Search Results

Monday, March 16, 2015

Alpha Bakers: Sour Cherry Pie


I am making 1/4 recipe of Cherries and Raspberries Pie instead of Sour Cherry Pie, made from frozen fruits. There are no fresh cherries this time of year. I know there is a variation in the book to use canned sour cherries but I dislike canned stuff and prefer to avoid using it, if possible. Somehow frozen feels better. There are fresh raspberries from California but it has the california price, ha! I have frozen raspberries in the freezer so I thought I add it to the pie to give it a more sour taste.

I wish we are making this pie in the summer instead of now. We have a cherry tree in our backyard that produced sour cherries. But it is only the middle of March now and the cherry tree is still hibernating, so we have to settle with frozen sweet cherries from the grocery store.

I love making these. Kinda funny to say that since I'm not a pie fan. Perhaps, like Marie have said, Rose will make a convert out of me. But I do have a strong bias towards any pretty dessert. Sometimes I feel I don't care much if I like the taste as long as it looks pretty for the pictures. I know this puts me in an odd category but I really don't care.

Doesn't the below picture makes you want to eat it!? :)


I usually try not to deviate from the recipe too much. I am already using the wrong fruits for this (though I am "blaming" the fact we're making this is March :)). This pie used a small quantity of almond extract, divided by 1/4 it becomes a super duper small quantity, but I decided to get the extract anyway. I could totally use my vanilla extract but I didn't.

There is not much high altitude adjustment, the baking powder quantity is so small I didn't adjust. I had to add 1 teaspoon of heavy cream to the pie dough but that's about it.

My baby cherry pie baked for 55 minutes! The crust didn't want to brown so I kept baking it. It turned out good though next time I will try some egg wash. The slice in the photo disintegrated but that is because I cut into it only after an hour cooling. It was already 6 PM and I wanted to take the photo before it gets dark.


Step by step photos:


This is the frozen cherries that I used.


My renegade bowl method of making pie crust. Flour, baking powder, salt, and cream cheese.


Mix until resembling corn meal.


Add cubed buttah!


Add cider vinegar and heavy cream. Since this is 1/4 recipe and full recipe used 1/4 tsp of cider vinegar, I basically added a drop. Really silly quantity except I do have a bottle of cider vinegar so might as well.


Baby pie dough.


I let the frozen cherries defrost at room temperature. Then add the liquid from the frozen raspberries, mix it with the sugar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then cook it at medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar melt. Let cool.


My perfectly-imperfect pie dough, so cute. This went into the fridge to rest for an hour.


Filled with the cherries, raspberries, and liquid.


The fun part. Lattice.





Dear hubby got the first slice, as always. He took one bite and went "Hmmmm.. hmmm..." That about sums up how yummy it is.


Alpha Bakers is a group of bakers who are baking through The Baking Bible, Rose Levy Beranbaum's latest cookbook. Come check out the rest of the group at Rose's Alpha Bakers.

Click here for a full listing of all the recipes we are baking.

23 comments:

  1. Yes, you're picture makes me want to eat some of your pie, but since it's a baby pie, I could only have one bite! I think you're amazing the way you cut the recipes down. I think that's talent! Nice post, Jenn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kim. It will take at least 2 bites. If you are here I could totally make you take 3 bites :).

      Delete
  2. Beautiful!!! So makes me want a slice of pie but alas, mine is but a distant memory. I LOVE your renegade pie dough mixing method. I am adopting it tout suite! Your photos just make me happy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful!!! So makes me want a slice of pie but alas, mine is but a distant memory. I LOVE your renegade pie dough mixing method. I am adopting it tout suite! Your photos just make me happy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes it makes me want to eat it :) your pies are always so pretty. We're no cherry pie fans so I skipped this one.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such a cute mini version. I have to agree with you, canned cherries, even the best brand, don't hold a candle to frozen. The canning process doesn't just dull the flavor, it dulls the color too. I really need to buy a couple of those mini pie plates. They're so cute!

    Patricia @ ButterYum
    http://www.butteryum.org/roses-alpha-bakers/2015/3/14/tbb-sour-cherry-pie-pi-day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia, get them! They are really cute. I didn't even think about the color of canned cherries being dull. Good point.

      Delete
  6. Soo CUTE! How do you managed to make everything half or quarter? I wanted to try making half..but thinking of the calculations gave me a headache..hahaha..and like what size pie plate to use.. You are amazing my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Faithful, you can make half. It's not difficult. I will email you for next recipe. We can discuss there, hehe.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  7. Sorry..i dunno what I am doing! LOL! I keep pressing the wrong button and cut and paste the wrong thing. I was saying earlier, I have already made the next recipe which I wished I had 1/4 it like you did. The following recipe is ok because I intend to bring it to a pot luck gathering.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How do you calculate the size plate/pan you need to use? That I find the hardest.. maybe when I decide to 1/2 or 1/4 any of the recipe, I will email you for some advise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I woke up this morning with all these comments from you. Love it! They made me smile on a sleepy morning, :)). With the pie plate I measure by volume using water. I have a 9 inch pie plate so I put it on a scale and fill it with water. Then put the 4 inch pie pop late on a scale and measure the weight of water in that. You can also use flour or rice to measure. That is probably smarter, not wasting water. For cake pan it is similar way, though I figured out by now that 1/2 recipe for a 9 inch cake you can use either a 6 or 7 inch cake pan . The 6 inch will make the cake a bit taller, so it looks cuter, lol. I have both pans and use the ones I feel like usually.

      Delete
    2. And yes, email me anytime if you want to discuss things in more details. We can talk about the calculations too if you want.

      Delete
  9. Your cherries certainly made the pie a lovely dark red colour. And the little plate is very cute.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I also wished to make the cherry pie when in season, and I might do it again later depending on what we have on the schedule. I love your mini sized pie plate, so adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  11. you have a sour cherry tree, how lucky! i want to make this again with fresh cherries, too, but i did enjoy not having to pit a pie-full of cherries. your photos are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Like you it was very frustrating to not find the main ingredient (actually our private FB exploded with everyone running into the same issue) I uses sweet cherries too, but found sour dry at WF at the last minute and dumped those in as well. No can stuff around casa p! I love your mini take in all the recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your pie is so cute. Looks like a single serving pie!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your pie looks beautiful! Do you remember where you purchased the pie pan? I just ordered a new cookbook that is all about desserts for two. You might want to check it out. Love that your pictures are so crisp and well lit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jill. The pie pan is Emile Henry Artisan Mini Ruffled Pie Dish from WIlliams Sonoma (long name for a pie plate :)). It's a Williams Sonoma exclusive so that's the only place you can get this size. It's super cute and if you go to the store you might end up buying two like I did hehe..

      Delete

Thank you so much for leaving comments.