Description

Cherry Pie Iced Tea is a refreshing and flavorful summer drink combining the sweet and tart essence of fresh cherries with robust black tea. This vibrant beverage is enhanced with vanilla and almond extracts for a dessert-like aroma, balanced by a hint of lemon juice. Perfectly chilled and served over ice, it brings a delightful homemade twist to classic iced tea, ideal for cooling down on warm days.

Ingredients

Scale

Tea Base

4 cups water (divided)
4 black tea bags

Cherry Mixture

2 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries
1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon lemon juice

To Serve

Ice cubes
Fresh mint (optional, for garnish)
Extra cherries (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

Cook Cherries: In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, gently mashing the cherries to release their juices.
Add Flavors and Strain: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Let the mixture cool slightly. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids.
Brew Tea: In a separate pot, bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat, add the black tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and allow the brewed tea to cool.
Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the cherry juice mixture, brewed tea, and lemon juice. Stir well to blend all flavors evenly.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the combined mixture until chilled, approximately 2 hours. Serve over ice cubes and garnish with fresh mint and additional cherries if desired.

Notes

For a sparkling twist, replace half of the brewed tea with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
Use tart cherries for a tangier flavor or sweet cherries for a dessert-like tea experience.
Adjust the amount of sugar according to the sweetness of cherries used and personal preference.