The holiday season brings a special kind of magic that touches every corner of our homes and hearts. It’s a time for gathering with loved ones around the dinner table, filling the kitchen with the warm aromas of freshly baked treats, transforming our homes into a twinkling display of lights and festive decorations, and settling in for cozy evenings watching heartwarming holiday movies.
This year, the spirit of the season has found its way to Door County and onto the silver screen in a delightful new film called A Wisconsin Christmas Pie. The movie tells the story of Emma, a talented pastry chef, who returns to her hometown of Door County for the holidays. There, she faces a life-changing decision between pursuing her dream job or preserving the legacy of her family’s cherished cherry orchard business. With a little help from her high school sweetheart Mitch and the discovery of a lost cherry pie recipe, Emma’s journey unfolds against the backdrop of Door County’s winter wonderland.
Renard’s Cheese had the opportunity to participate in the filming of this holiday movie, which was shot entirely in picturesque Door County earlier this year. The film perfectly captures the essence of Door County’s holiday traditions, local spirit, and the artisan craftsmanship that makes our local small businesses so special.
To celebrate this magical time of year and the premiere of A Wisconsin Christmas Pie, we’re sharing a recipe crafted by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin that embodies everything wonderful about Door County during the holidays: a Cherry Cheddar Pie featuring our Door County Cherry Cheddar cheese. This mouthwatering dessert combines the tangy sweetness of Door County cherries with the rich, savory notes of aged white cheddar, creating a treat that’s as unique as it is delicious.
What Makes Door County Cherry Cheddar So Special
Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar represents the perfect pairing of two Wisconsin treasures. This artisanal cheese blends the sharp, complex flavors of aged white cheddar with the bright, tart-sweet essence of Door County’s famous cherries. The result is a cheese that tells the story of our region in every bite—the rich dairy heritage of Wisconsin combined with Door County’s renowned cherry orchards, like Emma’s family’s orchard.
These cherries are carefully selected and incorporated into our premium cheddar during the aging process, creating beautiful burgundy pops of color through the snowy white cheese. The flavor profile is sophisticated yet approachable, offering the familiar comfort of cheddar enhanced by the pleasant brightness of cherry.
Creating the Perfect Cherry Cheddar Pie
This Cherry Cheddar Pie recipe takes the beloved flavors of Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar and transforms them into a show-stopping dessert that’s perfect for holiday entertaining. The recipe features our artisan cheese incorporated in two ways: into the flaky, buttery crust and sprinkled over the top for a tasteful finishing touch.
Savory Cheddar-Crusted Pastry
What sets this pie apart from traditional cherry pies is the remarkable crust that includes finely shredded Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar. The cheese adds richness and complexity to the pastry, creating layers of flavor that complement the cherry pie filling beautifully. A touch of cardamom in the crust provides warm, aromatic notes that enhance the cheese’s natural characteristics.
The technique used to create this crust is similar to traditional puff pastry methods, with multiple rolling and folding steps that create incredibly flaky layers. The cold butter and ice-cold water mixture ensure that the crust remains tender and light, while the cheddar both adds flavor and creates those coveted buttery layers.
Celebrating Door County Cherries
The pie filling showcases the pure, concentrated flavor of Door County cherries at their finest. Using pitted fresh or frozen red tart cherries, this recipe creates a filling that’s both intensely fruity and perfectly balanced. The addition of cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla enhances the natural cherry flavors without overwhelming them.
The key to achieving the perfect consistency lies in the cornstarch thickener, which creates a filling that holds its shape when sliced while remaining lusciously juicy. The sugar content is carefully calculated to balance the natural tartness of the cherries, creating a filling that’s neither too sweet nor too sharp.
Ingredients
□ 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
□ 4 ounces Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded (about 1 cup)
□ 2 teaspoons sugar
□ ½ to 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
□ ¼ teaspoon salt
□ 1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter, cubed
□ 1 cup ice water
□ ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
Cherry Pie Filling
□ 6 cups pitted fresh or frozen red tart or sour cherries
□ 1 ¼ cups sugar
□ ½ cup cornstarch
□ 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
□ 2 tablespoons lemon juice
□ 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
□ 1 large egg, lightly beaten
□ 1 ounce Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded (about ¼ cup)
Mascarpone Whipped Cream
□ 1 ½ cups cold heavy whipping cream
□ 2 tablespoons sugar
□ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
□ 1 container (8 oz) of mascarpone cheese
Instructions
1. Combine the flour, cheddar, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs.
3. Combine ice water and apple cider vinegar.
4. Gradually add ½ cup water mixture, tossing with a fork. Add water mixture, a tablespoon at a time, until dough just holds together when pinched.
5. Shape dough into a rectangle and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into an 11” x 9” rectangle.
7. Fold dough into thirds, starting with the short sides.
8. Rotate dough 90 degrees.
9. Repeat rolling out, folding, and rotating dough three times.
10. Divide dough in half.
11. Shape into two disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Cherry Pie Filling:
1. Remove dough from the refrigerator 30 minutes before rolling out.
2. Bring the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until filling is thickened, stirring frequently.
4. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
5. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, roll out one disk of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch circle.
7. Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate.
8. Scoop pie filling into pastry.
9. Roll out remaining dough on a lightly floured surface into a 14” x 11” rectangle.
10. Cut dough lengthwise into 14” x ¾”-wide strips.
11. Weave pastry strips over pie, creating a lattice, allowing excess dough to drape over the sides.
12. Trim pastry to ½ inch of plate; pinch and flute edges.
13. Refrigerate pastry for 30 minutes.
14. Heat oven to 400°F.
15. Brush pastry with egg wash.
16. Place pie on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
17. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
18. Sprinkle pie with Door County Cherry Cheddar.
19. Bake for 30-35 minutes longer or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Lightly cover with foil if crust is over-browning.
20. Cool on a wire rack.
Mascarpone Whipped Cream:
1. Beat cream in a large bowl until it begins to thicken.
2. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Beat mascarpone in another large bowl until smooth.
4. Fold in whipped cream.
5. Store in the refrigerator.
6. Serve pie with mascarpone cream.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
This Cherry Cheddar Pie makes an impressive statement for any holiday gathering. Serve it slightly warm or at room temperature, accompanied by the mascarpone whipped cream and perhaps a cup of freshly brewed Door County Coffee or a glass of Door County fruit wine.
The pie pairs beautifully with fruit-forward wines like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon, which complement the cherry flavors while standing up to the richness of the cheddar. For a non-alcoholic option, consider serving it with spiced apple cider or hot chocolate.
Creating Holiday Memories with a New Tradition
As you gather with your loved ones to watch A Wisconsin Christmas Pie, this special dessert brings the magic of a Door County holiday right to your table. Every bite tells the story of Wisconsin’s artisanal cheese tradition and the generations of cherry orchards and farmers who have made Door County a special place to visit.
Renard’s Door County Cherry Cheddar embodies the spirit of Wisconsin craftsmanship and the warm hospitality that makes Door County’s holiday traditions so special. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply enjoying a quiet evening with your friends and family, this Cherry Cheddar Pie creates the perfect centerpiece for making new memories while indulging in cherished traditions.
This holiday season, let the flavors of Door County enhance your celebrations and bring a taste of Wisconsin’s finest artisanal treats to your table. After all, the best holiday meals are those that combine exceptional ingredients with the love and care that goes into every homemade creation.
