Cherry-Cheese Strudel Pie

1. Preheat oven; unfold puff pastry:

   Preheat oven to 400°F. Unfold puff pastry onto a flour-dusted, parchment-lined baking sheet. (If necessary, roll out slightly to form a rectangle that is approximately 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inches.)

   If your puff pastry comes in two sheets, stack and roll them out together to the directed dimensions.
   

2. Cut and fold dough:

   Cut out a 15-by-10-inch oval in dough. Fold oval in half crosswise from short ends, like a book; turn so folded side is facing you and dough resembles an arch. Working from folded side and starting 1 inch in from either edge, cut along curve, leaving a 3/4 inch space of dough uncut at top of arch.

   To simplify the crust prep, you can simply score a one-inch border around the oval and proceed.
   

3. Unfold, line up edges, dock center, and trace line on dough; freeze:

   Unfold, then cross outer border sections over each other, lining up edges as best as possible, to create a pastry shell with a 1-inch border and twists at top and bottom. Dock center with a fork. Trace a scored line just inside border, into but not all the way through dough. (This will allow the sides to rise up straight.) Freeze 15 minutes. If desired, score border with a knife in a decorative pattern.

4. Brush crust with egg; bake:

   Brush crust with some of the beaten egg (reserving rest for filling); sprinkle with sugar. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until puffed, about 20 minutes. Carefully pierce center with knife tip to release steam. Continue baking until golden brown, about 10 minutes more.

5. Reduce oven temperature and continue baking; cool:

   Reduce oven temperature to 375°F; bake until crust is fully cooked in center (if top is browning too quickly, tent with foil), about 5 minutes more. Let cool 15 minutes. Carefully (it will still be hot) press center in with a metal spatula to make a well.

6. Cook cherries:

   Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine frozen cherries with 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons flour, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then cook until juices have thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.

7. Pulse cream cheese and ricotta with sugar, flour, and zest; add reserved egg:

   In a food processor, pulse cream cheese and ricotta with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons flour, and orange zest, until smooth. Add reserved egg and pulse to combine.

8. Spread cheese mixture in crust; top with cherry mixture:

   Spread cream cheese mixture into well in crust. Top with cherry mixture, swirling juices in with a toothpick to create marbling.

9. Bake and cool:

   Bake until filling is set in center and puffed slightly around edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool 10 minutes.

10. Transfer pie to cooling rack and cool completely:

    Using parchment, slide pie off sheet onto rack; let cool completely, about 1 hour. Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, up to 2 days.

    To serve: Slice the pie down the center and cut it into rectangles

Other Sour Cherry Recipes to Try:

• Sour-Cherry Pistachio Crisp
• Sour Cherry Crumb Cakes
• Martha's Sour Cherry Pie
• Sour-Cherry Savarins
• Sour-Cherry Charlottes