Cherry Pie Iced Tea Recipe: A Delicious Summer Twist You Can’t Miss

When the summer heat rolls in, there’s nothing quite like sipping a refreshing, fruity drink on a sunny afternoon. Enter the Cherry Pie Iced Tea — a sweet and tangy blend that tastes just like your favorite dessert in a glass. It’s the perfect marriage between bold black tea and luscious cherry pie syrup, ideal for barbecues, brunches, or simply relaxing on the porch. Whether you’re a tea aficionado or a dessert lover, this drink offers a creative twist on traditional iced tea.

Discover great ideas like this blackberry cookie recipe to enjoy alongside your cherry pie iced tea and elevate your summer sipping experience.

Let’s dive into what makes this drink special and how you can easily craft it at home using a few simple ingredients.

What is Cherry Pie Iced Tea?

Introduction to Cherry Pie Iced Tea

Cherry Pie Iced Tea is more than just a flavored tea—it’s a vibrant, dessert-inspired beverage that captures the essence of cherry pie with every sip. This drink combines unsweetened black tea with a homemade cherry syrup infused with vanilla, lemon, and butter extract to mirror the flavors found in a traditional cherry pie.

Unlike artificial cherry-flavored drinks, this iced tea uses real frozen cherries and minimal ingredients to build a naturally sweet and tangy profile. When poured over ice and garnished with fresh cherries, it becomes a picture-perfect refresher.

This unique drink is also highly customizable, making it a go-to recipe for summer picnics, tea parties, or an after-dinner treat.

The Flavor Profile: What Does Cherry Pie Iced Tea Taste Like?

The taste of cherry pie iced tea is best described as bright, sweet-tart, and buttery with a smooth tea finish. Here’s what you can expect from each component:

Ingredient	Flavor Contribution
Frozen Cherries	Juicy, tart-sweet cherry base
Sugar	Balances tartness and boosts richness
Vanilla Extract	Adds warm, comforting aroma
Lemon Juice	Provides brightness and contrast
Butter Extract	Delivers a subtle buttery crust vibe
Black Tea	Adds depth and a refreshing backdrop

Each sip offers layers of complexity, from the cake batter extract (optional) that gives it a bakery-like twist, to the richness of vanilla and butter that recreate the pie crust flavor. It’s nostalgic and invigorating all at once.

And because it’s made with cold, unsweetened black tea, the finish is crisp and clean—never too sugary or heavy.

Don’t miss our Carrot Orange Ginger Juice for another refreshing homemade drink idea packed with vitamins and flavor.

Ingredients You Need for the Perfect Cherry Pie Iced Tea

Breakdown of the Homemade Cherry Pie Syrup

The secret to making cherry pie iced tea taste like an actual slice of cherry pie lies in the syrup. This isn’t just any fruit syrup—it’s carefully balanced with pie-inspired flavors that transform a regular iced tea into a crave-worthy treat.

Here’s everything that goes into the cherry pie syrup:

Ingredient	Quantity	Purpose
Frozen pitted cherries	1 cup	Base flavor, juiciness, natural sweetness
Granulated sugar	⅓ cup	Sweetens and thickens the syrup
Water	¼ cup	Helps break down cherries and form syrup
Salt	Pinch	Enhances and balances flavor
Lemon juice	1 tsp	Adds acidity and brightness
Vanilla extract	1 tsp	Provides warmth and depth
Butter extract	1 tsp	Recreates buttery pie crust flavor
Cake batter extract (optional)	½ tsp	Adds bakery-style sweetness and complexity

Flavor Tip: The cake batter extract is optional, but it adds that nostalgic “dessert” element many people love. If you’re skipping it, consider adding a bit more vanilla or a splash of almond extract instead.

Once cooked and strained, this syrup becomes the star of your iced tea, and it also stores well in the fridge for up to a week.

Looking for inspiration? Try Coffee Cheesecake to serve as a dessert pairing.

Best Tea Base: Why Gold Peak Unsweetened Black Tea Works Best

You might be tempted to use any tea in your pantry, but the tea base matters more than you think. Gold Peak Unsweetened Black Tea is ideal because:

• Bold yet smooth: It offers robust tea flavor without overpowering the cherry syrup.
• Zero sugar: Lets you control the sweetness of the final drink.
• Readily available: It’s easy to find at most grocery stores and keeps the process quick and simple.

