Does the Log Lady means anything to you? If so, you were probably a Twin Peaks fan from way back. Not everyone tuned in to watch David Lynch’s dark, disturbing but also very comical and sensual TV series called Twin Peaks. However I was most definitely a Peakie or Peaker and stayed until the very end never missing an episode and would float away to the fictional smalltown in Washington to the strains of the haunting and evocative song “Falling” (and as I write this, I am listening to it).
The one dish that always had me salivating was the Cherry Pie at Norma’s RR Diner. FBI Agent Cooper would always order a cup of coffee and a slice of Cherry Pie whenever he’d visit the diner. “Coop” was one of my favourite TV characters ever and I like to pretend that Kyle McLachlan stopped acting after Twin Peaks. His roles as the impotent Trey McDougal and emasculated Orson Hodge completely lack any sort of sex appeal.
As for this tea set, I brought up the Log Lady earlier for a reason. I received this tea set from my parents for my birthday. The minute I saw it, I knew it had to be mine and when they asked me what I wanted I pointed them squarely in this direction. They’re from an online store called Have You Met Miss Jones and are made of the most gorgeous bone china with a detailed “driftwood” pattern although I just thought of the Log Lady and Snow White in the forest when I saw it. And of course another item that I got for my birthday was from Suze - an adorable stand Mixer timer (which I feel Norma would have used).
Now that Twin Peaks has been released on DVD I can dance dreamily to the music in the privacy of my imaginary Great Northern Hotel room accompanied by the Agent Cooper, Audrey, Andy, Donna, the log lady, the giant and the dwarf. And we’re all eating Cherry Pie.
Agent Cooper’s Cherry Pie from Twin Peaks
An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Pie crust
- 2 1/4 cups plain flour
- 3/4 cup cold butter plus an extra tablespoon (210 grams total)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup Iced water (scant)
- 1 lightly buttered pie plate
Filling:
- 3 cups sour cherries, pitted and drained
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- finely grated zest from 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons milk for pastry glaze
1. Make shortcrust pastry ahead of time as the key to pastry is relaxing the dough. In a food processor combine all ingredients except for the iced water and whizz together briefly. Then add iced water until it starts to come together and then empty the contents of the processor onto a board and knead briefly. Separate into two rounds, one round using 2/3 of the dough and then another one using the remaining 1/3 of the dough. Cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
2. Take your pie plate. Roll out the larger round of pastry to fit the glass plate. Then roll out smaller one into an oval shape and cut into strips to make lattice pattern and place on a clean plate. Place both the glass pie plate and the lattice strip plate in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes-this is important to prevent pastry shrinkage (you could do the pastry ahead of time and refrigerate it).
3. Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Place foil on top of the pastry snugly but gently against the pastry (the foil helps prevent the pastry from puffing up too much). Weigh it down with ceramic weights or dried beans or rice and blind bake for 25 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes.
4. Mix the filling ingredients in a large bowl until well incorporated. Place on top of prebaked pastry and then decorate with lattice strips. Brush pastry with milk. Lay the pie dish on top of a baking tray (sometimes the cherries spill over a little) and bake for 35 minutes until golden. Serve a la mode with vanilla ice cream.
The Log Lady
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77 Comments | Add your own
I remember twin peaks! It was the best show ever and I loved coop and cherry pie too =)
Cherry pie is one of my favorites. Yours looks perfect, along with your beautiful tea set!
That’s the perfect looking cherry pie! Looking forward to warm winter desserts
OMG – I was not a Peakie, but I soooooooooooooo want a slice of this pie. It looks absolutely luscious.
BTW, just checked out Have You met Miss Jones – what a cool site – thanks for introducing me to it!
What a cute timer! And that is the most amazing tea set! I am obsessed with tea sets. Your cherry pie looks just like how I imagine a great cherry pie in my head, gorgeous!
Natsukashii! Atcually for me, cherry pie conjures up memories of Thursday nights at a rock club swinging my head around… “She’s my cherry pie!” lol! Looks delicious, as always!
I’ve decided that pie is best when served a la mode – especially if said pie is hot out of the oven. Loving the combination of crusty sweet pastry and sour cherries, and the lattice top! Such effort, but it looks that much tastier…
I am with you on Agent Coop. Loved that show. Can’t wait to make the pie.
