Delightful Heart-Shaped Cherry Hand Pies: Your Perfect Valentine’s Day Treat
Happy National Cherry Pie Day!
There’s something truly magical about National Cherry Pie Day arriving in February. This particular month, already brimming with themes of hearts, love, and vibrant red hues for Valentine’s Day, creates the most fitting backdrop for celebrating such a classic and beloved dessert. Cherry pie, with its rich, ruby-red filling and golden-brown crust, perfectly embodies the warmth and sweetness we associate with this time of year.
I distinctly remember preparing these charming hand pies the week before Valentine’s Day, eagerly anticipating the perfect moment to share this post. The joy of creating them, knowing they would bring a smile to someone’s face, made the process even more enjoyable. While a full-sized cherry pie is always a delight, these individual heart-shaped hand pies offer a unique charm and convenience that’s hard to resist. They are not just desserts; they are edible tokens of affection.
The Charm and Convenience of Heart-Shaped Hand Pies
One of my absolute favorite tools for crafting these delightful treats is my Nordic Heart Shaped Pocket Pie Maker! This ingenious gadget makes the entire process incredibly fun and efficient. It effortlessly cuts out the perfect heart shapes and helps seal the edges, transforming pie-making from a potentially messy endeavor into a streamlined, enjoyable activity. Of course, you could absolutely make these without a specialized pie maker, perhaps using heart-shaped cookie cutters and a fork to crimp the edges. However, the Nordic maker adds an extra touch of cuteness and simplifies the sealing process, ensuring each pie looks uniformly charming and is less prone to leaking during baking.
For those interested in exploring this “HANDy” hand-pie maker further, I’ve previously shared a recipe for Spiced Peach Pocket Pies, where I delve more into its functionality and benefits. It’s a versatile tool that can elevate any hand pie recipe, making it a staple in my kitchen, especially around holidays and special occasions when presentation matters. Its ease of use means you can whip up a batch of these sweet delights without extensive effort, leaving more time to enjoy them with loved ones.
There’s a quiet beauty in the late afternoon during this time of year. The sun, dipping lower in the sky, casts exquisite shadows across my kitchen counter, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. These photographs perfectly capture that ephemeral charm, highlighting the golden crusts and inviting warmth of the freshly baked hand pies. It’s moments like these, where light and culinary creation merge, that truly make baking a joyful experience.
Adding a Personal Touch: Decorative Crusts
To add an extra layer of love and personality to these cherry hand pies, I utilized my small heart-shaped cookie cutter and an “XO” (kisses and hugs) cookie cutter. With the remaining pie dough, after cutting out the main hand pie shapes, I crafted these tiny sugar crusts. These decorative elements can be placed on top of the pies before baking, or baked separately to serve as charming garnishes alongside the finished dessert. They add a delightful crunch and a sweet, personalized message, making each hand pie even more special. This little extra step showcases thoughtfulness and creativity, turning a simple treat into a memorable culinary expression.
Cherry {Heart Shaped} Hand-Pies: The Recipe
Making these heart-shaped cherry hand pies is surprisingly simple, especially with the right preparation. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, this recipe is designed to be straightforward and rewarding. Here’s everything you need to create these delicious, portable desserts.
Ingredients:
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts (or your own homemade, for an extra touch!)
- 1 can (approximately 21 ounces) cherry pie filling (ensure it’s a good quality brand for the best flavor)
- 1 egg white, whisked until slightly frothy (this acts as a perfect sealant and gives a beautiful golden sheen)
- Granulated sugar (for dusting and a delightful sweet crunch on top)
Instructions:
Before you begin assembling your hand pies, ensure your oven is ready to go. Preheat your oven to a consistent 400 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 200 degrees Celsius). A properly preheated oven is crucial for achieving a perfectly golden and flaky crust.
Carefully unroll one of your refrigerated pie crusts onto a piece of parchment paper. The parchment paper will prevent sticking and make transferring the pies much easier. Gently roll the crust out a little further using a rolling pin; this extra step ensures the dough is thin enough and provides a bit more surface area for cutting. With a heart-shaped cookie cutter or your pocket pie maker, cut out as many heart shapes as possible. Typically, you should be able to get six individual heart shapes from one standard refrigerated crust, yielding three complete hand pies.
Once you have your heart shapes, brush the very edges of half of them with the whisked egg white. This egg wash is essential as it acts as a “glue,” helping the top and bottom crusts adhere firmly together, preventing any delicious cherry filling from leaking out during baking. A good seal is key to a beautiful hand pie.
Now for the star of the show: the cherry filling! Place about two tablespoons of cherry pie filling directly in the center of the egg-washed heart shapes. Be careful not to overfill, as this can make sealing difficult and lead to messy leaks. Once filled, gently place a second heart-shaped crust on top, aligning the edges perfectly. Press down firmly around the edges to seal, either with your fingers, the pie maker, or by crimping with a fork.
To prevent the pies from bursting and to allow steam to escape, use a small paring knife to make a small decorative cut, perhaps a tiny heart or a simple slit, in the center of each top crust. This is called venting and is an important step for even baking. You will likely have some extra cherry pie filling left over in the can; don’t discard it! This leftover filling is perfect for serving alongside the baked hand pies, adding an extra burst of cherry flavor.
Before baking, lightly dust the top of each hand pie with granulated sugar. This will create a beautiful, sparkly, and slightly crispy crust. Carefully transfer your prepared hand pies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them in your preheated 400-degree oven for approximately 15 minutes. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them; they bake rather quickly! You’re looking for a gorgeous golden-brown crust, indicating they are perfectly cooked through.
Once baked to perfection, allow the hand pies to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. While they are delightful on their own, for an extra special treat, serve them warm with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Drizzle a little of that saved extra cherry filling over the ice cream and pies, and garnish with those adorable sugar crusts you made earlier. This combination of warm pie, cold ice cream, and sweet cherry goodness is truly irresistible and makes for an unforgettable dessert experience. Enjoy these homemade tokens of love!
These individual pies are perfect for sharing, ideal for a romantic dessert, or simply as a comforting treat on a chilly February day. Their portability also makes them excellent for picnics or packed lunches, should you manage to resist eating them all at home!
Whether you’re celebrating National Cherry Pie Day, Valentine’s Day, or simply indulging in a sweet craving, these Heart Shaped Cherry Hand-Pies are sure to be a hit. Their charming appearance, combined with the classic taste of cherry pie, makes them a dessert that everyone will adore. Don’t hesitate to experiment with other fillings if cherry isn’t your favorite, but for this season of love, cherry truly reigns supreme!
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Print Recipe
Cherry {Heart Shaped} Hand-Pies
Ingredients
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts or your own homemade
- 1 can cherry pie filling
- 1 egg white whisked
- sugar
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees
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Lay crust on a piece of parchment paper, and slightly roll it out further.
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You should get 6 hearts to (3 pies) to one crust.
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Brush the edges with egg white to get them to seal properly.
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Place two Tablespoons of cherry pie filling in the middle of each and seal edges together.
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Take a small paring knife and and make a small (vent) heart shape cut out.
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There will be extra filling, save for serving.
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Dust with sugar and bake for about 15 minutes.
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Watch them closely, they bake quickly!