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.
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
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
Homemade Cherry Pie Filling is amazing on ice cream, in hand pies, pies, cakes, crepes on yogurt and so much more! Makes a delicious food gift too! 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
Colleen’s Notes: If you want to omit the bourbon, substitute 3 TBS water for it and 1 TBS fresh lime juice. Also, depending on the freshness of your cherries they may yield more juice at different times of the year. If they yield a lot of juice…just simmer them a bit longer. If they don’t yield enough, add in a bit more water.
Nutrition
Serving: 12servingsCalories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 2gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 44IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
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