I am salivating as we speak. Cherry pie + tea is such a great combo. And the stand mixer is ♥
There’s a beetle in the carpark! Very cute car, almost as cute as your timer.
Ok – I am so going to make this but can I tell you a story.
About 10 years ago I went to Seattle and did a tour that took you to the very diner featured in Twin Peaks. And I had a coffee and a slice of Cherry Pie. I know it was good pie, but yours looks just AMAZING!!
I love your beautiful site!
Where did you get the egg timer shaped like a Kitchenaid mixer?
The pie is perfect!!!! As i am off work with a back injury I think today is the perfect day to start my twin peaks marathon. yippee!!
Love sour cherries & absolutely love ‘Falling’ by Julee Cruise – so eerie & emotional.
Ah I love lattice crust!! So beautiful and those berries look fantastic.
heh when i sent ya your pressies in the post, the day after my timer died lol but i have seen a toaster timer and i think i may have to get it and place directly in front of my big toaster…
I love, love ,love the timer!!
Yummmm, I love cherries. This looks great. I also watched Twin Peaks but that episode where Bob climbed over the back of the couch completely freaked me out! I wasn’t quite the same after that.
I LOVE your mixer! so cute!!
and the pie looks sooo gorgeous…I’m drooling, which says a lot because I actually don’t really like pies!
Every time I see cherry pie, I think of Twin Peaks. And you’re right, Agent Cooper is not as hot as he used to be. Though didn’t David Duchovny show up as a fellow FBI agent, in a maid’s costume (Denise or something)? That was pretty good!
I haven’t seen Twin Peaks but I probably should. Your tea set and timer are crazy adorable!
Oh I loved Twin Peaks! But I had to sneak in episodes and the movie because my parents wouldn’t let me see it.
Love David Lynch. Love the soundtrack. Love your timer! Now you got me craving for cherry pie again
Well, I’m in heaven! Looks absolutely fantastic.
my sister and i sat through a non-stop, back-to-back marathon of Twin Peaks YEARS ago, before dvd was even invented.
she recently purchased the new dvd box set and challenged me to a re-sit. i’m looking forward to it!
that pie looks top class, Lorraine. is it just me that wishes we had some old fashioned pie-serving diners here in Australia?
I darn well loved Twin Peaks and mighty fine coffee that looks too!
Oh just the start of the theme tune was enough to give me goose bumps…even now! Loved the show & have the first set of DVD’s is the final set out now?? The cherry pie recipe looks wonderful I’ll certainly try it, thank you!
Look at all those berries!! yummy! I would love to mkae a berry pie, but my hubs is not too keen. The timer is soo cute!
Hi Brianna-Hehe yes Coop was such a quirky hero!
Hi Barbara-Thankyou so much! That’s very kind of you to say
Hi Anita-Thankyou! I wasn’t sure if it would work but I’m so relieved it did
Hi Cakelaw-hehe no peakie for you? Thankyou so much!
Oh you’re welcome!
Hi Steph-It is isn’t it! Me too, I love a good tea set and some of them are so pretty. Thankyou, you are too sweet!
Hi Angela-Hehe! Oh that sounds like a great memory! Thankyou
Hi shez-Absolutely, vanilla ice cream is a must and warmed too so that the ice cream starts to melt. Yumm!!
Hi Amelia-Cool! It’s definitely cold weather pie time!
Hi Trisha-Hehe thankyou so much! It’s so cute isn’t it!
Hi Arwen-At first I thought you meant an actual insect!
Hi Vita-Oooh, how exciting! Wow, that’s a good enough reason to jump on a plane to Seattle right now!
Aww shucks, thankyou so much!
Hi Halo-I got it as a birthday gift from Suze but it’s by teh brand Robert Gordon and you can buy it here:http://www.homecouture.com.au/index.cfm?event=product&idProduct=14468&cursor=5&idBrand=170
Hi Ali-Thankyou! I hope you’re feeling ok? I think a Twin Peaks marathon is definitely the best way to spend time off!
Hi MsGourmet-I know, it so suited the show perfectly!
