Homemade Cherry Pie Filling
Learn how to make homemade cherry pie filling with fresh or frozen cherries! Perfect for pies, cheesecakes, and cakes, this easy cherry filling is fruity, not overly sweet, and so much better than canned. A quick 15-minute recipe every baker needs in their kitchen for summer desserts and holiday pies!
When I was running my cake decorating business, cherry filling was one of my secret weapons. It wasn’t just about the beautiful pop of color it added between cake layers; it was the fresh, bright cherry flavor that made clients remember their cakes long after the celebration ended.
I learned early on that homemade cherry pie filling is miles better than any canned version, especially when layered inside a Black Forest cake or spooned generously over a cheesecake. The canned stuff is often overly sweet and thick with cornstarch, while a homemade cherry filling lets the natural tart-sweet cherry flavor shine, giving your cakes and desserts a freshness you simply can’t get from a tin.
Even now, though I’ve shifted from cake decorating to sharing recipes with you here, this cherry filling remains a staple in my kitchen. It’s not just for cakes either! I love swirling it into yogurt for breakfast, draping it over waffles for weekend brunch, or using it to fill a flaky pie crust for a classic cherry pie that makes the whole house smell like summer.
Once you make this homemade cherry pie filling, you’ll see just how versatile it is—and why it was always one of my favorites when creating cakes for my clients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy—ready in 15 minutes.
- Works with fresh or frozen cherries.
- Naturally sweet, fruity, and bright in color.
- Perfect for pies, cheesecakes, cakes, and desserts.
- Freezer-friendly for up to 3 months.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Cherries: Fresh or frozen, sweet or tart, pitted. Adjust sugar to taste based on cherry variety.
- Sugar: White sugar keeps the filling bright; adjust to taste.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the filling; can substitute with arrowroot or potato starch.
- Lemon juice: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Flavoring: Optional ¼ tsp almond extract for classic cherry-almond pairing, or ½ tsp vanilla.
Step-by-step: How to Make Cherry Pie Filling
- Prep: Pit the cherries and collect any juices.
- Cook: In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and ¼ cup water. Cook until sugar dissolves, mashing some cherries for texture.
- Thicken: Mix remaining water with cornstarch, stir, and add to the saucepan. Cook on low until thick and glossy, coating the back of a spoon.
- Cool: Remove from heat; it will thicken further as it cools. Store in a mason jar in the fridge or freezer.
Tips for Success
- Use fine white sugar for color clarity.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry before adding to prevent lumps.
- Don’t overcook; remove once thick and glossy.
- For frozen cherries, reduce the added water.
- Cool fully before using as a cake or pie filling.
How to Use Cherry Pie Filling
- Cherry Pie: Classic use between double crusts or as a slab pie.
- Cakes: Layer with a buttercream dam
- Cheesecakes: Spoon over baked or no-bake cheesecakes.
- Tarts: Fill pre-baked crust with pastry cream and cherry filling.
- Breakfast: Spoon over pancakes, waffles, yogurt, or oatmeal.
- Pastries: Use as a filling for Danish pastries, turnovers, or hand pies.
More cherry recipes for you to try
- Moist Chocolate Cherry Cake
- Vanilla Cherry Cupcakes
- Best Cherry Pie Recipe
- Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes
- Cherry Ice Cream
Frequently asked questions
Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Yes, ensure they are pitted and adjust sugar if sweetened. Use less water initially.
If too runny, simmer with a cornstarch slurry until thickened.
Cherry filling is a classic pairing with chocolate cake, as in my chocolate cherry cake and chocolate cherry cupcakes. So, it’s often used in a black forest cake. And yet, it can also work well with a vanilla cake or cupcakes like my fresh cherry cupcakes. Cherries also pair well with almond cake or fruit cakes, such as apricot, nectarines, or plums. Also, try my cherry crumble bars.
I have a detailed video and progress pictures showing how to level, tort, and fill a cake. The process is simple
– Bake your favorite cake batter in the right-sized cake pans.
