Three Cheers for Cherry Pie Filling

Ever wanted to make your own pie filling, but not sure where to start? Well, never fear; your recipe is here!

I started making my own pie filling when I got tired of the sicky-sweet canned pie filling that was available in the stores. Cherry was especially problematic. I like tart cherries.

So, if you want sweet pie filling, follow the recipe below exactly. However, of you like your cherries tart, I suggest cutting the sugar to at least 3/4 of a cup, or even 1/2 a cup. If you are needing to cut down on your sugar intake, I suggest using 20 packets of stevia along with 1/4 cup of sugar. This is because stevia alone tends to have a strange taste, where if you add a small amount of sugar, it takes that away.

Here is the recipe:

1, 15 oz. can of tart cherries and juice

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. corn or tapioca starch

1/4 cup water

In a saucepan over medium heat combine cherries and sugar until sugar is dissolved. In a separate bowl make a slurry of the starch and water. This just means to stir them together until it looks like milk; no lumps, please!

Add slurry to the hot cherry mixture and stir until combined. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly. Cool and use as you would canned pie filling.

Note: The pie filling will thicken as it cools.