HOMEMADE CHERRY DESSERT PIZZA

Steps:

• Place the milk and butter in a small pot and heat just until butter is melted. Alternatively, you can use the microwave for about 40 seconds.
• Place the warmed milk into the bowl of a stand mixer and add the sugar, yeast, salt and flour.
• With a dough hook attached, turn on the mixer and mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
• Turn it onto a floured surface and knead 3-4 times, just enough to smooth it out. Return to the bowl, cover and let rest 30 minutes. While the dough is resting you can make the streusel.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter, then work the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until it resembles crumbs. Stir in the sliced almonds.
• Preheat oven to 400F degrees. When the dough has finished resting, turn it out onto a floured surface and roll it into a 12-inch circle.
• Spray a baking sheet or pizza pan with non-stick spray. If you are using a seasoned pizza stone you can skip this step.
• Move the dough to the pizza pan and spread the cherry pie filling over the dough leaving about 1-inch around the edge.
• Brush the bare edge with the beaten egg, then sprinkle the streusel over the top of the pizza.
• Place on center rack of the oven and bake 25-30 minutes until edge of dough is golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool before adding icing.
• Mix the powdered sugar and cream in a small bowl until smooth.
• Drizzle icing on top of the cooled pizza, cut into slices and serve.

ALMOND CHERRY PIZZA

Steps:

• Place the crust on an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Crumble almond paste into a small microwave-safe bowl; cover and microwave on high for 5 seconds to soften if necessary. Stir in cheese until combined; spread over crust to within 1 in. of edges. Sprinkle with chips. , Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand until cheese mixture is set. Spread with cherry filling; top with maraschino cherries and almonds.

CHERRY CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and baking powder; cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Roll out into a 14-in. circle. Place on an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Flute edges to form a rim; prick bottom of crust. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts. Spread over crust. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool. Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Set cherries and juice aside. , In a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in reserved juice until smooth. Add cherries. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer , Remove from the heat; stir in butter, extract and food coloring. Cool to room temperature; spread over cream cheese layer. Top with whipped cream and mint if desired.

CHERRY ALMOND CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Start with the crumb mixture. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
• Cut the cold butter into pieces. Add the butter to the bowl and use a fork or pastry blender to cut it into the flour mixture. The mixture should resemble a moist, coarse meal. Add the slivered almonds and combine thoroughly.
• Place the still-frozen cherries in a bowl, add the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch and almond extract and gently stir the cherries to combine.
• Divide the cherries between 8 ramekins (about 1/2 cup each). Top with the crumb mixture, evening out the surface.
• Bake until the topping is crisp and golden brown, about 45 minutes. If the topping appears underdone, continue baking in 10 minute increments until it's done.
• To serve: Add the heavy cream and granulated sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
• Serve the individual crisps warm or at room temperature with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

CHERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of 8 x 8-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray.
• STIR together flour, brown sugar and salt until mixed. Add oil, water and almond extract. Combine with fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat evenly in bottom of prepared pan.
• BAKE 15 minutes.
• SPREAD preserves evenly over warm crust. Mix almonds, brown sugar and oil until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over top of preserves.
• BAKE 20 minutes. Cool completely. Lift out of pan using foil. Cut into 16 bars. Store in refrigerator.

CHERRY PIE WITH ALMOND CRUMB TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Roll out pie crust and lay into a 9-inch pie pan.
• Combine almonds, brown sugar, oats, flour, and salt in a large bowl. Work butter into the almond mixture with your fingers, breaking up any large pieces, until incorporated completely. Cover and chill for 15 minutes.
• Combine cherries, lemon juice, white sugar, and cornstarch. Stir until well coated and no dry lumps remain, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour cherries and any accumulated juices into the prepared pie pan. Press down into the pan. Crumble oat mixture over the top. Place the pan on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cherries are bubbling and the crust and crumble topping are browned, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

CHERRY-ALMOND PIE

Steps:

• Combine flour and sugar for crust in a bowl. Cut in butter using hands to mix and mush until thoroughly combined and mixture resembles tiny pebbles or cornmeal. Stir in almonds. Sprinkle with ice water until dough holds together in a ball. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Toss cherries, sugar, and salt for filling together in a bowl.
• Combine almond extract, amaretto, and cornstarch in a separate bowl until smooth; add to cherry mixture and mix well.
• Roll out refrigerated crust dough using a lightly floured rolling pin on a lightly floured work surface to desired thickness. Press into the bottom of an 8-inch pie pan.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until set, about 15 minutes.
• Remove crust from the oven and fill with cherry mixture. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake pie in the hot oven until edges of dough are golden and filling is bubbly, 35 to 45 minutes.

CHERRY ALMOND PIE

Steps:

• Drain cherries, reserving 2/3 cup juice in a saucepan; discard remaining juice. To the juice, add the cherries, sugar, butter and salt. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cherry mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat; stir in the almond extract and food coloring if desired. Cool. , Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry; add filling. Make a lattice crust. Trim, seal and flute edges. Bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.