While I love making things from scratch, sometimes a few easy shortcuts are just the way to go. Especially when time is short or when you’ve got many other things to prepare: during the Holiday season for instance.
I made these pies with store bought shortcrust pastry (feel free to use your own favorite recipe instead) and canned cherries, so they are literally made in minutes. They certainly don’t look that way though, these pretty pies with their star shaped tops.
And they don’t taste like a shortcut recipe either: the crispy pastry forms the perfect base for the sweet, ruby red cherries. These pies are a real good-looking crowd-pleaser; saving time without compromising on flavor or presentation. Just the way it should be!
Because of their small taste, these pies are delicious as a sweet treat with a cup of coffee or as part of a dessert. Not too big or heavy, another reason they are perfect for the (excessive food) days of Christmas or Thanksgiving. You can easily make them a day in advance; just make sure to wrap them in foil and they will be perfectly fine the next day.
Ingredients
- (store bought or home made) sweet shortcrust pastry, enough to cover 4 mini baking forms
- 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs
- 1 can tart cherries
- 1,5 tablespoon (20 gr) sugar (use more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 small baking forms, greased
- some butter, for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (180 C).
- Cut four circles the size of your baking forms from the pastry. Use leftover pastry to form two extra circles, and cut out a star shape of these.
- Place four rounds of pastry into the greased baking forms, line along the sides and remove excess dough. Prick bases with a fork and sprinkle over some breadcrumbs.
- In a small pan, cook the cherries with the sugar and cornstarch until the cherries are soft and the juice is reduced (to jelly consistency).
- Pour the cherry filling into the prepared forms. Cover two pies with a reserved pastry round and the other two with a star.
- Brush with a little butter and bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown and done.
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2 Comments
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These look absolutely gorgeous, so pretty! Making them this Christmas for sure.
Oh my those pies are adorable. I love that you used the cutout and the remaining dough to make a negative of the star – clever!
xo
E