Cherry pie is good, any cherry pie! And this one, blessed by a layer of chocolate ganache under the flavorful cherries and topped by a crust designed to look like a sunflower, is exceptional. One fan said, 'This recipe is a national treasure!' It won a blue ribbon at the New Mexico State Fair.
Dough for 9" double-crust pie
6 c. pitted sour cherries
juice of 1 lemon
¾ c. sugar
1/3 c. cornstarch
Pinch cinnamon
½ t. vanilla
1 c. good quality dark chocolate, chopped (60%)
1/3 c. heavy cream
1/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
egg wash for crust before baking
Cut your "petals" and then refrigerate them for a few minutes before assembling your sunflower.
I used frozen/defrosted sour cherries. And I used mini chocolate chips on top for a more authentic sunflower look.
Kudos to Erin McDowell for creating the original version! We thank you, Erin.