Hi Feasting on Art-Me too! It’s so worth the extra trouble
Thankyou!
Hi chocolatesuze-Aww no! There’s also a coffee pot timer that I saw too
Thanks so much for the pressie!
Hi Bethie-Thanks, it’s great isn’t it!
Hi Megan-Thankyou! I love cherries too-way too much
Oh god yes that was scary, I don’t blame you! That still scares me! 
Hi Sophia-it is isn’t it! It makes me smile every time I use it
Hehe really!
Hi Belle-Hehe me too! I saw him last night on desperate housewives and he just isn’t the same (not to mention his character is just odd but not odd in a good way, just creepy). Yes! He did and that was brilliant. I remember that vividly
Hi anna-If you like unusual TV shows, it’s definitely worth having a peek at it
Thanks!
Hi Karen-aww really? I suppose it was a bit sinister but there wasn’t a lot of stuff in it, well I suppose compared to what’s on tv nowadays but I guess back then it was different
Hi Julia-Thankyou so much!
Hi the projectivist-Oh wow, what dedication! That must have been so much fun! Sounds like a fantastic night
Oh it’s not just you, I am forced to make my own pie for lack of pie! 
Hi DeLaCour-hehe thankyou so much!
Hi Elaine-yes that music was so gorgeous! Yep the complete series is out on DVD-the Gold box set
Wonderful, I hope you like it! You’re more than welcome 
Hi pigpigscorner-Aww no, he’s not a berry fan?
It’s gorgeous isn’t it!
oh wow… I am a bit scared by the log lady haha but mmmm cherry pie! I would prefer it with chocolate ice cream though! (cherry-ripe style?)
I don’t remember the log lady but I mentioned it to E who does and said he would like to watch twin peaks again – I don’t think I could because it gave me nightmares but I liked the series enough to buy the soundtrack which I was playing recently – love that pie – it does make me think of agent cooper (and I agree with you about Kyle McLachlan’s subsequent roles)
Love it! I’m a massive Twin Peaks fan (yes, I have the DVDs too). I did a “Which Twin Peaks character are you?” quiz on Facebook the other day and was very pleased to be deemed Audrey Horne!
Check out these fantastic black and white photos taken on the set by actor Richard Beymer (Benjamin Horne): http://gallery.mac.com/richardbeymer#100084&bgcolor=black&view=grid
(To this day, Bob still terrifies me…)
This recipe looks fab. My wife, Julee, and I will try it this week end. And thanks for mentioning the music. -E
Wow that looks like a really juicy cherry pie!
I remember Twin Peaks – it was really mysterious and haunting at the beginning, (‘she’s dead and wrapped in plastic’) although I have to admit I thought it went a bit weird towards the end!
have you watched ‘the waitress’? seeing this post reminds me of the pies in the waitress!
Hi FFichiban-Hehe nothing to be scared of, really! She was fairly harmless. Nice idea!
Hi Johanna-The soundtrack is gorgeous isn’t it. Orson Hodge is just miles away from Coop sadly sex appeal wise!
Hi KT-Oh cool! Audrey would be the best girl to get I think. I should try that quiz too
Bob is really scary-even though he doesn’t look scary he was done in such a scary way he frightens me too and I need to look away when he’s on! Oh wow, thankyou for that link, they’re absolutely fantastic pictures 
Hi Edward-Thanks so much for stopping by! Great to hear from you-it must be nice being married to the fabulous Julee Cruise!
Hope you both like the pie!
Hi maria-thankyou! It was really juicy indeed
Oh yes that famous quote! It did go totally weird and I would sometimes wonder what on earth was going on but I stuck by it 
i just made this! i have never made pastry before (and don’t own a food processor!) but it all seemed to come together well.
had to cook it for an extra 20min though as the lattice wasn’t cooking.
haven’t tried it yet (taking it to uni for my class) but it certainly looks delicious, thank you for the recipe!
My mama would sell her best shoes for that pie.
classic. i love cherries, and their happiest home is most certainly the pie. i’m always a fan of the beautiful lattice top too. excellent work, lorraine!
You missed the obvious (to a fellow peakie) gag at the end of your post. Yes, it was “wrapped in plastic” before I put it away! Pie looks amazing, and happy birthday.
