Cherry Jello Pie
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Made with refreshing jello and sweet juicy cherries in a flaky pie crust, this easy no-bake cherry jello pie recipe is the perfect summer dessert.
I’m thrilled to bring you this deliciously easy cherry pie recipe today. I just love cold fruit pies and this one is a new spin on my fresh strawberry pie for the cherry lovers among us! It was actually inspired by the children’s book, Enemy Pie, which has a recipe to go with it. My daughter’s librarian is truly the best! The story goes that the perfect way to kill your enemies is to make them your friends by baking a Cherry Enemy Pie.
Since it uses canned cherries, this is one of those pies you can keep all of the ingredients on hand for and make whenever the mood strikes you. You only need a few other ingredients too: sugar, cherry jello, cornstarch, and a pie crust.
Trust me when I say this cherry jello pie is so easy to make. We just need to cook the cherry pie filling, which only takes about 10 minutes. Then you have to patiently wait for it to cool before you pour it into the baked pie shell, which is filled with canned cherries. After a little bit more chill time, it’s ready to serve.
Let me tell you, the combination of the flaky pie crust, refreshing jello, and juicy cherries is a flavor, texture, and taste sensation! Add a little whipped cream on top and folks, I just can’t get enough.
If you’re on the hunt for a cherry cream cheese pie instead, click here. Not let’s whip up this deliciously fresh-tasting cherry jello pie recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Sugar
- Sweet pitted cherries
- Cherry gelatin
- Cornstarch
- Regula-sized pie crust (store-bought or here’s my recipe for an easy homemade pie crust).
How to Make Cherry Jello Pie
In a medium saucepan, place your gelatin, sugar, and cornstarch.
Stir those together.
Pour in your water and stir again.
Now place this over medium-high heat and stir constantly until it becomes translucent.
This will take about 10 minutes or so. It won’t become totally clear unless you are really, really patient.
I knew a patient person once – and it wasn’t me. So let’s just go for translucent.
Basically, you want to cook it long enough for everything to dissolve together and form a gel of sorts.
Then set that aside and let it cool for a bit (about half an hour).
Once cooled, drain the cherries well and place them in your baked pie crust.
See this pretty crust? It’s my mix in the pan one. It’s so easy and I love how it tastes.
Now pour your cooled cherry pie gel over the cherries.
Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.
It will look a little like this when it’s time to serve it to your friends, families, loved ones, and your very best enemies!
I highly recommend adding whipped cream (here’s my homemade whipped cream recipe) and a fresh or maraschino cherry on top!
Storage
Store leftover pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. I don’t recommend freezing jello pie.
Recipe Notes
- For best results, chill the pie overnight. This is a great pie recipe to make in advance!
- You can use any kind of pie crust, including a graham cracker crust or even an Oreo cookie crust.
Check out these other treasured cherry recipes:
Easy Crescent Cherry Cream Cheese Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp cherry-flavored gelatin mix
- 1 15-ounce can sweet pitted cherries
- 3 heaping tbsp cornstarch
- 1 regular-sized pie crust baked, homemade pie crust recipe,
Instructions
- Combine sugar, cornstarch, and dry gelatin mix and stir well. Add water and cook until thick and clear over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.1 cup sugar, 3 tbsp cherry-flavored gelatin mix, 3 heaping tbsp cornstarch, 1 cup water
- Set aside and let cool for about 30 minutes.
- Drain cherries well and arrange them in the bottom of the baked pie shell.1 15-ounce can sweet pitted cherries, 1 regular-sized pie crust
- When the pie filling is cool, pour it over the cherries and chill the pie until ready to serve. Serve with whipped cream.
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
~Abraham Lincoln
I was amazed that you find time to read a storybook. I cannot wait to show the video to my 6 yr. old granddaughter. I think she will certainly enjoy it. I may even get her to help me make the pie! I enjoy all your recipes! Thank you!
Hi Christy~ Well….I was very excited to try this pie and now I’m not so sure. I just got done stirring and cooking this mixture for at least 30 minutes. It boiled like crazy, got thick and crystalized as all get out but it never became clear! In fact, I don’t even think I’m going to be able to get it out of the pot! What did I do wrong? I’m going to go ahead and assemble the pie because now I have a cooked pie crust, drained cherries and red cement in my pot! Please let me know what went wrong. Also, your directions give no idea how long this whole process should take. I love you and your recipes but not sure about this one! 🙁
This looks so simple and good! Your recipes are always good though! Loved your storytelling!
Hi Christy!
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe and Enemy Pie. The book had such an interesting title I just had to listen (my first time). Love, love, loved it and the recipe,too. I work with Special Education students at my school and we have been looking for interesting, fun things to do between now and the end of school. This will definitely be one of those things! They will love listening to the book and be tickled to help make the pie! Then, best of all, getting to eat it!
I love receiving your emails, it seems that we are old friends now. I look forward to them. You’re the best!
YOU are the best Ellen!! I am so glad you liked the story and the recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes with your students and I would love it if you could post a picture on my facebook page!
Hi Christy,
I was fascinated by the title of your pie and HAD to watch my first video of you reading the story (and with such expression too). What fun! My grandson’s 20 now, but I loved reading to him too. Such a great story.Thank’s for making these – a true gift to the little ones!
Hi Christy,
I was so incredibly happy to meet you and get to have my “brush with greatness”. My friends that were with us noticed how down to earth you are and were completely impressed that you bent down to chat with my 2 yr old son. He loved the goodies, by the way! I can honestly say that you are 100% as genuine and beautiful in person as you are in bloggy-land.
Thanks for the great recipes, and keep them comin’!
~hollie
Oh my goodness, you make me blush Hollie. You are too kind!! I LOVED meeting you, your family and friends!! It was such a pleasure!! Give that sweet boy of yours a hug for me!!
Hi,
This pie sounds so good! I love the story about the little boy. Your love for children is real and they know it. I love children,too. They are precious gifts and just want to be loved. I bet the cornbread testing was fun!!
I watch your storybooks, and they are always wonderful. Katy Rose has a wonderful teacher. She certainly has a gift for teaching. What a blessing. Thanks for sharing this.
I want to try the recipe and your recipe for pie crust.
Thanks for sharing!!
Pam
You are so sweet Pam!! I hope you get to try the pie soon and you enjoy it!!!