– Cool cake layers, then level or torte them using a serrated knife.
– Brush the cake with simple syrup using a pastry brush.
– Pipe a buttercream frosting dam around the edge of the cake.
– Fill the center with the fruit filling, e.g., cherry filling
– Top with the next cake layer.
– Continue with the dam and filling until you have used all cake layers.
– Chill the cake for 15 minutes, then frost the top and sides
The BEST Cherry Pie Filling
This homemade cherry pie filling is easy, fruity, and perfect for pies, cheesecakes, cakes, and more. Made in 15 minutes using fresh or frozen cherries, it’s a staple every baker needs.
Video
Ingredients
- 200 g (2 cups) Cherries
- 50 g (¼ cup) White sugar
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 120 ml (½ cups) Water (divided)
- ¼ tsp Salt (optional)
Method
- Prep: Pit the cherries and collect any juices.200 g Cherries
- Cook: In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, lemon juice, and ¼ cup water. Cook until sugar dissolves, mashing some cherries for texture.50 g White sugar, 1 tbsp Lemon juice , ¼ tsp Salt
- Thicken: Mix remaining water with cornstarch, stir, and add to the saucepan. Cook on low until thick and glossy, coating the back of a spoon.1 tbsp Cornstarch, 120 ml Water
- Cool: Remove from heat; it will thicken further as it cools. Store in a mason jar in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Tips for Success
✅ Use fine white sugar for color clarity.✅ Stir cornstarch slurry before adding to prevent lumps.
✅ Don’t overcook; remove once thick and glossy.
✅ For frozen cherries, reduce added water.
✅ Cool fully before using as a cake or pie filling.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Mention @veenaazmanov_kitchen or tag #veenaazmanovkitchen!- Fresh cherry cupcakes or Chocolate cherry cupcakes
- Classic cherry cheesecake or Chocolate cherry cheesecake
- Cherry Eggnog
- Cherry Champagne Cocktail
- Best Cherry Pie Recipe
- See all cherry recipes
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This looks lovely, and I adore the idea of serving the extra over whipped cream for a tasty, simple dessert!
Yeah the filling over whipped cream is a real treat my kids love.
YUM!! Perfect way to use up those cherries!!
Absolutely Mindy. Love them in everything.
Is it possible to be addicted to cherries? Because I think I am ~ this looks luscious and so do-able!
Thank Sue. Oh it is so do-able.
I LOVE how versatile this is. The fact that you can use it in both cakes *and* pies, among many other things, is fabulous. I’m not much of a cake girl myself, but this would be glorious in a homemade pie! Thanks for the filling tips!
Absolutely Dana. This would make a glorious pie filling.
Ohmygosh I could go recipe crazy with this tasty filling! Love it!
Thanks Jenn. Hope you try it.
When I was a kid, my aunt had a fruit orchard. Every summer I would spend time there picking fruit…and eating the cherries off the tree while I picked them. I would use this on my Black Forest Cake….what a great treat it would be.
Ah so lucky Gloria.. Some of us only get to see these fruits when they come to the markets. Would be amazing to eat these fresh off the branches.
I love cherries. It is my favorite fruit!! I try to make my own filling too, but this gives me an alternate recipe! I love all the different ways you can use it. Beautiful photos and lovely recipe!
Mine too. I love cherries very much. And I love cherry desserts very very much. Thanks Elaine
I have a black forest cake recipe that this would be perfect for!!!
I bet it would be perfect for that.
You’re right, this cherry filling looks absolutely delicious! I’m pinning this for the next time I need cherry filling! Yummy!
Thank you Kristine.So happy to hear you saving it for later. Let me know if you use it. Thanks
YUM! That filling sounds delicious! Cherry pie is such a perfect summer treat, this filling would be awesome!
Thanks Liz – it sure would make an awesome cherry pie filling
200 grms cherries is after removing seeds ?
Yes, Gauree.