Ohhh, that cherry pie looks scrumptious and the reminder of Twin Peaks and it’s dark humor and beautiful scenery take me back, but that mixer. Ohhh that shiny chrome mixer has GOT to have a place in my kitchen. But I can’t find it! Can you please tell me the brand or where I can find it? I’ll give up my Viking in a heartbeat to give a place for this shiny tool on my counter.
Thanks!
I still sometimes order my coffee ‘black as midnight on a moonless night’, I don’t expect anybody to understand. But I guess there are a lot of fans out there. I am going to make a cherry pie, yum.
Wow, this pie is perfection! Cherry is my favorite!
You’re a girl after my own heart, Lorraine! Love it.
Hi lyndal-Oh that is fantastic! I’m so glad to hear it and it looks wonderful (I just saw it on your site!). You’re welcome! I’m sure your classmates will feel rather lucky that you went to so much effort!
Hi Blond Duck-Haha really?
Hi grace-Hehe that is a nice way to put it! I think they would be happy together in a buttery pie crust
Thankyou!
Hi Suzie-Oh yes I did didn’t I!! Thankyou so much!
Hi Justopia-Fantastic! It’s actually a mixer egg timer-isn’t that too cool? I think Kitchenaids make a chrome mixer so if you
want a full sized one try a Kitchenaid stockist
Hi Theresa-Haha brilliant! I often say things like that in the hope that there will be another kindred spirit!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thank you so much! You are too kind!
Hi fooderati-You’re a fellow Peakie? I could just tell!
have sat at the double r diner (tweeds these days) and had a slice of pie, but it’s not the original. the lady that made it for the show has made pies for the twin peaks fest, and i’ve had that very pie by that very lady WITH the log lady (who let me hold her log!!!!!)
thanks for bringing out the geekery. i can’t wait to go back to twin peaks again (end of july!!!)
hmmn, perhaps i shall try this recipe ^_^ thanks for sharing it!!
fyi THIS WAS DELICIOUS, was heartily ingested by my class & tutor
I’m so completely and utterly jealous! Julee!
But also very happy with the timeliness. My friend and I have been trying to plan a weekly Twin Peaks fest with pie and now I have the perfect recipe to kick it off!
and btw: Check out Industrial Symphony if you haven’t yet. The same music, with Lynch’s weirdness on stage.
Now you’re really bringing back memories. Wow, how long ago was that? About 20 years? I LOVED THAT SHOW! I must get it on DVD, too. That would be fantastic. Oh, and the cherry pie. Awesome. I think there should be more cherry baked goods.
Ohh yes, I remember Twin Peaks & Cherry pie well! As I was living back in Tokyo when the show was on TV, I recall that I was craving for cherry pies! I don’t know what it is about pies at diners, it just simply reminds me of my childhood in the US.
wow, that looks delicious! Thanks for this post and the Twin Peaks reference. as Agent Cooper said, this must be where pies go when they die.
Hi katy -oh WOW you are so lucky! You met the log lady and held her log?
I’m so excited for you and you’re going back too? How utterly fabulous!
Hi lyndal-Fantastic! I’m so glad that you all liked it!
Hi Monika-It’s so cool isn’t it! It’s getting to be the right kind of weather for it. Cold, just like how I imagine Twin Peaks to be
Thanks for the rec too!
Hi Julia-It seems like so long ago that the real TP fever was about but I don’t think it was that long? Maybe the timeless
quality of it helps. I do too!
Hi Yas-Oh you got TP in Tokyo? That is very cool! Yes ies and diners are such a quintessential US experience. I didn’t realise you grew up there!
Hi Perrin-Thankyou!
Hehe what a great quote 
That cherry pie looks wonderful
Such an adorable timer!
Hi ArtemisIII-Thankyou so much! Yes it’s adorable isn’t it
I still love Twin Peaks, even after all these years, and Falling is such a great song! Pie and a cup of joe is what I’d want to have if I sat down to watch the episodes again.
