National Cherry Pie Day
Today, February 20th, is National Cherry Pie Day. I’ve never spoken with a pie maker who has any idea of who created this day but we all agree that it must have something to do with it being close to George Washington’s birthday and the tale of him chopping down the cherry tree. In the Northern Hemisphere, where I live, fresh cherries are not in season right now. In the Pacific Northwest they ripen in June and early July. Take heart as there are options for those who want to make a cherry pie tonight or any time of the year. If you don’t have fresh cherries, frozen cherries make a great pie filling, as do canned cherries.
Cherries are a very juicy fruit so be sure to add extra thickener. A 9″ shallow pie pan using about 4 cups of cherries, I suggest 2 to 2.5 tablespoons of quick cooking tapioca. For 6 cups of cherries in a deep dish 9″ pie pan, I use 3 tablespoons of quick cooking tapioca. When using tapioca, be sure you see steady bubbling, coming through the vents or lattice work, at the end of the bake. Then let the pie set up for a few hours before cutting into it.
Here’s a link to my Best of Show Cherry Pie recipe which is also on page 233 in my book Art of the Pie, and a few cherry pies that I’ve made over the years.
Cherry Blossoms
Pitting bright red Montmorency cherries for a pie.
Dark red Morello cherries and a gluten free cherry pie
Pie and lattes? You bet!
Cherry Pie
Cherries and blueberries make a Bluecherry Pie.
Lattice strips can be thick or thin.
Breakfast of champions? Slices of Cherry Pie.
All gone!
Thanks for a cherrycopia of pure delight!
I found some jars of pie cherries at Trader Joe’s, perfect for my cherry hand pies today.
Here’s to celebrating this most delicious of national holidays annually together!
cheers and cherries forever,
Anne
“Cherrycopia”, such a great new word to add to the pie makers lexicon.
Anne, just curious, are the Trader Joe’s cherries you used the Morello cherries in light syrup? Or some others?
Craving cherry pie after all these posts. I feel negligent in honoring such an important holiday. I will bake a belated pie tomorrow.
I would be surprised if they were something different, Amy. I think those are the only canned jar ones that TJ’s sells.
Okay, good to know. You never know when TJs gets some new item and I miss it! Thanks.
Years and years ago I got canned cherries in water from Safeway. They no longer carry them. I was at Trader Joe’s about a year ago and complaining to one of the staff about not being able to find those cherries. They showed me their Dark Morello Cherries in light syrup , product of Germany and that’s what I use now. In fact, those were the cherries in my Tart Sweet cherry pie painting. The color is so deep and the flavor is divine. I did find one pit once so if you use these cherries be sure to squeeze each cherry lightly before using.
Hi Amy,
It is Trader Joe’s Cherry Pie Filling in a 32 ounce jar. It is made with tart red cherries. I found it late last year and squirreled it away for a dark February day. Now I wish I had bought more! You know how Trader Joe’s are about seasonal items. Maybe Amazon has their pie filling?
Of course, my first choice is the terrific friozen cherries shipped from Traverse, Michigan but that is a luxury when now live near Seattle!
I think they have them in that jar year round.
Thanks Anne! I thought I remembered seeing they had something like that. I’m going to try their Morello cherries and see how that works. I live in Southern California and we get such great cherries in the summer, but I would love a winter version.
Hi Kate. I so wanted to send you a photo of my new cherry pie painting (Tart Sweet) but I can’t figure out how to do it. You can see it on my website, maggiekinstle.com (click on portfolio, click on pies). Your book inspires me to keep making pies and painting them on canvas.
I found it. It’s scrumptious!
http://maggiekinstle.com/artwork/4354475_Tart_Sweet.html
Thanks, Kate. Coming from you is a HUGE compliment! Maggie
To miss this would just be the pits!
Good one, Don!
Thank you Kate for posting about cherry pie day! Inspired me to bake a cherry pie for the first time. I used a can of Oregon Dark Sweet Cherries and a can of Duncan Hines Simply Cherry Pie Filling, both from WalMart. Followed your recipe in Art of Pie but only used a couple tablespoons of sugar along with the other ingredients. Turned out delicious!
I’m glad to hear it! Thanks for checking in, Debbie. 🙂