Gluten free cherry & plum pie | Glutenfreewhisk

 Baking apple pie, apple cherry pie or cherry pie has always been an indulgence for me and I love apple pie. But getting a gluten-free version is impossible around here so, I love baking my own pies and they are just indulgent. So, satisfying when you have a sweet tooth and you crave for good desserts daily. The best part is making your own healthy baked goods gives you are satisfactory feeling and you can add ingredients of choice, play with it and at the same time make it healthy.  

For instance, I am using some plums as well with cherries because why not. Plum gives the sweet cherries a good tangy juicy note and it makes the cherry pie filling even better. I am also using ghee instead of butter in my recipe and for sweetness I have used jaggery. I love making my own healthier version of everything, so I make changes my way in every recipe. Another amazing ingredient that I have used for the cherry plum pie filling is chia seeds. The fibrous chia seeds not only add a different mouth feel but also gives you its benefits. Chia seeds are rich in fiber, protein and antioxidants thus making it a great tiny ingredient with overall health benefits. If you love having overnight oats, then having the optimal amount of chia seeds is not an issue but some people do not prefer overnight oats and making this amazing cherry plum pie filling with chia seeds makes it easier to add chia seeds in your diet.

While handling the pie crush it may seem to be breaking and too flaky but trust me the pie crust comes out to be perfect. Make sure you are not under kneading or over kneading the dough as the former will make the dough texture bad and uneven making it difficult to set and over kneading will melt the added ghee a lot making it difficult to flatten it out or handle it at all. Add just the right amount of water that makes a nice, tough dough. Not rock solid but solid. What are the best practices while handling the gluten-free pie crust? 

1. Always use cold bowls, cold water, cold ghee or butter.

2. After kneading the dough freeze it for 20-25 minutes before flattening it. It resets the melted butter or ghee and make the handling of gluten-free pie crust or any crust easier.

3. Since there is no gluten in the flours used and that stretchy binding is not there, the pie crust breaks easily. But fix it by pinching it and use your palms and fingers to flatten it than using a rolling pin. Make sure the surface is well greased and dusted with dry flour.

4. You can even add psyllium husk in your dough. All you have to do is soak 2 tbsp of psyllium husk in double the water and let it swell. And then add that sticky mass in your batter. 

This amazing summer pie recipe with cherries and plum is for episode 30 in my summer recipe series. Plums are sweet and juicy during this time of the year and look at those dark red cherries. They make the best pie filling ever. Including this gluten-free cherry and plum pie recipe in my summer recipe series because I love working with seasonal fruits and vegetables and making it during summer/monsoon season is the best time to get the great taste. 

Gluten-free baking has been a beautiful journey for me. Earlier I used to bake with whole wheat flour and never used to use maida in my recipe. For whole wheat apple and cherry pie recipe you can check my old recipe. If you have no time but love apple pies, then instead of baking a full pie try my quick and easy breakfast version of apple pie. Try the apple pie oat breakfast recipe to enjoy the flavors of apple pie and have no hassle of baking a full pie.

INGREDIENTS - 

For cherry plum pie filling

Half cup pitted red cherries

3 ripe plums, chopped

1 tsp cinnamon powder

half a tsp lemon zest

Jaggery powder or Khand, to taste

A pinch of salt

4-5 tbsp chia seeds

1 vanilla pod

For cherry plum pie flaky gluten-free pie crust

1 cup oats flour

6 tbsp rice flour

4 tbsp chilled ghee

A pinch of salt

Cold water, to knead the pie crust (a few tbsp will do the trick, say 5-7 tbsps.)

Powdered brown sugar, to taste

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp Milk of choice, for brushing/milk wash the pie crust

For garnish

Chopped and thinly sliced almonds/ almond shavings

Brown sugar 

Tulsi leaves

METHOD - 

1. First make the cherry plum filling with chia seeds. Take all the ingredients of the filling mentioned above in a thick bottom pan and cook under medium to low flame till it comes together, the excess water has evaporated and the cherries and plums are mushy. Let it cool down completely.

2. Then make the flaky gluten-free pie crust by taking oat flour, rice flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pinch of salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Then add frozen or stiff cold ghee to it and crumble it together until it resembles breadcrumbs. You can check by try to make a ladoo using hands and it should come together but when you break it, it should crumble easily. Now add spoonful of cold water 1 at a time and try kneading a nice thick dough. Do not over knead or under knead the dough.

3. Refrigerate the pie dough in the freezer for 20 minutes. On a dusted top take the dough and flatten it out using your palm, fingers and a rolling pin. once it has a nice semi-flat layer transfer it carefully to a greased baking tray.

4. Remove the vanilla pod. Pour and spread the cool filling in the center, leaving 1 inch of the sides all around.  Now fold in these sides. Milk-wash these folded sides and garnish with brown sugar and almond shaving.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180-190 degrees Celsius on the top rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until the sides are nice and golden.

6. Allow the pie to cool completely, garnish with fresh Tulsi leaves, slice and indulge.

Note - I am using jaggery powder or khand as a sweetener which is basically sugar made from sugarcane juice. You can use any sugar or sweetener of choice here. Also, you can replace ghee with salted butter as well.

 

If you are looking for a pie dish or a tart tin, then I use 9-inch quiche or tart tin, and you can check or order the same. It has a removeable base and is great for making quiche, tarts, pies and even cheesecakes.

Check the full recipe on YouTube (Gluten_free_whisk) - Gluten free cherry plum pie recipe.

Gluten free cherry & plum pie | Glutenfreewhisk