BERRY, PEACH, or PUMPKIN HAND PIES

Serve these sweet little pies to kids or when you want to wow with presentation. Use fresh fruit to make the creations that much more special.


» MAKES 1 DOZEN MINI PIES «

1 recipe Sweet Pie Crust (see recipe in this chapter)

2 tablespoons nondairy milk

2 tablespoons raw sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Roll out pie crust one disk at a time, rolling into a large rectangle about 1/8" thick. With a knife or pizza cutter, square edges of dough, then cut into 3" × 4" rectangles.

3. Prepare one or more of the Berry, Peach, or Pumpkin fillings.

4. Place a heaping tablespoonful of filling in the center of one dough rectangle, wet edge of dough, cover with a second rectangle, and crimp edges of dough closed with a fork.

5. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Brush with milk and sprinkle with raw sugar.

6. Bake 15–20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Berry Filling

2 cups ripe berries (blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring berries and sugar to a simmer; cook until sugar is melted, about 5 minutes.

2. Turn heat up to medium-high.

3. Combine cornstarch and water; add to saucepan.

4. Cook until it comes to a full boil and filling is clear and thick. Remove from heat.

Peach Filling

2 cups peeled, pitted, and chopped peaches

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1. In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine peaches, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and lemon juice, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil.

2. Turn heat to medium and simmer until mixture becomes thick, about 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat.

Pumpkin Filling

2 cups canned pure pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

11/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine pumpkin, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, and pumpkin pie spice, whisking quickly to incorporate cornstarch.

2. Bring to a boil and cook until very thick, about 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat.