Double Cherry-Almond Slab Pie Recipe

This Double Cherry-Almond Slab Pie is a flaky and fruity recipe, which is made with sweet cherries and rich almond paste. It’s the perfect dessert for a crowd, ready in about an hour and a half, plus chilling and cooling time.

Jump to Recipe

Double Cherry-Almond Slab Pie Recipe Ingredients

For the Crust:

• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups cold, unsalted butter, cubed
• 9 Tbsp. ice water
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

For the Filling:

• 4 cups fresh or thawed frozen sweet cherries, pitted
• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. lemon zest plus 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 4 oz. almond paste, diced
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped

For the Assembly & Glaze:

• 1 large egg, for egg wash
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp. whole milk
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract

How To Make Double Cherry-Almond Slab Pie

1. Make the Pie Dough: In a large bowl, whisk the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender until you have dime-sized pieces. In a small bowl, combine the ice water and vinegar, then add it to the flour mixture one tablespoon at a time until the dough just holds together. Knead it 4-5 times, divide it in half, flatten each into a rectangle, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
2. Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, stir together the sweet cherries, dried cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest and juice until the fruit is well coated. Set aside.
3. Assemble the Pie: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Roll one block of the chilled dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle and fit it into a 13×9-inch sheet pan. Pour the cherry filling into the crust. Scatter the cubes of almond paste and the chopped almonds evenly over the cherries.
4. Top the Pie: Roll the second dough block into a 15×11-inch rectangle. Drape it over the filling. Trim the edges, fold the top crust under the bottom crust, and crimp the edges to seal. Cut a few decorative vents in the top crust.
5. Bake Until Golden: Whisk the egg with 2 teaspoons of water to create an egg wash. Brush it lightly over the top of the crust. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
6. Cool Completely: Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack for at least 1 hour, but preferably longer, to allow the filling to set.
7. Glaze and Serve: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled pie, then cut into squares to serve.

Recipe Tips

• How to get a super flaky crust? The secret is to use very cold butter and ice-cold water. Work the butter in quickly so it stays in small pieces, which will create steam pockets and flaky layers as the pie bakes.
• What is almond paste? Almond paste is a thick, dense paste made from ground almonds and sugar. It provides an intense, marzipan-like almond flavor to the pie filling that is incredibly delicious with the cherries.
• Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, this is a great make-ahead dessert. You can bake the slab pie completely, let it cool, and then store it, un-glazed and covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days. Add the glaze just before serving.
• Why bake a slab pie? A slab pie is simply a pie baked in a large, rectangular sheet pan. It’s the perfect way to make a delicious homemade pie for a large crowd, as it’s much easier to slice and serve than a traditional round pie.

What To Serve With Cherry-Almond Slab Pie

This is a rich and complete dessert on its own, especially with the sweet almond glaze. For an extra decadent treat, serve a warm square with:

• A scoop of vanilla bean or almond ice cream
• A dollop of fresh, sweetened whipped cream
• A spoonful of crème fraîche

How To Store Cherry-Almond Slab Pie

• Room Temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Refrigerate: For longer storage, you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Cherry-Almond Slab Pie Nutrition Facts

• Serving: 1 bar
• Calories: 450 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 65g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Sugar: 42g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Cherry-Topped Cheesecake Recipe
• Cherry Cookie Bars Recipe
• Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe