Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Summer in a Glass: A perfect balance of tart, sweet, and spiced flavors reminiscent of cherry pie.
• Refreshing and Hydrating: Great for cooling down on hot days.
• Customizable: Adjust sweetness or spice levels to suit your preference.
• Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and minimal prep make it ideal for any occasion.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cherry Pie Iced Tea:

• 4 cups water (divided: 2 cups for tea, 2 cups for simple syrup)
• 3–4 black tea bags (or 2 tbsp loose-leaf black tea)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted (sweet or tart, depending on preference)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: Fresh mint leaves or lemon slices for garnish

Optional Add-Ins:

• Splash of almond extract for a cherry pie-like aroma
• A pinch of ground nutmeg or allspice for extra warmth
• Bourbon or rum for an adult twist

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brew the Tea

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and steep the tea bags (or loose-leaf tea in a strainer) for 5 minutes.
2. Discard the tea bags or strain the tea into a large pitcher.

2. Make the Cherry Simple Syrup

1. In the same saucepan, combine the remaining 2 cups of water, pitted cherries, sugar, and cinnamon stick.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10–15 minutes, mashing the cherries gently with a spoon to release their juices.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the pitcher with the brewed tea, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.