HUNGARIAN CHERRY PIE / CSERESZNYÉS LEPÉNY

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option with similar texture.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds natural sweetness while brown sugar is often less expensive.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water

Almond milk is lower in calories, while water can be used to reduce richness.

cherries

🥗Healthier: frozen cherries

💰Cheaper: canned cherries

Frozen cherries maintain flavor and are often more affordable.

Mix together 5 cups of flour, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, 1.5 teaspoons of salt, and the grated rind of one lemon.

In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of vanilla, and 3 whole eggs using a hand or electric mixer.

Gradually mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined, then knead the dough gently by hand until it has a semi-sticky consistency.

Separate the dough into two mounds and roll out each mound into a half-inch thick rectangular shape on parchment paper.

Place one rolled-out dough layer into the bottom of a heat-resistant baking dish, peeling off the parchment paper.

Pit and wash 1.25 kilograms of fresh cherries, then cut them in half and mix them with 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 cup of ground bread crumbs, letting it stand.

Spoon the cherry mixture evenly onto the first layer of dough in the baking dish.

Roll out the second mound of dough and place it on top of the cherries, peeling off the parchment paper.

Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal in the cherries, and cut 4-5 slits in the top of the pie for air to escape.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the pie for 25 minutes, then lower the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Check the pie after 25 minutes to see how it is baking.

After approximately 45 minutes total baking time, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens