This Sugar-free cherry pie filling recipe will have your friends shocked that this dessert is refined sugar-free, but doesn't lose any of the delicious flavors. Made with minimal, simple ingredients and bing cherries, this is one summer dessert you won't want to miss!
SUGAR-FREE CHERRY PIE IS THE DESSERT FOR SUMMER
Sugar-free Cherry pie is a delicious summer dessert, but it's loaded with tons of sugar. My version swaps white sugar for coconut sugar and our main sweetener is honey.
You can use any type of cherries you want for this recipe. I also suggest mixing two different cherry varieties to really bring out the flavors.
Want another delicious breakfast cherry recipe?
I use store-bought crust for this recipe, but if you are super motivated; make your own pie crust from scratch.
The first step for this recipe is to wash and pit all of your cherries. I found this cherry pitter that makes the job fly by! This is also a good option.
INGREDIENT SWAPS FOR SUGAR-FREE CHERRY PIE
First, make sure you get some good quality cherries from the farmer's market or your local grocery. We grow cherries on our farm and I always get them at their peak when they are nice and ripe.
Sugar-free cherry pie does not use any artificial sweetener in it. Splenda is not healthy for you and it does not taste great in a homemade pie.
If you want to make this recipe a vegan cherry pie recipe, you can swap out the butter and heavy cream for coconut oil. Coconut oil will give this delicious homemade cherry pie recipe a nice, rich flavor.
HOW SWEET IS CHERRY PIE?
If you prefer you can also use maple syrup instead of honey. This is not a vegan gluten-free cherry pie recipe, but making some small swaps will make this pie recipe vegan.
This is a fun cherry Halloween cocktail recipe
I'm super into baking recently and I love making pie recipes. I find a lot of pies have tons of sugar in them and with using fresh fruit, you don't need all that sugar. Refined sugar-free cherry pie tastes exactly like the full-sugar version.
As long as you use sweet cherries, you can't go wrong with this sugar-free fresh cherry pie filling recipe.
What are the best cherries to use?
My version of cherry pie does not use almond extract, but if you are looking for almond flavor, go ahead and add a teaspoon.
FROZEN CHERRIES OR FRESH CHERRIES?
While you can use frozen or canned cherries for this recipe, I don't suggest it. Cherries are at their peak right now so it makes sense to use them in this easy dessert. Plus, fresh cherries are so good! Sugar-free cherry pie tastes so much better using fresh cherries.
PRO TIPS AND TRICKS
Want to avoid runny pie? Me too. Soak the fresh cherries in lemon juice and coconut sugar for about ten minutes while you prep your pie crust. This will drain the excess juices from the cherries. This makes perfect sugar-free cherry pie. This makes the perfect sugar-free cherry pie filling.
Did you know that cherry pie is supposed to be eaten cold? This keeps the fresh cherries bursting with flavor.
If you want to try a slice cold, cool your pie to room temperature and then stash the pie in the fridge for a before slicing.
If cold pie isn't your jam, simply allow to pe to cool before slicing or you will have runny pie.
My healthy cherry pie recipe will have your guests swooning and requesting the best ever cherry pie recipe again and again!
Pair a slice of cherry pie with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
I'm betting you have all of these ingredients stored in your panty. Pick up some fresh cherries today and let's get baking!
📖 Recipe
REFINED SUGAR-FREE CHERRY PIE
Ingredients
- 1 15 ounce package double crust ready-to-use pie crust
- 3 cups cherries, pitted
- ¾ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon corn starch
- 3 tbsp salted butter, cut into bits
- Heavy Cream For Egg Wash
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a baking liner.
- Pit the cherries.
- Soak the cherries in the coconut sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch for ten minutes to drain out the excess juices.
- Drain the excess juice and add the honey. Stir until well coated and no dry lumps remain, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Roll out half the pastry to fit a 10-inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate. Pour the cherry filling into pie shell, tap pie plate against a surface to settle filling, and dot with butter.
- Roll remaining crust into an 11-inch circle and cut into 1-inch strips using a paring knife or pastry wheel.
- Lay 5 strips of pie crust over the top of the pie. Weave remaining pastry dough strips through to form a lattice top. Fold the ends of the lattice strips under the bottom crust and crimp the crust.
- Brush cream over the top and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut sugar.
- Bake in the preheated oven until browned and bubbling, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. Serve with homemade whip cream or vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
Michelle
This Cherry Pie was great. Reminded me of my sweet grandma and spending time with her. This is now my "go-to" recipe when I am missing her.
Genevieve
That's wonderful to hear, Michelle! Thank you for sharing that with me.
