Description
Cherry Pie Bites: Flaky pastry filled with juicy cherries, a sweet treat perfect for quick snacking or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts (14.1 oz package) or 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour for homemade
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt (if making homemade crust)
- ¾ cup (170g) cold butter, cubed (for homemade)
- 4–6 tablespoons ice water (for homemade)
- 2 cups (300g) fresh cherries, pitted and halved (or 2 cups frozen cherries, thawed)
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Cherry Filling In a medium saucepan, combine pitted cherries, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir until cherries are coated evenly. Add lemon juice and place over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract and cinnamon. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until completely cooled, about 30 minutes. The filling will continue to thicken as it cools, creating that perfect jammy consistency for your Cherry Pie Bites.
- Step 2: Prepare the Crust If using store-bought crusts, allow them to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pie crusts. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out as many circles as possible (you should get about 10-12 per crust). Gather scraps, re-roll to ⅛-inch thickness, and cut more circles. Place half the circles on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1-inch apart.
- Step 3: Assemble Your Cherry Pie Bites Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cooled cherry filling onto each crust circle on the baking sheet, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Avoid overfilling, which might cause leakage during baking. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water. Brush the edges of each filled circle with this egg wash to help seal your Cherry Pie Bites.
- Step 4: Seal and Decorate Top each filled circle with remaining dough circles. Press edges firmly with a fork to seal. Cut a small X or slit in the top of each pie bite to allow steam to escape. Brush the tops with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Refrigerate assembled bites for 15 minutes while preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This brief chilling helps maintain the crust’s flakiness.
- Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection Bake your Cherry Pie Bites for 15-18 minutes until they’re golden brown and filling is bubbling slightly through the vents. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving for the optimal texture experience.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pie bite
- Calories: 134
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 117
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 16