Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie

Bumpy Cherry and Almond PieBefore I made this pie (and then ate a quarter of it during a revision break), I’d never actually eaten cherry pie before. I think this is down to two factors: I basically never bake with cherries (ummm, £4.50 for a 400 g carton. I’d normally rather just eat them straight up) and I also don’t bake pie that much; check my archives, you’ll see how true this is. I adore pastry, especially this almondy, mega buttery one but I usually find that there’s just TOO much fruit in pies for my taste. I want a generous pastry:fruit ratio, man. I want butter.

Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie

I haven’t really been around all that much pie in my lifetime, save one pie: Gooseberry pie.

As my dad grows gooseberries, my mum always ends up making pie with them (because other than making fool, there’s not much else you can do with them) using a special pastry – the amount of butter in it and the use of ground almonds makes it a verrrry delicate dough which sinks down and hugs the fruit as the pie bakes. The resulting pie has a bumpy, kinda cobblestone-y look to it which is ADORABLE. The key to success there is the large, rounded shape of the berries..

..and what’s similar between gooseberries and cherries? Their shape! So I subbed the gooseberries for whole, pitted cherries which had been soaked in amaretto and voila, the same bumpy pie effect was achieved.

Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie

(Err do you see what I mean about the amount of pastry I require in order to enjoy pie?)

It was a bit more effort than I was anticipating to pit the cherries (if you don’t bake with cherries, you probably won’t own a cherry pitter…e.g. me) but I found using a paring knife and a pastry tip was easy enough. It just looked a bit like I’d had a knife accident and bled everywhere for a lil bit :/ so make sure you don an apron/don’t wear a white top if you’re in the make-shift cherry pitting game.

I think that cutting the cherries in half and removing the pits that way would also work but the bumpiness wouldn’t be as extreme soo it’s totally up to you! oH and if you DO happen to have gooseberries and wanna use them instead Go. For. It. You might just have to increase the sweetness of the filling cos gooseberries are much more sour.

Otherwise I really recommend trying pie my way (I’m talking about how it’s like 50% crust) or if you really have to make it fruitier then double up the filling and just don’t tell me you did that.

Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie

Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie

5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients

For the Filling:

  • 1 1/4 lbs (550 g) whole cherries (weighed then pitted)
  • 3 tbsp amaretto or kirsch , (optional)
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp all purpose flour

For the Pastry:

  • 1 1/3 cups (160 g) all purpose flour
  • 6 tbsp (80 g) granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup (70 g) ground almonds
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp (80 g) unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract

Instructions

  • Pit the cherries and place into a bowl with the amaretto/kirsch, sugar and flour. Stir together and set aside.
  • Make the pastry in a food processor: blend together the first 4 ingredients. Add in the butter and pulse until a crumbly texture is achieved. Add in the egg, egg yolk and almond extract and blend until a smooth dough forms.
  • Make the pastry by hand: in a bowl, stir together the first 4 ingredients. Add the butter to the bowl and rub into the dry ingredients using your fingertips until a crumbly texture is achieved. Add the egg, egg yolk and almond extract, stir/knead together until a smooth dough forms.
  • Divide the dough into two balls, flatten them into disks, wrap in plastic wrap then chill for at least 4 hours (it's quite soft dough, so it's easier to handle when it's cold).
  • Once the pastry has chilled: Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Roll out one disk of pastry on a piece of lightly floured parchment paper using a lightly floured rolling pin until it's a couple of inches larger than an 8-inch pie tin. Flip the parchment paper and pastry over onto the tin and peel away the paper so that the tin is now lined with the under layer of pastry.
  • Fill the pastry-lined tin with the cherry mixture and roll out the second disk of pastry on a piece of floured parchment paper as before. Gently flip the parchment over on top of the cherry filling and peel the paper away so the pie is covered by the top crust of pastry. Crimp the edges of the pastry together with your fingers or a fork and then bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Decorate with a shower of superfine (caster) sugar and serve.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it went! Mention @izyhossack or tag #topwithcinnamon!

66 thoughts on “Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie”

  1. What patience to pit all those cherries but what a lovely finish. Like you I would have to prise the required amount of cherries from my daughter’s bowl as she loves this precious fruit. She might be tempted by the pie though!!

  2. What a pretty pie! I admit that I favor more filling, but I could handle your version, too. You can’t go wrong with a lovely buttery crust.

  3. I made my first cherry pie today too! Mine didn’t look as beautiful as yours though (certainly not blog-worthy!)… I blame my boyfriend for ruining my pastry with his hot hands!
    Next time I’ll be sure to try your recipe instead!
    Beth
    swallowsandskylines.blogspot.co.uk

  4. Wow, looks so good! The way that the cherries make the little bumps is just perfect. 🙂

    catscraftsncritters.blogspot.ca

  5. This is sooo pretty, the aesthetics make it so appealing! I’m obsessed with pastry too… I mean dessert needs to be dessert, so 50% crust sounds perfect. I’ve never had gooseberries, so I’m incentivized now to go on a hunt for some (until then, cherries sound amazing). Yum!

