What Is Cherry pie filling and How Can I Use It?

Cherry pie filling is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 135 recipes to get you started.

Key Points

Canned cherries in a pre-thickened sweet sauce; a 21 ounce can needs no cooking.
Pours straight into pies and cobblers, tops cheesecakes, and builds zero-mix dump cakes.
Already thickened, so adding more cornstarch sets it to a rubbery block.
Other canned fillings swap can-for-can; fresh cherries need their own sugar and starch.
Unopened keeps a year or two; opened, use within a week or freeze.

What is cherry pie filling?

Cherry pie filling is canned, ready-to-use pie fruit: tart or sweet cherries suspended in a thick, glossy, sweetened sauce already gelled with starch. Open a 21 ounce can and it is done, no pitting and no cooking down to judge.

The texture is jammy and the flavor is sweet, with most cans built around tart Montmorency cherries.

It is one of the great shortcut ingredients. Because the filling is pre-thickened, it holds its shape whether baked into a pie or spooned on cold as a topping, so it reaches far past pies.

How to Use It

The headline job is a quick cobbler or pie: pour a can into a crust or biscuit topping, the whole idea behind Best Biscuit Cherry Pie. Spooned over cream cheese it becomes the topping on cheesecakes like Petite Cherry Cheesecake and Mom's Easy Cherry Cheesecake.

Dump cakes are where it really earns its keep. Spread a can in the pan, scatter dry cake mix over the top, then dot with butter and bake; that is Cherry Nut Dump Cake and the classic Dump Cake with zero mixing.

It also swirls into coffee cakes and bars, like Cherry Crumb Coffee Cake and Cherry Cheese Bars, and stands in for the cherries in Black Forest desserts.

For a sharper, less sugary result, drain off some of the syrup before baking, or stir in a squeeze of lemon.

Cooking and Pairing

The filling is already thickened, so do not add more cornstarch or it sets to a rubbery block. If a pie runs loose, the fix is baking until the filling bubbles in the center, which finishes the starch, not extra thickener.

Cherry pairs with almond, chocolate, cream cheese, and vanilla, which is why it anchors Black Forest cake and cherry cheesecake. Watch the sugar: the canned filling is sweet on its own, so a tart crust, tangy cream cheese, or a pinch of lemon keeps it from cloying.

Substitutes

Other canned pie fillings (blueberry, apple, peach) swap in can-for-can when you just need a pre-thickened fruit layer, with only the flavor changing.

To make your own, simmer 4 cups pitted tart cherries with ¾ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch (use 3 tablespoons for fresh sweet cherries) until thick and glossy, then cool; frozen cherries work the same way.

Fresh cherries alone are not a drop-in for a recipe that expects thickened filling, since they release juice and need their own starch and sugar.

Buying and Storage

Cans sit with the baking and pie supplies. The two builds to know are "more fruit" premium fillings, which are heavier on cherries and lighter on goo, and standard fillings, which carry more sauce; the premium ones look better as a visible topping.

Unopened cans keep for a year or two in the pantry. Once opened, move leftovers to a covered container and use within about a week, or freeze for a couple of months.

With more than 120 recipes here built on a can, it is one of the most-used pantry shortcuts on the site.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 can (21 oz) (595g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 684Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.4g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 107mg 4%

Total Carbohydrate 166.6g 56%

Dietary Fiber 4g 14%

Sugars ~

Protein 2.2g

Vitamin A 24% Vitamin C 36%

Calcium 7% • Iron 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find cherry pie filling: Cherry pie filling is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Cherry pie filling is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 樱桃饼馅
British (UK) term: Cherry pie filling
en français: cerise garniture pour tarte
en español: cherry relleno de la empanada

How much does cherry pie filling weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 can (21 oz)	595 grams
0.125 can	74 grams

Sweets

Butterscotch chips 89 Caramels (candy squares) 101 Chocolate unsweetened 769 Chocolate chips 694 Chocolate, semi-sweet 994 Mini chocolate chips 76 Chocolate chips (semi-sweet) 635 Chocolate, bittersweet 123 Chocolate curls 28 Chocolate 384

Recipes using cherry pie filling

There are 135 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Simply Delicious Black Forest Cake

Black Forest cake the shortcut way: devil's food cake mix spiked with cinnamon and cherry yogurt, layered with cherry pie filling and whipped topping. A faster take on the German classic.

Black Forest Cheese Cupcakes

Mini Black Forest chocolate cheesecakes topped with Cherry filling.

Cherry Coffee Cake with Almond Crumble

A sour cream coffee cake recipe with a ribbon of cherry pie filling topped with a delicious almond crumble.

Black Forest Cake No. 4

Improve your baking skills with this easy recipe that will have you making this famous delicious cake in no time!

Cherry Cheesecake Squares

Cherry cheesecake bite-sized bars. Super easy and yummy! Always a hit at get-togethers. No leftovers.

