Feb 3, 2016
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Are you looking for a sweet treat to make this Valentine’s Day? If so, you are going to love these cherry hand pies!
Every Valentine’s Day I struggle with what to give my kids as a special treat to show them how much I love them. While they love chocolate, they also often ask to bake something with me.
Last year, we made these awesome sugar cookies with a simple raspberry frosting. Thankfully, this year I didn’t have to go far to think of a new idea; since this recipe can be found in my cookbook, The Best Homemade Snacks on the Planet.
These Cherry Hand Pies are cute, tasty and easy to make and the kids love to help cut out the heart shapes, fill them with the cherry filling, and crimping the edges.
Of course, these can be filled with a simple strawberry jam as well, should your kids not like the tartness of cherries. You know kids, one day they love them, another day they change their mind!
By using a cookie cutter to cut the dough, you can make these pies into any shape you like. I made them into hearts for Valentine’s day, but you can use any shape you have on hand or even a round biscuit cutter!
I hope you enjoy making these cherry hand pies with your kids for Valentines day as much as my kids love to eat them!
What are your favorite things to make with the kids around Valentine’s day?
Cherry Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen cherries
- ⅔ cup dried cherries
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 packages refrigerated pie dough
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- Coarse sugar for topping
Instructions
- Place frozen and dried cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, butter, vanilla extract, and salt inside a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the mixture comes to a boil.
- After ten minutes, the mixture should be thickened. Turn the burner off and allow it to cool down to room temperature while coming back to stir the mixture from time to time.
- Pull the refrigerated pie dough out and let it sit on the countertop for about 10 minutes to warm up and become more pliable.
- Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unroll pie mixture and cut it using a heart-shaped cookie cutter or any desired shape.
- Place a bottom shape on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and top it with a couple of room temperature spoonfuls of the cherry pie filling, making sure to leave room around the edges for sealing.
- Lay another heart on top, and use a fork to crimp the pies shut on all sides.
- After all of the hand pies are sealed, place them in the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes.
- Remove hand pies from fridge and cut a small X-shaped slit on the top of each one.
- Make an egg wash by whisking together one egg white and one tablespoon of water. Brush each cherry hand pie with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake for approximately 18 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling through the center.
Cateraar Wassenaar
Need to make these immediately! My mouth is watering!
Liz
Thank you for the nice recipe. Have a wonderful day.