Grands Little Fruit Pies Recipes

MINI CHERRY PIES

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the shortening and 1 stick butter; pulse until the flour looks like coarse meal. Add the remaining butter and pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the egg yolk and 6 tablespoons ice water; pulse until the dough just begins to clump, adding up to 2 more tablespoons water if needed. Transfer the dough to a large sheet of plastic wrap and gather into a 2-by-12-inch log. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Put a baking sheet on the middle oven rack and preheat to 400 degrees F. Make the filling: Combine the cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, and almond extract in a large bowl; toss until the sugar is dissolved and the cherries are coated. Set the filling aside.
• Cut the dough in half; cut one half into 6 pieces (keep the other half refrigerated). Roll each piece into a 6-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease each round into a 5-inch pie plate, letting the excess dough hang over the edge. Evenly divide the filling among the bottom crusts (the pies will be full).
• Remove the remaining dough from the refrigerator and use to make the top crusts (see options below); assemble the pies. Brush the top crusts with the beaten egg and sprinkle generously with coarse sugar. Refrigerate the pies until firm, about 30 minutes. Put the pies on the hot baking sheet in the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake until the crusts are golden and the fruit is bubbling, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.

GRANDS LITTLE FRUIT PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.
• With pastry blender or fork cut in butter or margarine until mixture coarse crumbs.
• Separate dough into 8 pieces; split each biscuit in half.
• With floured fingers, flatten each biscuit to form 4" round.
• Press each biscuit in ungresed 2-3/4 x 4 x 1-/4" muffin cup.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons pie filling into each biscuit-lined cup.
• Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons flour mixture (cups will be full).
• Bake for 15-22 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool 5 minutes.
• Remove from muffin cups; place on wire rack, cool for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
• Top each serving with dollop of whiiping cream; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Store in refrigerator.

MINI APPLE PIES WITH PILLSBURY® CRUST

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until no lumps remain. Add apples, apple juice, sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Trim 4 circles from the pie crust; allow enough dough to fit the tin and be able to crimp and seal top and bottom crusts. Press 1 dough circle into the bottom of each of 2 mini pie tins. Add filling. Drape top crusts over filling. Wrap excess top crusts under bottom crusts edges, pressing edges together to seal. Flute the edges and cut slits in the top crusts.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Cover edges of crusts with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning. Continue baking until apples are tender and crusts are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes more.
• Cool pies on rack at least 2 hours before serving.

HAND-HELD APPLE PIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture until well blended. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour., Combine the sugar, cinnamon and allspice; set aside. Divide each portion of dough into 12 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 4-in. circle. Place a tablespoonful of chopped apples on one side. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar mixture; dot with 1/4 teaspoon butter., In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and water. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash; fold pastry over filling and seal edges well with a fork. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush remaining egg wash over tops. Cut slits in pastry. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and cinnamon-sugar., Bake at 425° for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.