  6. 1) This is the cutest pie evaaaah! I love the bumps—and I adore the fact that you describe the pastry as hugging the fruit… that only makes it cuter.
    2) Those white and blue plates that you have are gorgeous. Their clean aesthetic paired with slightly messy pie makes for delightful photos.

  7. I love the way your bumpy pie looks! And, I love love love cherry pie. But I have to agree with you, cherries are almost too expensive to put them in pies. Here in Saskatchewan, we grow a sour cherry that is wonderful for pies – so much better than the sweet dark cherries. They are better for just eating. I will give your pie a try 🙂

  8. A girl after my own heart! I also don’t like to eat a lot of pies because I want more pastry than fruit too! Happy to know that I’m not the only one.

  9. This is pretty neat, love the bumpy look and almond tends to make everything better + would pair magnificently with cherries. Still have to work up the courage to pit that many cherries though eek.

  10. I find mini pies or hand pies is the best way of getting the best filling to pastry ratio; however I might be bias as I like to use buttery puff in all my pies…
    We rarely get cherries in Australia in winter but come summer I will be trying this!

  11. I can’t believe bumpy pies are not famous–this looks so fabulous! Cherries and almonds are one of my favorite flavor pairs; I had some for snack the other day and it was one of the best things I’ve eaten all summer. However, this pie looks MUCH more amazing…

  12. I love this! It looks absolutely fantastic! I’ve always wanted to make a cherry pie.

  13. Yum this looks fab. I wouldn’t even bother making a cherry pie it’s too much work pitting them but I love the look of this one.

  14. YESS! It’s about time that we make ALL pies bumpy!!! I’m the same as you, I’m a big crust guy, so this is just perfect for me.

  15. I’d probably have given up and just stuffed all the cherries in my mouth to avoid pitting them all. But dang, that bumpiness really is adorable–and I’m not much of a ‘bumps’ kind of person (they give me goosebumps when they appear in nature–kind of a weird amalgamation of the words ‘bumps’ and ‘gooseberries’ happening here. weird? yeahhh…). But I’d eat this up in a heartbeat–fork, check? Rambling, check? Cherry pie–check! Your pie is making me deliciously delirious. Yum, gal!

  16. I am absolutely on your pro-pastry team. So many people go on about thin pastry being the best whereas I’m always, noooooooo, thick pastry top and bottom please!! This pastry sounds gorgeous, I’m definitely going to try it. The whole pie looks delicious too =)

  17. Dude, how can you not like the perfectly gooey inside of a cherry pie? ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN? Despite the fact, that I have an urgent need to make every dessert a bit healthier, I would recommend a fruit to pastry ratio of 5:1 oops? And imma make the pie and fucking triple the filling 😀

  18. Pie looks fantastic! I am totally into fruit pastry , it is good in all proportions of the feeling and pastry. I think the ratio depends on the season, weather, mood and so many other factors! It doesn’t matter) In Ukraine we have A LOT of cherries, so I am definitely gonna try it)

  19. I too love cherries/amaretto and all pastry. I can’t wait to try your almond pastry as double crust pie dough. Lovely photos too!

  20. I think you’re onto something here with the pie to pastry ratio. Especially with a crust as good as your almond meal crust. Bravo!

  21. Cutest. Pie. Ever.
    Also with you on the filling/pastry ratio – too many soggy fruits make me regurgitate them x

  22. girrrrrl, you get me with this whole generous pastry:fruit ratio. and this is a genius fix! i love the idea of ground almonds in pastry dough. i mean cherries + almonds = all the heart emojis?

  23. So beautiful! I have never seen a pie with this characteristic bumpy crust before — super exciting. I bet it’s even more fun to eat! All those cherries in their little pastry pockets… 🙂

  24. I adore cherry pie (American, here), and definitely want to try out your recipe. I have a couple questions though, re. your measurements- when you use spoon measurements (tbsp, tsp) do you use American-stye measuring spoons, or the spoons from the silverware drawer? Also, when you’re baking, do you start with the weights, then convert to cups, or vice versa? Thanks… sorry for all of the questions, I’ve had really excellent and really poor results from some British recipes, and definitely want to make this pie just as you would. Cheers!

    • Thanks Catherine! I use measuring spoons (1 tsp = 5ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml) when baking. For this recipe the pastry recipe came from my grandma who was British so it was written in weights, I converted the pastry recipe to volume using a conversion chart that I made. If you have a weighing scale if recommend using it for making pastry because it’s a lot more accurate!

  25. OH MY GOD I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS PIE FOR SO LONG!!! It’s even more ingenious than I thought (I though you somehow hand-crafted bumps of pastry on top). That tip about cherry pitting with a pastry tip is so smart. Will definitely be putting that to work someday soon 😉 You are brilliant. And high pastry: fruit ratio? YES.