Kay
Oh wow I love cherry pie and being a healthier sugar free version makes me love it even more! Guilt free treat!
Genevieve
You can never go wrong with a guilt-free treat!
Amy
Yum! Love cherry season and I can never get enough of it. Managed to get a hold of some fantastic organic raw honey from the farmer's market last weekend and I have been looking for an excuse to use it. Definitely cherry pie time soon!
Genevieve
That sounds delicious! Do let me know how the recipe turns out.
Brianna
I love cherry pie and this healthy version was fantastic! The fresh cherry flavor really came through.
Genevieve
That's so great to hear! It's super easy to make too.
Jill
always looking for delicious sugar free desserts and this one really hit the spot! SO good!
Genevieve
That's wonderful to hear! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Linda
Never thought of using coconut sugar in this pie and am happy to say this is our favorite! Can't wait to make more sugar-free desserts
Genevieve
I'm so glad to hear that! You can't go wrong with coconut sugar.
Andrea White
Such a beautiful pie!
Anaiah
Yesssss, this looks absolutely amazing! I just went cherry picking and need something to do with all of the cherries. Can't wait to try this!
Jean
thanks for the vegan version you recommend, will try it.
Natalie
Cherry pie without unhealthy sugars?! Now you talking! 🙂 I'm so making this over the weekend. I know my family will devour this. Looks fantastic!
Jeri
What a perfect pie for summer! I love that it is sweetened with honey instead of refined sugar. This is the first time I made a cherry pie, and it was delicious!
Deborah - Country at Heart Recipes
This cherry pie recipe looks amazing. I love the addition of honey. Yummy!
Jacqueline Debono
I love cherry pie and this refined sugar free version looks and sounds so so good! On my to make list!
Shikha
Whoa! Always searching for sugar-free products. It's so healthy to use coconut sugar instead of normal sugar.
Jere Cassidy
Cherry pie is definitely one of my favorite and I happen to have fresh cherries that need to be used. It's going to be a pie-making day for me. Love using honey for the sweetener.
Jillian
I can’t tell what to do after soaking the cherries in the lemon juice and coconut sugar. Do you drain that off? Or do you mix it in with the other ingredients?
Thanks!
Genevieve
Hi Jillian! So sorry for the delayed response on this. I will make a note on the recipe card. Yes, you drain the cherries after soaking them. This will keep the pie from coming out too soggy. 🙂
Sharon
Could I use maple syrup instead of honey? And frozen cherries?
Genevieve
Hi Sharon! Thanks for reaching out. You can definitely use maple syrup and frozen cherries instead. Do let me know how it turns out. 🙂
Annette
I was trying to follow the recipe but don't see where you use the honey & corn starch. Then at the end it talks about putting cream on the crust. I don't see instructions for that either. Please clarify. Thanks!
Genevieve
Hi Annette! Thanks for your comment and sorry for the confusion. You add the cornstarch with lemon juice and honey to the cherry mixture. You can brush heavy cream on the pie crust before putting the pie in the oven to help keep it from burning as well as give it a nice golden crust. I've updated the recipe card. I hope that helps! 🙂 Do let me know how it turns out.
Freya
I am definitely swooning over this cherry pie! It was absolutely perfect and the lemon zest added a delicious little tang!
Nora
This pie turned out perfectly! Thank you for the wonderful, easy to follow, instructions! Awesome! Thank you!
Natalie
I love finding sugar-free dessert recipes like this. It's sweet enough, tasteful and simple to prepare, thanks!
Addie
Love this healthier version of pie! Such great flavors and textures.
Catherine
Love the idea of this recipe and so anxious to try. Since cherries are not in season right now can you please tell me how I would use frozen? Do I thaw rinse and then proceed with the recipe as if they were fresh?
Thank you in advance!
Genevieve
Hi Catherine! You can use frozen cherries and they work just as well. I hope that helps! Let me know how it turns out. Thank you!
Dianne
Made this cherry pie fir the first time! Turned out perfect snd delicious!! I used frozen cherries we had picked last summer. I love healthier version, sugar refined option. oh so good!
Genevieve
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Diane
I am questioning whether this recipe could be used for red or black raspberry pies, also.
Genevieve
You could certainly swap out the strawberries and use any fruit you prefer!
Shaunna Still
Hi, I was wondering when you double the recipe on the cherries: it says 6 cups 3 cups of cherries pitted. I am confused. Can you clarify!
Genevieve
Oh sorry! It should be 3-cups of pitted cherries, I will go fix this right now.
Shaunna Still
Do you have to use store bought crust or can you use homemade crust?
Genevieve
You can totally make homemade crust! 🙂 I give directions on how to do that in the recipe.