Cherry Vanilla Slab Pie

This tender, flakey pastry is filled with delicious California sweet cherries and accented with vanilla. This recipe will feed a crowd... and, who doesn't love pie?

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Yields: 1 pie

Ingredients

• 3  cups all-purpose flour (750 mL)
• 1⁄2 cup  cold cubed butter (125 mL)
• 1⁄2  lard (125 mL) or 1⁄2 shortening (125 mL)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt (2 mL)
• 2  eggs, divided
• 1  lemon, zested and juiced
• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar (175 mL)
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch (50 mL)
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract (15 mL)
• 2  lbs sweet cherries, pitted and halved (about 6 cups)

• Optional Glaze

• 2⁄3 cup icing sugar (150 mL)
• 1  tablespoon milk (15 mL)

Directions

1. Pulse flour, butter, lard and salt in a food processor until crumbly. Whisk 1 egg with 2 tsp (10 mL) lemon juice; add enough ice water to make 2/3 cup (150 mL). Add to the flour mixture and pulse until the dough comes together. Form into an oblong disk; chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). On a well–floured surface, roll dough into a large rectangle, about 1/8–inch (3 mm) thick. Trim dough into a 13 x 18–inch (32.5 cm x 45 cm) rectangle. Carefully transfer dough to a parchment–lined baking sheet.
3. Stir sugar with cornstarch and lemon zest until combined. Sprinkle half of the mixture evenly down the length of one side of the rectangle, leaving a 1–inch (2.5 cm) border. Arrange cherries evenly over sugar mixture. Whisk 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice with vanilla; drizzle evenly over the cherries. Sprinkle remaining sugar mixture evenly over top.
4. Fold dough over to cover the filling. Fold an additional 1/2–inch (1 cm) of dough from bottom layer over top layer along the edges; crimp with a fork to seal. Whisk remaining egg with a little water; brush all over pastry. Slash 4 vent holes in top. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until golden. Cool completely on baking sheet.
5. Optional Glaze: Blend icing sugar with milk until smooth. Drizzle evenly over the cooled pie. Makes 12 servings.
6. Tip: Fold dough into thirds or roll around a rolling pin to transfer it, after trimming, to the baking sheet.