Best Cherry Betty Recipes

PEAR AND SOUR CHERRY BROWN BETTY WITH BRANDY HARD SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the hard sauce, in a medium bowl set an electric mixer on high and beat the butter until fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add confectioners' sugar. When the sugar is incorporated, set the speed back to high. Add the brandy 1 tablespoon at a time and beat until combined. Beat in the nutmeg. Transfer the sauce to a ramekin or bowl, cover and refrigerate. Hard sauce can be made at least a week ahead, but allow it to come to room temperature before serving (about 20 minutes).
• To make the brown betty, heat the Cognac or brandy in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the liquid has come to a simmer, turn off the heat and add the cherries. Allow them to absorb most of the liquid, about 20 minutes.
• While cherries are standing, heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture for sprinkling. Add bread, butter and lemon zest. Toss until sugar has dissolved and bread is completely coated.
• In a shallow 1 1/2-quart gratin dish (or a 9-by-9-inch pan), scatter a little under half the bread cubes. Layer half the pear slices and half the cherries (along with any liquid) on top. Cover with a cup of bread crumbs and sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons cider. Layer remaining pears, cherries and bread. Sprinkle top with remaining cider and reserved sugar-and-spice mixture.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Take off foil and continue baking, until crumbs are golden brown and pears are very soft, about 15 minutes more. Serve warm with dollops of hard sauce.

AUNT BETTY'S MOCK CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Put cranberries and raisins into a blender and chop up together.
• Sift flour and sugar together and add to fruit mixture.
• Add water and vanilla.
• Pour into an unbaked pie crust.
• Top with crust and cut slits for steam to escape.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.
• 5 minutes before it is done, brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
• Chill.
• (The taste is better when it is cold).

PEAR, ALMOND, AND DRIED-CHERRY BROWN BETTY

Steps:

• Combine cherries and brandy in small bowl; let soak until cherries soften, 1 to 2 hours. Drain (reserve brandy for another use).
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine bread pieces and almonds in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until mixture resembles very coarse crumbs. Spread crumb mixture evenly on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until crumb mixture is light golden and crisp, about 16 minutes. Transfer crumb mixture to medium bowl; toss with melted butter. Set aside. Maintain oven temperature.
• Mix 1 1/2 cups hot water and honey in 2-cup measuring cup. Combine drained cherries, brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt, and cloves in large bowl; stir to blend well. Add pear cubes and toss to coat.
• Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of crumb mixture over bottom of prepared baking pan. Spread half of pear mixture over crumb mixture. Top with 1/3 of crumb mixture, then remaining pear mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture evenly over. Pour water-honey mixture over.
• Cover pan tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered until crumb mixture is golden brown on top and pear filling is bubbling thickly at edges, about 45 minutes longer. Remove from oven and cool at least 20 minutes. do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely, then cover and chill. Rewarm uncovered in 300°F oven 15 to 20 minutes.
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

CHERRY AND COCONUT BROWN BETTY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch-square baking dish. Spread 1 cup cherries in bottom of dish. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons coconut and 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Repeat three more times with cherries and dry ingredients.
• Cover baking dish with foil. Bake until cherry juice bubbles and candies a bit on the edges, about 1 hour. Remove foil and place dish under a broiler to toast the top layer, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Serve warm; pass a pitcher of chilled cream at the table for drizzling on top.

CHERRY RHUBARB BETTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Combine granulated sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Add rhubarb and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in pie filling, lemon juice and rind. Combine bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, brown sugar and spices in small bowl. Stir in butter. Spoon half of the fruit mixture into a 1 1/2 quart baking dish, or a 9x13-inch baking pan. Cover with half of the bread and cracker mixture. Repeat the layering ending with crumbs on top. Pour water evenly and slowly over top. Cover with foil. Bake 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 minutes more. Great served with Chocolate Sauce drizzled over top or serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

CHERRY BETTY

Steps:

• 1. Cherry Betty Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. Pour both cans of cherry pie filling into prepared baking dish. Top with cake mix. Sprinkle cinnamon over cake mix. Top with diced pecan pieces. Next, slowly drizzle melted butter over the entire dish. There is no need to stir this dish. It's best to layer these ingredients. As it bakes, the butter will creep through the cake mix and the cherry pie filling will bubble up. It's a great example of teamwork. Place in the oven and bake at 350 for 30 - 45 minutes, until top is golden brown and entire dish is bubbly.