Cherry pie: From ancient roots to American icon

It is difficult to count all the songs in which the theme of cherry pie appears. Cherry pie, a synonym of home warmth and hospitality, has been sung about by Jennifer Lopez and Sade, among others, and is also mentioned in the folk song "Billy Boy." The treat appears in numerous movies, such as the memorable scene of the contest for eating the largest pies in the cult film "Stand by Me."

Although cherry pie is inseparably associated with the United States, its roots should be sought in Europe. The ancient Romans already baked fruit pies, but the first written recipe for a cherry dessert comes from a 14th-century English cookbook, "The Forme of Cury." According to the recipe at that time, the pie was to be stuffed with cherries mixed with sugar, wine, and spices.

British Queen Elizabeth I reportedly liked a pie resembling today's cherry pie. Over time, the pie also became popular among lower social classes. Settlers brought the recipe for this treat with them as they populated the colonies in North America. Cherries thrived in the local climate, so cherry pie became a common dessert on the tables of newcomers from the Old Continent.

In the 19th century, the pie gained immense popularity in the United States, becoming one of the most important symbols of American cuisine. It is baked for special occasions, e.g., Thanksgiving or Independence Day, and during ordinary weekends, such as for gatherings around the grill.

Americans also love ready-made cherry pies, which can be purchased frozen in almost every store or supermarket. Its parameters are stipulated in a special regulation specifying that cherries must constitute 25% of the content. However, these products also contain artificial "enhancers."

A far better solution is to prepare the American classic yourself. How to do it?

Of course, cherries are the base of cherry pie. Americans often use varieties with a rather sour taste, which works well with sugar and other filling ingredients.

Cherries are rich in valuable nutrients such as flavonoids, which have an intense effect on free radicals formed in stressful situations or inflammatory states of the body. Anthocyanins—plant pigments that have a beneficial effect on vision processes and act as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, protective against cardiovascular diseases, and neuroprotective—are also strong antioxidants.

Fruits are rich in vitamins (especially vitamin C) and fiber, which regulates the work of the intestines and the entire digestive system. It lowers the levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol (its excess contributes to developing serious cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or stroke) and provides a feeling of satiety, which is important for people struggling with obesity and lipid metabolism disorders.

We start by preparing the shortcrust pastry. We carefully knead sifted wheat flour (2.5 cups), cold butter (1 cup), ice-cold water (1/4 cup), sugar (a teaspoon), and a large pinch of salt until we obtain a smooth mass. We form it into a ball and set it aside in the refrigerator for an hour.

In the meantime, we prepare the filling — in a large bowl, we mix washed and pitted cherries (5 cups), fine sugar (1 cup), cornstarch (1/4 cup), and lemon juice (1 tablespoon). We set aside for fifteen minutes to let the cherries release their juice.

We take the pastry out of the refrigerator, leave it at room temperature for about fifteen minutes, then divide it into two pieces (one smaller) and roll it out. We line a tart mold with the larger piece, previously greased with butter. We pour the cherry filling, smooth it out, and place chunks of butter on the surface.

We cut the other piece of pastry into strips, which we use to cover the filling. We brush the strips with beaten eggs. We bake in an oven preheated to 392°F for 20 minutes. Then, we reduce the temperature to 347°F, baking for another 40-50 minutes until the crust is golden and the filling starts to bubble.

Before serving, we cool the cherry pie for at least 2 hours to let the filling set.