The Best Cherry Pie for the Holidays | Wreath-Shaped Pie Recipe

Looking for the ultimate holiday dessert idea? In this video, Stephanie teaches you how to bake a delicious and festive cherry pie with a stunning wreath-shaped crust—perfect for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any holiday gathering! Watch how we turn a classic cherry pie into an eye-catching holiday centerpiece, combining homemade cherry filling with a beautifully designed crust.

This step-by-step guide walks you through everything, from preparing the perfect cherry filling to decorating the pie with intricate wreath-like details.

Watch now to learn how to bake this gorgeous holiday pie and get ready to impress your guests with its unique look and incredible taste!

Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and tap the notification bell to catch all our holiday recipes!

• Pie Crust
  • 3 1/2 cup (420g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 cup + 4 Tablespoons (280g) unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup (150 ml) water
• Cherry Filling
  • 2 pounds (about 5 cups) cherries, pitted
  • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2/3 cup (130g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 &1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• Topping
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar, for decoration or cut out pie crust shapes (optional)

• Pie Crust
  1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Dice the butter into small pieces and crumble it with the flour until lumps are the size of small peas. Add sugar and stir well. Pour in the iced cold water, little at a time, mixing with a fork. Finish by hand and shape into a ball. Divide in two equal parts and wrap each of them into cling film. Place in the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes.
  2. Take the first dough and roll out into a until the dough is 3 inches (7 cm) longer than the pan you are using, and around 1/4″ (5 mm) in thickness. Carefully fold the dough, lay it across the pie pan, and gently unfold the crust, using your hands to fit the dough down into the pan.
  3. For the lattice strips: On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the second pie dough into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle.
  4. Using a pizza cutter or pastry roller, slice the dough into 10 strips (the width of the strips is totally up to, and you can make one or two braids with the strips if you wish). Lay the strips on a prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until needed.
• Cherry Filling
  1. Combine the cherries, cornstarch, sugar, salt, vanilla, almond extract, and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer, stirring almost constantly, until the mixture starts to thicken – about 5-8 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook for another 2 minutes before removing from the heat. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cool to room temperature.
• Assembling the Pie
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the cherry pie filling into the pie crust shell. Top with cubes of butter.
  3. Lay 6 of the strips parallel on top of the filling, leaving about 1/2-inch (10 mm) between each strip. Fold back every other strip, then place another strip of dough perpendicular to the strips. Unfold the folded strips so they lay over the perpendicular strip. Continue this layering process, weaving the strips over and under each other.
  4. Trim the edges of the strips, leaving about 1/2 inch overhang. Roll the excess dough up so it’s tightly sitting on the edge of the pie plate, then crimp the edges to secure the strips with the bottom pie crust.
  5. For egg wash, beat together the egg and water in a small bowl until well combined. Brush the edges of the crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar or apply pie crust shapes, if using.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) and continue baking for 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling. Let cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours before slicing.