Cherry pie recipe

Serve with clotted cream for a wickedly luscious dessert.

Ingredients

• 50g caster sugar
• 1tbsp lemon juice
• 400g cherries, halved and pitted
• 2tsp cornflour
• 1tbsp Kirsch (optional)
• 680g frozen shortcrust pastry, thawed
• 1tbsp semolina (optional)
• 1tbsp milk
• 3tsp granulated sugar

Method

1. Simmer the sugar and 100ml water over a low heat until sugar has dissolved. Add the lemon juice and cherries. Turn up heat to medium and cook for 5 mins. Dissolve the cornflour with 1 tbsp of the cooking liquid, then stir into the cherries. Cook for 2 - 3 mins until thickened. Stir in the Kirsch, if using. Leave to cool.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use the pastry to line a 20cm or 21cm pie dish. Sprinkle semolina (if using) over the pastry base then pile in the cooled cherry mixture.
3. Roll out remaining pastry into a circle. Brush edge of pastry with water and arrange the circle of pastry on top. Trim edges with a knife and crimp with a fork. Make 2 small cuts in the top, then chill for 30 mins.
4. Preheat oven to 180°C/360°F/gas 4. Put the pie on a preheated baking sheet. Brush the top with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 40 - 45 mins until golden. Serve with clotted cream.