  26. You’re right, the crust is cute! I love your use of ground almonds, I’m sure it adds a nice texture. I will definitely try this pie out.

  27. Oh my gosh THANK YOU, someone else who really mostly only eats pie for the pastry! I find pies too full of fruit, too. I’m all about the buttery pastry. (I’m the same with crumble and if people aren’t careful I’ll eat all the topping and they’ll just be left with cooked fruit.) I’m so excited to try this, thanks!

  28. SUCH a cute pie! I hear you on the eating cherries straight up, but wowza on the gooseberries, we have a bush too and I haven’t a clue what to do with them much, this pie might be getting made into your mums original soon!

  29. This looks like the most beautiful cherry pie. I love the little bumps on top – that’s how a cherry pie should look 🙂

  30. YUM. this looks divine… love the bumps! thanks for the great read and inspiring post!

  31. I’ve never tried cherry pie either! I grew up in a house where the only pie type thing Mum made was Linzer Torte (and I still love it). Guess I’ll have to wait until cherries come into season and stretch my taste buds on this one 🙂 I’m sure it won’t be hard work to devour some sweet slices!

  32. Woaaaah that’s gotta be up there amongst the coolest looking pie. LOOOVE cherries and almond together. Nailed this recipe 🙂

  33. YOU JUST ANSWERED ALL MY PIE DREAMS!!!!!! I am totally not a fruit-pie person and I just realized why. Too much fruit! I obviously love fruit, but not as much after it’s cooked. This is perrrrfect. And those bumps! And the crust!! #imdead

  34. I loooooove this pastry. The bumpiness is definitely my style. I like my fruit, and especially cherries, but I also like my crust, so I need a nice thick crust and lots of fruit. Usually my pies turn into these super thick mega-pies that require some bench pressing before you can lift it. I also don’t have a cherry pitter and my hands and knife always look like I murdered someone by the end!

  35. Hi thanks for the recipe , just baked it for my husband. I used blueberries and black cherries, it turned out beautifully – the highest compliment my husband gives is “that’s a make again” . Thanks it was brilliant

  36. Hi Izy! I made this recipe and followed all the instructions exactly (chilling for 4+ hours, dusting the parchment paper etc) but my pie crust, once rolled out, is stuck to the parchment paper like glue and is impossible to get off 🙁 I’ve made the filling and I don’t want to waste all those delicious ruby cherries! Any suggestions? I’ve got my dough in the freezer now. I might mention that I live in South Korea in a monstrously hot city, which probably doesn’t help! Although I am originally from London, like you 😀

    • Hi Emma! The pastry is ridiculously fragile and can get sticky (you’re right the the heat is probably the main issue). I suggest that you dust both side of the pastry dusky really well with flour before rolling and also keep turning the dough itself (not just the parchment) and dusting underneath and on top as you roll. Hopefully that will help! Fingers crossed X

      • Thanks Izy! You’re up late, if you’re in England right now! I will try it later when I finish work. I am a big fan of your recipes and photography by the way. You take gorgeous photographs of food 🙂

        • I am indeed hahah, I’m an owl at heart… Let me know if you need more help later! Thanks so much 🙂

  37. Update: I left the dough in the freezer the whole day while I was at work. I took it out, left it for about 5 minutes and rolled it from frozen, turning the dough itself like you suggested. The first few rolls require some force, but it quickly became easier. And it worked! I think another reason I had problems, initially, was because I had to roll it a bit larger to fit a 9 inch tin! The pie was a big hit with my Korean and foreign co-workers (I took it into work today) and one said it was ‘the best pie crust she had ever had’. Kudos for the recipe! Deliciousss.

  38. Ooh. It so pretty. Me want! Plus, Sainsburys do frozen cherries at less than half the price of fresh which are perfect for cooking with. AND theyre already pitted!

  39. That is a seriously gorgeous pie! Do you teach classes on how to crimp? ’cause you should.

  40. This pie is SO good. I made it a couple months ago and forgot to comment how awesome it was. My family, who usually don’t have much of a sweet tooth, honestly craved for it. The crust was terrific. I used coconut sugar and it tasted so good. Thanks for the awesome recipe! 🙂

  41. Hi Izzy,

    I’ve recently started learning how to cook and this is the best dish I’ve ever made!

    Here are a few tips for anyone planning to cook this:

    1. The dough is terribly fragile. When you reach the stage of rolling the dough, be prepared to dust the dough and parchment with flour a couple of times.
    2. Use a shallow pie dish. I used one that was too deep for this recipe and I couldn’t achieve the crimping as nice as the one shown in the photo.
    3. The dough is hard to seperate from the parchment. Go slow and have patience.
    4. If you set aside the filling the entire day like I did, there is a build up of liquid from the cherries (probably because there are holes in all the cherries after I pitted them). I don’t think it’s a good idea to use all of the liquid for the filling as it made the base of the pie a bit too soft.

    Feel free to let me know what you think about any of the above points!

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