Hi Y-Yep I can’t believe how timeless it is! I’m getting hubby into it too as he hasn’t seen it. He loves the quirkiness
cherry pie… waaa… i cant resist… those looks fantastic… definitely gonna try this…thanks for the recipe…
I *love* Twin Peaks, and totally agree about Kyle McLachlan, too. In fact, I just started re-watching the series on DVD yesterday! And as always I got a serous yearning for cherry pie! As soon as I can get cherries here, I’ll definitely try your recipe!
Hi harcoutbreton-Thankyou and that’s wonderful, I hope you like it!
Hi Anne-He’s so different in TP than in SATC and DH. It brings back amazing memories doesn’t it! You can also use tinned or bottled sour cherries
I was such a huge fan that I entered a cherry pie into the local county fair. I won first place! The recipe I used came from the official Twin Peaks guide to the town. Check it out if you can find the book now. Has gotten pretty rare since the show was cancelled.
Best cherry pie I ever made (okay the only cherry pie I ever made)
Thanks for bringing up this memory and if I can find my copy of my book, I will share the recipe with you.
Hi Rust-WOW, how fantastic!
I’d love to see the recipe if you could find it. What a great coup indeed! 
Hi,
I made this pie today for my family and it is sooooooo good!! This is the first thing I made off your blog and your instructions are very detailed and easy to follow! Thank you very much for introducing me to this very very delicious pie!
Psst! … The cherry pie in Twin Peaks wasn’t a lattice crust. Sorry to disappoint, but it was a full crust. Your recipe looks great, though.
Oh, and the term for a fan of Twin Peaks is “Peak Freak.”
So, I just did a web search on Twin Peaks references to food because I am making something to take to our local “Twin Peaks Night” where my neighbors and I get dressed in flannel, eat and drink lots of wine and watch old episodes of Twin Peaks (I know, I know, but it’s a small town with very little to do) and it brought me here!
I’m going to try the Cherry Pie. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
xxoo,
RMW
Can’t wait to try this NQN
You know, I was looking for a “Twin Peaks cherrie pie recipe” on Google and I have to say yours is the best ! Looks amazing and quite easy, I’m definitely gonna give it a try. I’ve just re-watched the whole series on DVD and as always, I’m in need of a cup of damn fine coffee, loads of jelly doughnuts and a slice of good cherry pie… I love “Twin Peaks so much” ! Coop is the best character ever created on TV.
Twin Peaks was one of my favorite shows of all time and, as a result, cherry pie became my favorite fruit pie (it still is). My fiancee and I will be bring this recipe today. It certainly looks like it will yield a damn fine cherry pie. Damn fine.
Twin Peaks was one of my favorite shows of all time and, as a result, cherry pie became my favorite fruit pie (it still is). My fiancee, who just watched the series for the first time about two months ago, and I will be trying this recipe today. It certainly looks like it will yield a damn fine cherry pie. Damn fine.
Hi that was great fun making the Twin Peaks Cherry Pie, and, even better tasting it with Latvian coffee which I tried to make weak but accidentally made it extra strong. Thanks for this!
Hi,
we just tried your recipe and unfortunately it didn’t work =( I placed the pastry in the pre-heated oven covered with alu-foil, and when I took it out after 25 minutes it was just a sleazy, buttery, soft mass all sunk into the middle of the plate. What did we do wrong?
I saw Twins Peaks again lately and I want to bake this pie!
6 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] I did make a pie from Not Quite Nigella’s recipe, first time making pastry (sans food processor, just crumbed that butter & flour with my BARE [...]
[...] be to eat American food. I have an obsession with American things, particularly American retro – my Twin Peak’s Cherry Pie is a prime example of this. I blame it in a steady diet of American TV growing up which continues [...]
[...] And while we’re on the subject of American food, forgive my tardiness but here’s your Wallpaper Wednesday wallpaper. Agent Cooper’s Cherry Pie! [...]
[...] weblog « STUFFED BAKED POTATOES CHERRY PIE January 30, 2010 A little gem of Not Quite Nigella genius. One of the yummiest cherry pie recipes I’ve seen and I must make [...]
[...] Chef: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2009/06/02/agent-coopers-favourite-cherry-pie-from-twin-peaks/ [...]
[...] Twin Peaks cherry pie recipes can be found here, here and here. Never made one in my life, so feel free to share your perfect recipe in the [...]
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