depth to the sweetness. It’s an easy way to add a layer of complexity to the flavor of the pie.
• Corn Starch: Cornstarch is used to thicken the cherry filling. It ensures that the juices released by the cherries during baking thicken into a cohesive, syrupy filling, preventing it from becoming too runny.
• Lemon (Zest): Lemon zest enhances the flavor of the cherries and adds a bright, citrusy note to the filling. It helps balance the overall flavor of the pie by providing a fresh contrast to the sweetness.
• Salt: A pinch of salt in the filling will bring out the flavors of the other ingredients and help to balance out the sweetness.
• Chicken Egg Yolk: Egg yolks are used to make an egg wash that is brushed onto the pastry before baking. This gives the cake a beautiful golden brown color and a glossy finish. It makes the cake visually appealing and adds a slight richness to the crust.

How to Make Puff Pastry Cherry Pie at Home?

1. First, halve and stone the cherries.
2. Add 1,4 ounces (40 g) of sugar, lemon zest, vanilla sugar, salt, and starch. 
3. Mix well. 
4. Then, roll out the puff pastry thinly (3-5 millimeters). 
5. Grease from the center with egg yolk and put all the filling. 
6. Tuck the edges so that the filling in the center is not covered with dough. 
7. Then, brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with remaining sugar. 
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 356 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 20-25 minutes. 
9. Enjoy!

Chef Recipe Tips:

• Try to add ground cinnamon to the cherries to engage the taste of the pie. 
• You can also replace cherries with currants, blueberries, or huckleberries.
• Brush the edges well with egg yolk to keep the cake in shape and bake well.

The Origin of Puff Pastry Cherry Pie

Puffed pastry’s origins can be traced back to antiquity, with variations seen in different cultures. However, the modern puff pastry as we know it today has its origins in France. Combining puff pastry with fruit fillings, such as cherries, is a natural baking evolution. It combines the light, buttery texture of the pastry with the bright, sweet-tart flavors of the fruit.

Cherry pies, in particular, have a long and rich history in both the American and European baking traditions. Cherry pie is a traditional American sweet that is often associated with summer picnics and festivals, especially around the 4th of July. Combining French flaky dough techniques with traditional cherry pie filling creates a delicious marriage of cuisines.

All in all, combining the best seasonal cherries with a light, flaky crust, a Simple Puff Pastry Cherry Pie is an easy-to-make, delicious summer dessert. It is a popular choice for summer gatherings and a perfect way to enjoy the flavors of the season because of its rich history and ease of preparation.

Fresh or Frozen Cherries?

When it comes to cherries, you can either use frozen cherries or you can use fresh cherries.

If you are going to use fresh cherries, be sure to remove the stones from the cherries, but leave the cherries whole. 

If you have a craving, frozen sweet cherries are more consistently available any time of year.

Cherry Puff Pasty Pie – What to Serve With

These delicious, sweet, tangy pastries pair perfectly with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. For a sweet and savory breakfast, you can also serve them with your favorite savory breakfast options.

Puff Pastry Cherry Pie FAQs

Can I make the cherry puff pastry ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the pastry the day before and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.

Can you freeze leftover cherry pie?

You can. If stored properly, this pastry will freeze well for up to a month.

Is the phyllo dough the same as the puff pastry dough?

Phyllo dough and puff pastry are both buttery pastries. However, they are not the same. Phyllo is made with thin, alternating layers of dough and butter, while puff pastry is rolled and folded several times. These two methods result in a different rise and a different texture, and the two are not interchangeable.