Black Forest Coffee Cake

Absolutely delicious, moist and full of chocolate flavor, it's a great joy to have it!

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Chocolate cherry cheesecake topped with whipped cream, reminiscent of Black Forest Cake.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Chocolate cherry cake from a doctored devils food box mix with cherry pie filling and almond extract. Topped with a poured chocolate icing for a moist sheet cake that beats homemade.

Black Forest Dump Cake

Chocolate cherry pecan cake, using a box cake mix. "Dump" in the ingredients, bake and enjoy.

Black Forest Mini Cheesecakes

Mini-bites of heaven. Individual chocolate cheesecake topped with cherries.

Best Biscuit Cherry Pie

Easy cherry pie with fluffy biscuit base, sweet cherry filling, and cinnamon streusel topping. No rolling dough required for this vintage shortcut dessert.

Mom's Easy Cherry Cheesecake

Easy cherry cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, vanilla cream cheese filling, and red cherry pie filling topping. A classic American baked cheesecake for any occasion.

Cherry Nut Dump Cake

The easiest cake you'll ever make: cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple topped with dry cake mix, melted butter, pecans, and coconut. Just dump, bake, and devour.

Cherry Cheese Bars

These cherry cream cheese bars were divine. The cream cheese added the rich creaminess; I made my own cherry pie filling, which was packed with cherry flavour and not super sweet, also did a few changes to make these bars healthier (see the linked recipe below) but still decadent.

Cherry Crumb Coffee Cake

Very good coffee cake! I always like the topping, so I doubled the amount of topping. The cake was very moist and not too sweet. I might try this recipe using a different kind of pie filling.

Washington Cheesecake

This cheesecake was relatively easy to make, especially I don't bake very often, and this cheesecake came out great! It had a very silky texture, and my boyfriend and I loved it.

Petite Cherry Cheesecake

Mini cheesecakes with vanilla wafers, topped with cherry pie filling. Best of all they're so easy to make! Cheesy, smooth and delicious cheesecake that is made in your muffin pan.

Cherry Cheesecake Delight (Low-Fat)

Fat-free cherry cheesecake bars with cinnamon cookie crust, creamy lemon-kissed filling, and glossy cherry topping that tastes like splurging but keeps calories in check.

Easy Cherry Cheesecake Tarts

Easy cherry cheesecake tarts use frozen puff pastry shells filled with almond-spiked cream cheese and cherry pie filling. Buttery, flaky, and assembled in under an hour. Four-ingredient dessert.

Cherry Cranberry Dessert Squares

Layered dessert squares with a flaky pie crust base, rum-spiked vanilla pudding, and a glossy cherry-cranberry topping with cinnamon. Light, fruity, and feeds 12.

Two-Step Cheesecake

No-bake cheesecake with nonfat cream cheese, whipped topping, and cherry pie filling in a graham cracker crust. Just two steps, zero oven time, and a creamy result that chills to perfection.

Chocolate Cherry Upside Cake

Microwave chocolate cherry upside-down cake bakes in 12 minutes flat. A dairy-free wacky cake batter swirled with cherry pie filling, inverted onto a plate for a glossy ruby topping.

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake #1

Chocolate cherry cheesecake with a cherry liqueur-spiked filling, chocolate wafer crust, and glossy cherry pie filling on top. Melted chocolate chips and heavy cream create a silky, truffle-like texture. A make-ahead showpiece that needs 24 hours to set.

Cherry Parfait Ice Cream Pie

A no-bake ice cream pie layered with softened vanilla ice cream and cherry pie filling in a cookie crust. Freeze, slice, and serve with whipped topping.

Easy Milky Way Pie

Milky Way pie with cherry pie filling, sliced candy bars, and chopped nuts baked in a pie shell. A fun, retro dessert with just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep.

Black Forest Cheesecake Squares

Marbled chocolate cheesecake squares on a fudge cake crust, topped with glossy cherry pie filling. A semi-homemade shortcut that makes 48 rich, creamy bars from one box of fudge marble cake mix.

Bake Cherry Chesse Pie

No-bake cherry cheese pie with whipped cream cheese, condensed milk, and lemon juice in a buttery graham cracker crust. Ready in 20 minutes plus chill time.

Bake Cherry Cheese Pie

No-bake cherry cheesecake pie with fluffy cream cheese filling, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice in a graham cracker crust. Topped with cherry pie filling.

Cherry Cream Angel Cake

No-bake layered dessert with sliced angel food cake, almond-scented pudding cream, and cherry pie filling stacked in a 9x13 pan. Chill, slice, and serve.

Cherries & Cream Tiara Cake

Discover this easy Cherries and Cream Tiara Cake recipe using cake mix and whipped topping for quick cherry desserts; perfect beginner-friendly no-fuss cake with cherry pie filling, ideal for potlucks or simple summer treats like "easy tiara cake recipes with fruit" or "quick cream-filled cake ideas for beginners."

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