Ingredients

  • 2 three-finger pinches Papohaku white or Kona salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into teaspoon-size pieces
  • 6 tablespoons very cold shortening, cut into pieces
  • 8 to 10 tablespoons ice water
  • 2 pints sour cherries (about 3 pounds), stemmed and pitted
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoons currant jelly mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Method

  • To make the crust, crush 1 pinch of salt between your fingers and combine with the flour.
  • Using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour until the pieces are the size of large grains of rice.
  • Cut in the shortening in the same way.
  • Sprinkle with the ice water and continue mixing the dough with a pastry cutter or fork just until all visible dryness disappears and the dough is still slightly crumbly.
  • Form the dough into 2 disks.
  • Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • When the dough is chilled, unwrap and flour one of the pastry disks and roll it on a floured board with a floured pin until between 1/4 and 1/8 inch thick.
  • Line a 9-inch pie pan with the pastry round, gently easing the crust into the pan, trimming as needed to leave a 1/2-inch overhang all around.
  • Poke holes over the bottom of the crust with the tines of a fork and refrigerate while you make the filling.
  • To make the filling, toss the cherries in a large bowl with the confectioners sugar and cornstarch.
  • Set aside.
  • Roll out the other disk of dough in the same way, and cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
  • Remove the pastry-lined pan from the refrigerator.
  • Weave the strips of pastry on top of the filling to make a lattice top.
  • Trim the edges of the lattice top crust so that it extends about an inch past the rim of the pan all the way around.
  • Fold this overhang under the rim of the bottom crust and crimp the edges with your fingers, sealing the top crust to the bottom.
  • Bake until the pastry is browned and the filling can be seen bubbling through the openings in the crust, about 50 minutes.
  • Just before the pie comes out of the oven, melt the jelly mixture in a small saucepan.
  • As soon as the pie comes out of the oven, brush the lattice with melted jelly and sprinkle the remaining pinch of salt over the top, aiming for the crust lattice.
  • Let cool for at least an hour before serving.