A Ground Cherry Pie that is Delicious and Sugar Free

There’s nothing better than a ground cherry pie that’s both delicious and sugar-free!

It's August in Minnesota which means it's ground cherry time! It’s August in Minnesota, and if you visit a local farmers’ market, you might just stumble across one of the tastiest hidden gems: ground cherries! These small orange fruits come wrapped in a delicate papery husk — like a little surprise gift from nature. Last year, my tiny patch of plants produced an abundance of ground cherries, and this year was no different.

I was amazed at how well my little ground of ground cherry bushes did this year, there was an abundance of harvest for just 6 plants, which meant that we could do everything from jam to this delicious ground cherry pie. This ground cherry pie recipe is sugar-free, low-carb, and rich-tasting.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Variations
• Top Tip
• Equipment
• Storage
• FAQ
• Sugar Free Ground Cherry Pie
• More Recipes for the Entire Family
• A Ground Cherry Pie that is Delicious and Sugar Free

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I can tell you our favorite thing to do with ground cherries is to eat them! Yep, just pop them in your mouth like a typical berry and let the flavors sparkle. These things are such versatile fruits and are delicious just to eat.

My toddler is hilarious with them. Each one he eats has to be just the right color, or he spits it out! He is not typically a picky eater, but these little wonders are so delicious when they are ripe that anything but ripe is just not worth it to him.

For this recipe, I used slightly less ripe ground cherries, and it really added a spunky flavor to the dish. Something got into my garden and knocked many of my ground cherries down before they had turned ripe. I wanted to use these, and this was an incredibly good solution.

You can use your greener ground cherries or use the bright yellow ripe ones. The taste will vary slightly, but both are good. You can see in the picture below which ground cherries are ripe, yellow, and those with a slightly greener color.

You can also make beautiful jams with ground cherries. This sugar-free recipe is phenomenal. You'll notice her ground cherries are completely ripe, whereas mine in the recipe picture are greener.

Ingredients

• Ground cherries
• Oat fiber
• Eggs
• Guar gum or xanthan gum
• Salt
• Butter
• Sevia blend or Gentle Sweet
• Vanilla extract

For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card.

Instructions

1. Cut the stick of butter into small pieces.
2. Combine all the ingredients together except the ground cherries. Mix well.
3. Add the ground cherries and combine well.
4. If using ramekins, divide into three equal portions. Be sure to get approximately the same amount of butter in each container. Or use a 9x9 baking dish.
5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
6. The butter will make the pies look very watery, so let sit for 10 minutes prior to serving.
7. Is good both cold and hot.

Variations

• Crust Option: You could easily spoon this filling into a pie shell made from almond flour or even a light-purpose flour blend for a traditional look. Here is a einkorn sourdough pie crust that I like using.
• Ground Cherry Crumble Pie: Add a simple topping made with almond flour, cold butter, and a stevia blend for a crumble texture.
• Add a Twist: A splash of lemon juice or almond extract can enhance the flavors beautifully.
• Mix With Other Fruit: Ground cherries pair well with stone fruits like peaches or plums, making it a fun experiment.

Top Tip

Ground cherries can vary in sweetness depending on their ripeness. Using a mix of bright yellow ripe ones and slightly green ones adds a unique depth of flavor to your pie filling.

And here's the best way to enjoy it: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dessert the entire family will devour!

Equipment

• Medium bowl or large bowl for mixing
• Small bowl for butter prep
• Ramekins or a 9x9 baking dish
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Optional: Food processor (for making a crust)

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Storage

• Refrigerator: Wrap the pie tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will keep fresh for about 3–4 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze individual portions wrapped well for up to 3 months.
  Simply thaw and warm up when ready to eat!

FAQ

Are Ground Cherries and Gooseberries the Same Thing?

Ground cherries can also be called gooseberries. I don't claim to be a plant expert, but my understanding is that ground cherries and gooseberries are the same thing, but the variety of plants just varies slightly. Many people use the title interchangeably.

What Does a Ground Cherry Taste Like?

Absolutely delicious. Simply delicious!

I know, that wasn't much of an answer, was it?

Okay, so a ground cherry has just a bit of a ripe tomato taste, the subtle sweet taste of a cherry, and an almost pineapple flavor. I love the crunch that a ground cherry has! If you have never enjoyed a ground cherry, grow some next year or find a farmers' market that has these little lovelies!

Can I make this recipe with a pie crust?

Yes! Simply roll out a prepared pie crust (made with einkorn or purpose flour) on a lightly floured surface, place it into a pie pan, add the ground cherry filling, and bake using pie weights if needed.

Sugar Free Ground Cherry Pie

I like to give credit to where credit is due, so I must admit something. An original Trim Healthy Mama recipe inspired this recipe called "Guilt Gone Cranberry Pie". I love making this recipe during the holiday season!

When I started looking into a ground cherry pie, I couldn't find anything that met my needs, a sugar-free and Trim Healthy Mama-friendly pie. It occurred to me that the Guilt Gone Cranberry pie base might just work with ground cherries too! This recipe took quite a few renditions before it was perfected because ground cherries have more water content than cranberries, but the original inspiration behind this recipe came from the cranberry recipe.

More Recipes for the Entire Family

If you love this ground cherry pie recipe, you'll definitely want to explore more tasty treats and healthy recipes!

I think this ground cherry pie recipe is destined to be a repeat around here. It's so good, rich, and delicious.

A Trim Healthy Mama recipe that can be used every time we have ground cherries. How else do you use your ground cherries? I'd love to hear from you either on Instagram or Facebook! You can also connect with me in my newsletter.

When you subscribe, you can download my FREE Healing Home Harvest cookbook that has plenty of healthy and healing recipes for the entire family! There are some lovely desserts, like my sugar-free peanut butter balls, but my healthy fat cast iron skillet recipes really shine through in that cookbook.

Whether you picked your ground cherries fresh from your garden, found them at the farmers' market, or stumbled upon them last summer while visiting a local farm, I hope you try this rich and satisfying sugar-free pie. It's one of those traditional recipes reimagined for today's healthier kitchen — and it just might become a new second helping favorite.

Don’t forget to download, print, and share your favorite recipes, and if you loved this post, you might also enjoy my Einkorn Sourdough Sandwich Bread!

See you next year for more ground cherry magic!

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