From my "Folks Down Home Recipe Box" comes one of my favorite pies that I want to share with you.

When holidays roll around, I like to focus on the dessert that best goes with the holiday theme. For the Fourth of July, there is a special pie I make that is very patriotic with the colors of the American flag. This cherry cheese pie is decorated on top with red (cherries), white (sour cream), and blue (blueberries). I know putting sour cream on a pie may seem a bit odd, but once you taste this pie I am sure you will love it.

The pie and the toppings must be thoroughly chilled before serving. When this pie is set on the table, everyone is going to want to try it. Be prepared for a lot of compliments.

Ingredients needed:

Pastry for a one crust 9" pie
2 cans of Cherry Pie Filling (1 pound 6 oz each)
1 can (1 pound 6 oz) Blueberry Pie Filling
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 packages (3 oz each) cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and leave out on counter to soften to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place pastry in a 9 inch pie pan and crimp or flute the edges of pastry. Empty one can of cherry pie filling on pastry and evenly spread around.

Bake pastry and filling in the hot oven about fifteen minutes. Pastry should be nicely golden browned.

While pie is baking, soften the cream cheese by blending with an electric beater. Gradually blend in sugar. Place eggs and vanilla in a small bowl and beat with a fork till blended well then pour into the cheese mixture -- with electric beater on low, blend mixture well till there are no lumps. The mixture should be smooth and creamy. Remove pie from oven when nicely browned and pour cheese mixture over cherries.

Turn oven temperature down to 350 degrees, return pie to oven and bake another 20 minutes.

When pie is done, cool on rack, then refrigerate.

When ready to serve chilled pie, decorate top by placing 1 to two cups of cherry pie filling in center, circle cherries with sour cream, then place blueberries around the edge. Hint: if you do not have a pastry tube, use a turkey baster to fill with the sour cream and pipe the sour cream around the cherries. This makes for a more even and attractive circle.

This pie makes a lovely patriotic center piece for your picnic or backyard barbecue table -- and it is so delicious!

Editor Picks:
,