Easy Bourbon Cherry Pie Filling
By now you have realized that I think about food, shall we say...often, lol. For that reason I am sure it will come as no surprise that I LOVE making food gifts for the holidays. Things like homemade liquors, cookies, jams (including a Bacon Jam...Yum) and this easy Bourbon Cherry Pie Filling.
I love gifting homemade food gifts and homemade booze gifts. It makes me happy! Hopefully the recipeints are happy as well!
Now, I will say that once or maybe twice...especially in the beginning of this holiday tradition, I may have been a little to ambitious pulling off my vision of what food gifts to make co-workers, friends, neighbors and family.
Picture me covered in flour at 2 a covered in flour, hair in a messy bun & kitchen a complete disaster with work the next day. Oh, its happened!
This delicious and easy Bourbon Cherry Pie Filling makes a great food gift. It's different, delicious and pretty too! Plus it has a number of uses.
Table of Contents
Tips
- A cherry pitter is the best way to pit cherries easily. The OXO Pitter is the one I use (I actually have two, so a helper can assist to make things go quicker. It's, affordable and it has a splash guard.
- Halve you cherries for a better eating experience.
- Taste your cherries, if they are super-sweet cut back on the sugar. Really sour, add a little extra sugar.
- Follow the instructions on how to add in the cornstarch, it makes a difference and avoids lumps and clumps.
- Keeps in the refrigerator
Uses for Cherry Pie Filling
- Of course cherry pie! Or Cherry Pie Crumble.
- Top a cheesecake, or mini cheesecake bites, with this homemade cherry filling.
- Use to top a tart or make cherry pie cookies.
- Top ice cream, swirl into yogurt, as a crepe filling (so good!)
- As a toppping for a cake or cupcakes or a filling in a cake.
- Top bagels or toast with it as well. Crostini's smeared with a nice cheese too.
- Top a baked Brie, and ass a few fresh herbs atop it for a festive look.
- However off the spoon? Now that's where its at!
Variations
Feel free to omit the Bourbon.
This is a great food gift idea. It's so easy your kids can totally help OR better yet make it themselves. This is SO simple it can be made 100% by them, depending on their age and skill level..
And when it comes to food gifts, I love coming up with easy yet memorable foods and drinks to gift for every occasion.
Favorite Homemade Food Gifts
- Homemade Sriracha Salt - Just 2 ingredients and amazing! Pack it in a cute salt cellar like this.
- Chocolate Moonshine - Pure chocolate boozy decadence!
- Pizzelles -I have an authentic South Philadelphia bakery recipe.
- Bacon Jam - Because ummm, BACON! Put it on all the things 🙂
- Homemade Vanilla Syrup - Coffee lovers will enjoy this!
- Easy Strawberry Lime Jam - Let the kids help! No canning required!
I hope you find one to try!
This recipe was originally posted December of 2014. I updated it with photos and text December, 2020. Nutritional data is calculated using a WordPress plug-in. As a member of Amazon Associates, I may receive a small payment if items I suggest are purchased. Typically a few cents per item.
Enjoy! XO Colleen
Easy Bourbon Cherry Pie FIlling
Ingredients
- 4 heaping cups of fresh cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 TBS fresh squeezed lemon or lime
- ¼ cup bourbon
- ¼ cup water
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 ½ TBS cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- Place (pitted & halved) cherries, the water and the bourbon in a pot and over medium heat bring them to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the cherries release their juices.
- Meanwhile in a small bowl whisk cornstarch with your fresh lemon juice and a couple spoonful's of the juice from the pot of cherries. stir until smooth. This creates a slurry of sorts so that when you add it to the pot, you don't have cornstarch lumps.
- Add your sugar, cinnamon and salt to your pot of cherries, stir well and simmer on low for 4-5 minutes.
- Add in your cornstarch mixture and stir until combined. Allow it to simmer on low a few minutes more till thickened. (mixture will continue to thicken as it cools)
- Taste and adjust flavor to your preference.
- Allow mixture to cool then spoon into a large mason jar (or 2) and keep in the fridge until using. Keeps for a week in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Yum! My mom makes these some years... such a treat!
I love everything about this pie filling....especially that you provided the spoon for easy and immediate consumption.
I sure as heck would be happy to get a jar of this (with bourbon) please - I'm totally craving cherry pie right now....
I could eat that entire jar
I know what you mean about thinking about food all the time. That's me, too...all the time! I would be so happy if someone gave me some of this pie filling as a holiday gift.
Sounds delicious!
Not sure if I suddenly got hungry because it's noon OR LOOKING AT THIS PICTURE! That looks SOOOO good, what a great gift too.
That certainly makes for a gorgeous gift!
What a great idea for holiday gifts! I have some people in my life who would LOVE this pie filling.
My dad would SO love this! And for me, just give me a spoon...
That looks beautiful!
Homemade gifts are the best! Bonus points if they're edible ; )
What is it about the beginning of the holidays that puts food centric people into a tailspin of ideas? I bet this cherry pie filling would be great not only in pie, but over ice cream, cheesecake, biscuits...the list goes on and on!
I would just eat this with a spoon!
Love this! Looks so delicious and what a fun gift.
That looks so yummy!!!
I wish I was on your gift list so I'd receive some of this yummy pie filling!
Yum! My husband loves cherry pie I may have to try this out.
Oh my goodness, you little rascal! This looks and sounds absolutely fantastic!
I could eat that straight out of the jar with a spoon. Incredible!
I just love this cherry pie filling idea as a gift. I think the problem would be I wouldn't be able to give it away!! Delicious!
This sounds absolutely wonderful! *pinned*
Oh WOW! I can only imagine the punch of flavor in your pie filling. What a nice gift this would make too.
Yum! I'm not sure this would make it as far as a pie crust...
This looks amazing! Can it be made with frozen cherries? i'm not sure where I'd find fresh this time of year (and I don't even want to think about how much they'd cost!)
I do love me some homemade holiday gifts!! This bourbon cherry pie filling looks perfect! I may have to add it to my homemade gift giving.
What a great goodie to gift! Looks delicious. And I would have to include the bourbon, because I bet it's incredible with it.
In all honesty, none would be left to gift out. I would spoon that straight into my trap. No pie needed. YUM!! 😀
Boozy anything is my favorite 🙂
I love this recipe. Bourbon makes everything better. Cherries make everything better. So this is perfection.
Ah! the bourbon! Killing it!
What a great excuse to buy bourbon! I want to try this next cherry pie!
2 AM being a wild woman in the kitchen and you had to go to work the next day??? Oh my heavens!!!!! You get the 'Nut" award for sure. But the good news is this is a fab recipe. What a great idea. Cherries and bourbon and pie crust-----Wowzer!
How would I make this for long term shelf storage?
Place (pitted & halved) cherries, the water and the bourbon in a pot and over medium heat bring them to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the cherries release their juices.
How much water? It is not mentioned at all in the ingredients list.
Can I water bath can this recipe?
I can't see why not however I have no experience with canning so I have no instructions / tips to give. Let me know if you are successful 🙂