This Cherry Crumb Pie is a bubbly and crunchy recipe, which is made with tart cherries and a brown sugar crumb topping. It’s the ultimate comfort food dessert, ready in about an hour and 15 minutes, plus cooling time.
Jump to RecipeCherry Crumb Pie Recipe Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 6 cups frozen tart cherries (about 32 ounces), thawed
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
For the Crumb Topping:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 6 Tbsp. cold salted butter, diced
For the Crust:
- 1 Perfect Pie Crust round, thawed slightly
How To Make Cherry Crumb Pie
- Make the Cherry Filling: Combine the cherries and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the juices are hot and bubbling. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook for one more minute.
- Thicken and Cool the Filling: In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch and lemon juice together to make a smooth slurry. Add this to the cherry mixture, stirring until it’s incorporated. Continue to cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the filling is glossy and has thickened. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely. For best results, cover and refrigerate until fully chilled.
- Make the Crumb Topping: While the filling cools, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cold, diced butter and use your fingers or a pastry blender to rub it in until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs. Refrigerate the topping for at least 15 minutes.
- Prep the Oven and Crust: Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch circle and carefully fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp the edges as desired.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the completely cooled cherry mixture into the pie crust. Sprinkle the chilled crumb topping evenly over the top. Place the pie on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the crust is browned.
- Cool Completely: Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the filling to set.

Recipe Tips
- How do you prevent a soggy bottom crust? The most important step is to let your cooked cherry filling cool completely before you pour it into the unbaked pie shell. A hot filling will start to melt the butter in the crust, leading to a soggy bottom.
- How do you get a crunchy crumb topping? The secret is to use very cold butter, straight from the fridge, and to chill the finished topping mixture in the refrigerator before using it. This helps it bake up crisp and crumbly, rather than melting into a paste.
- Can I use sweet cherries instead of tart? You can, but you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in the filling to about 1/2 cup to avoid it being overly sweet. The tartness of sour cherries provides a wonderful flavor balance.
- Why bake the pie on a baking sheet? This is a non-negotiable step for any fruit pie! Fruit fillings are notorious for bubbling over in the oven. Placing the pie on a foil-lined baking sheet will catch any drips and save you from a smoky, messy oven.
What To Serve With Cherry Crumb Pie
This is a classic American dessert that is a crowd-pleaser for a reason. It is traditionally and most deliciously served warm with:
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A dollop of fresh, unsweetened whipped cream
- A drizzle of heavy cream
How To Store Cherry Crumb Pie
- Room Temperature: A fruit pie like this can be stored, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate: After two days, it’s best to store the pie, covered, in the refrigerator for up to two additional days.
- Reheat: Reheat individual slices in the microwave or place the entire pie in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
Cherry Crumb Pie Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 slice (1/8th of pie)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 75g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Sugar: 50g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
A runny pie is almost always the result of either not cooking the cornstarch long enough or not letting the pie cool completely before slicing. The cornstarch must come to a full boil to activate its thickening power, and the pie needs at least 2 hours to cool and set up properly.
Yes, a homemade crust is fantastic for this recipe. The recipe name refers to a specific “Perfect Pie Crust” recipe, but any good quality single pie crust will work.
The recipe provided is actually for a nut-free crumb topping. However, if you would like to add nuts, 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or almonds mixed into the topping would be a delicious addition.
Try More Recipes:
Cherry Crumb Pie Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings25
minutes50
minutes480
kcalA classic dessert pie featuring a sweet and tangy cherry filling in a flaky crust, all finished with a buttery, golden-brown crumb topping.
Ingredients
Filling: 6 cups frozen tart cherries, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice.
Topping: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, 6 Tbsp. cold salted butter, diced.
Crust: 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust.
Directions
- Make the filling: In a saucepan, cook the cherries and sugar until bubbly. Stir in the balsamic vinegar.
- Thicken the filling by stirring in a slurry of the cornstarch and lemon juice. Cook until thick and glossy. Let it cool completely.
- Make the topping by cutting the cold butter into the flour, brown sugar, and salt until crumbly. Chill the topping.
- Preheat oven to 375˚F. Fit your pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan.
- Pour the cooled cherry filling into the crust. Sprinkle the chilled crumb topping evenly over the top.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the crust is browned.
- Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Notes
- The most important tip for this pie is to cool the cooked cherry filling completely before pouring it into the unbaked crust; this is the secret to a non-soggy bottom.
- For the crunchiest topping, use very cold butter and chill the finished topping mixture before sprinkling it on the pie.
- Always bake a fruit pie on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips from the bubbling filling.
- The final 2-hour cooling time is not optional; it is essential for the pie filling to set up properly so you can get clean slices.