If you want to brew your own black tea instead, make sure it’s strong enough to hold up against the syrup, and let it chill thoroughly before mixing.

Pro Tip: Avoid green tea or herbal tea for this recipe, as they often clash with the buttery and vanilla elements of the cherry pie syrup.

Check out Saffron Rosewater Lemonade for another floral-meets-refreshing drink that might inspire your next beverage.

How to Make Homemade Cherry Pie Syrup

Cooking the Cherry Syrup: Steps, Tips, and Flavor Balancing

Making the cherry pie syrup is the most important step in this recipe. It’s easy, but timing and technique are key to extracting the most flavor from your ingredients. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Combine ingredients: In a small saucepan, add
   • 1 cup frozen pitted cherries
   • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
   • ¼ cup water
   • A pinch of salt
2. Cook over medium heat: Stir gently as the cherries begin to release their juices and soften. This usually takes 4–6 minutes.
3. Mash the cherries: As they soften, use a fork or potato masher to mash them into the mixture. This helps release more flavor and juice.
4. Simmer to reduce: Allow the mixture to cook another 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened. You want it syrupy but not jammy—it should coat the back of a spoon.
5. Strain the syrup: Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the hot syrup into a bowl. Press the cherries firmly to extract all the liquid.
6. Discard solids: Once you’ve squeezed out all the liquid, discard the mashed cherry pulp or save it for mixing into yogurt or oatmeal.
7. Add flavoring: Stir in the remaining flavor boosters:
   • 1 tsp lemon juice
   • 1 tsp vanilla extract
   • 1 tsp butter extract
   • ½ tsp cake batter extract (optional)
8. Cool the syrup: Let the syrup come to room temperature. It will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.

Pro Tip: The syrup can be stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays and pop one or two into your tea whenever you like.

Optional Ingredients and Flavor Customizations

While the original recipe is delicious as is, here are a few ideas if you’d like to make it your own:

Add-in	Effect
Almond extract (¼ tsp)	Brings out cherry flavor, similar to pie crust
Orange zest	Adds citrus brightness
Brown sugar (instead of white)	For a deeper, caramelized sweetness
Cinnamon stick (during cooking)	Introduces a warm, spicy undertone

Want a fresh savory contrast? Try this creamy pesto gnocchi as a rich side dish before sipping your tea.

Assembling the Cherry Pie Iced Tea Like a Pro

How to Mix Cherry Syrup with Iced Tea

Now that your cherry pie syrup is ready, it’s time to bring your iced tea to life. Mixing the drink is quick and satisfying—and the result is a gorgeous, ruby-toned refreshment that’s as photogenic as it is delicious.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with chilled tea:
   Use 2 cups of cold Gold Peak Unsweetened Black Tea. It should be very cold to contrast with the sweet syrup.
2. Add the syrup:
   Stir in 4 tablespoons of cherry pie syrup. If you like it sweeter or tangier, adjust the amount to your taste.
3. Mix well:
   Stir gently with a long spoon or pour between two cups to fully combine the syrup and tea.
4. Add ice:
   Fill a tall glass with ice to the top. The colder it is, the more refreshing it feels.
5. Garnish (optional but encouraged):
   • Fresh cherries (whole or halved)
   • A lemon wedge
   • A sprig of mint
   • A fun straw or a rim of sugar for flair

Serving suggestion: Pour the mixture into a mason jar or tall tumbler over crushed ice. Garnish with cherries for that perfect picnic-ready vibe.

Bonus Tip: Want to impress at a brunch or party? Pre-batch a large pitcher of the tea and place it next to a garnish bar with cherries, citrus slices, and fresh herbs. It’ll be a hit.

Chilling, Serving, and Garnishing for Presentation

The presentation of cherry pie iced tea is just as important as the flavor. That deep red hue deserves to shine.

Presentation Tips	Details
Use clear glassware	So the rich cherry color is visible
Serve ice cold	Enhances both refreshment and flavor clarity
Garnish generously	Cherries, citrus slices, and mint add both flavor and style
Add texture	Crushed ice makes sipping smoother and more enjoyable

Entertaining? Serve it in stemless wine glasses or martini glasses to elevate it from everyday to elegant.

Don’t miss our Cucumber Sandwiches—they’re a light, savory pairing to balance this sweet sipper during tea parties or bridal showers.

FAQs About Cherry Pie Iced Tea

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