Everyone loves cherry pie, whether you make it from scratch at home or you buy it from the store in a can, there’s nothing more satisfying that making a nice cherry pie for the family.
This said, there is nothing worse than finding out you are gluten intolerant or even celiac, as you have to completely re-evaluate your diet in response to this diagnosis.
If the latter applies to you, fear not.
We have it all covered in this article – we are going to discuss if cherry pie is gluten-free, if you can make it gluten-free, if you can find commercial cherry pie filling that is gluten-free, and ultimately, what cherry pie filling actually contains.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about cherry pie filling and whether it is gluten-free.
What Is Cherry Pie Filling?
Put simply, cherry pie filling is the filling of a cherry pie – duh! It’s the gooey and fruity filling of the pie that creates the flavor we all love – but what does it contain?
First off, cherries! Of course, cherry pie contains mainly cherries and their natural sugars. Nothing to worry about here, as cherries don’t contain gluten.
On top of the natural sugars in cherries, there is usually extra white sugar added to the mixture, which also is gluten-free.
Next up is cornstarch. Cornstarch is made by grinding up the starchy part of a corn grain and turning it into a very fine powder.
The high starch content makes cornstarch the ideal thickening agent for basically any sauce, and is something regularly used throughout savory and sweet applications.
Luckily for us, corn is a gluten-free grain, so there’s no need to worry about cornstarch containing gluten, even if you are a celiac.
Another thing that people often add to cherry pie filling is almond extract. Almonds are 100% gluten-free and even with their skins on are totally fine for celiacs and gluten intolerant people.
Adding almonds or almond extract to a cherry pie filling brings that Cherry Bakewell flavor that is just so good.
Is Cherry Pie Gluten Free?
It’s important to note the difference between cherry pie filling and an actual cherry pie. While a cherry pie filling might be gluten-free, the issue here goes beyond this.
Obviously, a pie crust will contain gluten as a result of the wheat flour commonly used in pie crusts and doughs.
So, do note that a cherry pie is holistically not gluten-free when the pastry is included.
Is Cherry Pie Filling From A Can Gluten Free?
When we make things at home we can often have more control over what goes into the stuff we eat, but when we buy things from a store or online there is less control.
A lot of cherry pie fillings you can buy online are pretty similar to what you can make at home. They often contain other sweeteners, acid, coloring, and modified starches.
While cornstarch itself is gluten-free, these modified starches can often contain wheat flour as part of a modified starch.
They often don’t list this on the can, which can annoy many people, as certain cherry pie fillings will actually contain gluten.
One ingredient states ‘Food Starch-Modified’ and according to Hines themselves, their product isn’t gluten-free and you may expect.
Their website states in response to a customer review: ‘Also, please know that this product is not gluten-free.‘ This is annoying as their product should state that it contains gluten.
So, when buying cherry pie filling at the store or online, it’s important to be careful.
Companies should state on their packaging if their product contains gluten, but this isn’t always adhered to in simple and obvious ways.
If you have celiac, it’s best to avoid this product specifically and simply make your cherry pie filling at home if you want to enjoy its flavor.
Gluten Free Cherry Pie Ideas
If you love cherry pie and are celiac or gluten intolerant, then don’t worry too much, as you can make a gluten-free cherry pie should you wish to.
For instance, this cherry pie filling from Brownwood Farms is totally gluten-free and proud of it, which is great. You could use this on top of your favored gluten-free dessert for a fruity topping.
Alternatively, you could try to make gluten-free pastry with this recipe, or you could buy some. With gluten-free filling and pastry, you can enjoy the pie you love without fear.
Another option is to go to your favored gluten-free bakery.
There are loads of gluten-free bakeries now, some that specialize in the latter, and some are just normal bakeries that also do gluten-free desserts too.
If you went into your local bakery, whether it’s gluten-free or not, you could probably ask them if they could make a special gluten-free cherry pie for you.
It might cost a little extra but if you want to satisfy that craving then this is a good option, especially for a special occasion.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, being celiac is hard, especially when you crave your favorite thing. For the most part, cherry pie filling is gluten-free, especially when you make it at home.
A cherry pie itself is not gluten-free because the pie crust will contain gluten.
Also, do note that Duncan Hines Comstock Original Country Cherry Pie Filling & Topping is NOT gluten-free, they stated so on their website.
This is likely the result of modified food starches that can contain wheat.
Although all is not lost, there are plenty of ways to make your favored cherry pie gluten-free with a little love and attention.
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
