CHERRY HAND PIES

Cherry Hand Pies image

There's nothing better than a sweet, from-scratch delight like traditional cherry pie. These precious little hand pies always go fast when I sell them at my pie bakery! -Allison Cebulla, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

6 tablespoons water, divided
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cherry brandy
4-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon quick-cooking tapioca
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Dash salt
2 cups fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries, thawed and halved
1 cup fresh or frozen pitted dark sweet cherries, thawed and halved
Pastry for double-crust pie
1 large egg
ICING:
2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash salt
Freeze-dried strawberries, crushed, optional

Steps:

In a large saucepan, whisk 4 tablespoons water, sugar, brandy, cornstarch, lemon juice, tapioca, lemon zest and salt until combined. Add cherries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough to a 14x9-in. rectangle. Cut out eight 3-1/2 x 4-1/2-in. rectangles. Repeat with remaining dough. , Transfer 8 rectangles to parchment-lined baking sheets; spoon about 3 tablespoons cherry mixture in center of each. Whisk egg and remaining 2 tablespoons water. Brush edges of crust with egg wash. Top with remaining 8 rectangles; press edges with a fork to seal. Brush tops with egg wash; cut slits in tops., Bake until crust is golden brown and slightly puffed, 25-30 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine confectioners' sugar, hot water, melted butter, extracts and salt; drizzle over pies. Garnish with freeze-dried strawberries if desired. Let stand until set.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 589 calories, Fat 27g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 91mg cholesterol, Sodium 380mg sodium, Carbohydrate 83g carbohydrate (49g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein.