Small Batch Cherry Pie Filling Recipe - this wonderful recipe yields the perfect amount of cherry pie filling for a mini cherry pie. Cooks in minutes and can be made with fresh or frozen cherries. Enjoy as a pie filling, over pancakes, or even as a yogurt or ice cream topping.
You might be surprised to know that cherry pie filling is super easy to make. Just a few ingredients and a few minutes of cooking time can yield the best-tasting pie filling you've ever tried.
Homemade cherry pie filling beats canned pie filling any time. You just can't beat the taste of homemade - it's fresher tasting, there are no preservatives added, and you can control the amount of sugar you add.
RELATED: The Best Single Serving Summer Recipes
Easy Pie Filling
The next time you're in the mood for cherry pie, remember this gem of a recipe. This small batch recipe will yield about a cup of pie filling. Just enough to make a mini cherry pie.
When I make a single serving cherry pie, I use a small baking dish and I use the same shortbread crust that I use in my pecan pie for one.
Another option would be to use our recipe for a small pie crust.
Ingredients
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- cherries
- lemon juice
- sugar
- cornstarch
- water
How To Make Cherry Pie Filling
- Add ingredients to a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool, then transfer the filling to a jar or a bowl and chill until you are ready to use it.
Keep leftover cherry pie filling in a sealed jar or bowl in the refrigerator for up to one week.
The filling will thicken as the cherries soften.
How To Remove Cherry Seeds
- I use a cherry pitter to remove the seeds from the cherries. It makes the job so much easier.
- You could also use a pastry tip. Just place it tip side up on a work surface and push the cherry firmly onto it until the pit comes out the other end.
- Use a chopstick or a firm drinking straw. Push it through the stem end of the cherry and the pit should come out the other side.
RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh cherries began arriving in our grocery stores early last month and cherry pie filling was the first thing I made with them. When cherries are in season, you'll always find a small jar of cherry pie filling in my fridge. In addition to a pie, the filling can also be used in:
crisps or crumbles (substitute the fruit in this crisp recipe with the cherry pie filling)
spoon over pancakes or waffles
use as a topping for ice cream
enjoy with your morning yogurt and granola
use the filling in a cherry pie dump cake
make a chocolate cake with cherry pie filling
If you don't have fresh cherries, use frozen. This filling recipe works great with frozen and thawed cherries. You'll notice that the pie filling won't be as bright red as it would be if you used fresh cherries. But it'll still be as tasty.
Other Single Serving Pie Recipes
- Apple Pie
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Peanut Butter Pie
- Coconut Cream Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Banana Cream Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Key Lime Pie
- Lemon Mango Pie
- Sweet Potato Pie
I use a 1-quart saucepan and a cherry pitter when making this pie filling.
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this homemade cherry pie filling or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Cherry Pie Filling - A Small Batch Recipe
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
- cherry pitter
Ingredients
- 1 cup cherries pitted
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Place cherries, lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch, and water in a 1-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer to bowl. Cool slightly before using.
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
LISA ALLEN says
Excellent way to make your own fillings for desserts or use partial cans! Can this recipe be used for frozen/thawed blueberries, strawberries etc? Thank you for all your Awesome Recipes for one!
Joanie Zisk says
Yes, it can.
Dina L. says
I made this recipe tonight from fresh sweet bing cherries, and its taking everything I have not to each the entire batch while I'm waiting for the crust to bake. I'm going to try this with frozen cherries when the fresh ones are gone for the season. This is WAY better than the canned cherry pie filling. Thank you!
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Terrie says
This is such an easy recipe along with it having wonderful flavor. I’m Celiac so I used this filling inside a GF puff pastry to make individual hand pies🥰❗️
Dorothy Carpenter says
Joanie, do you have a recipe for cobbler using canned cherry pie filling. I use your recipes all the time, as you have made them. Sometimes I add a few things(`veggies).
Thanks for answering.
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Dorothy, I would use this blueberry cobbler recipe for the cobbler part, https://onedishkitchen.com/blueberry-cobbler-recipe/ and measure out approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of the canned cherry pie filling to use in a 10-ounce ramekin. Bake as directed in the cobbler recipe.
Enjoy!
leslie reynolds says
Excellent recipe and I appreciate the single serving quantities! This is a keeper! Thank you!!
Joanie Zisk says
Thank you, Leslie.
Jeannette Shields says
Hi. You wrote this months ago, but I am wayyyyy behind in looking at my emails. My question for you: Can I use frozen cherries? The only fresh cherries I see in my grocery store are BING CHERRIES!
Thanks for this blog and the Facebook page, also your many good recipes I've saved.
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Jeannette,
Yes, you can use frozen cherries just be sure to thaw them first.
Barbara O'Keefe says
How do you cook the pie? Gave recipes for filling and crust, but no pie directions?
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Barbara,
The recipe is for a cherry pie filling which is to be enjoyed in a pie, over pancakes, spooned into yogurt or over ice cream. If you would like to use this filling in a pie, I reference my pecan pie recipe in the post and suggest using the same crust that is used in the pecan pie for the cherry pie. Here is the link for your convenience - https://onedishkitchen.com/how-to-make-pecan-pie-for-one/ - bake the crust as directed in the crust recipe then spoon the cherry pie filling over the crust and either refrigerate until cool or enjoy warm.
Have a great weekend!
Joanie
Mike says
Thank you Joanie Great recipe very tasty and enjoyed it .
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Mike,
Thanks for writing. I'm so happy you enjoyed the pie filling!
Joanie