Cherry Hand Pies

Featuring perfectly sweetened sour cherries baked inside of the flakiest pastry, these Cherry Hand Pies could be the poster child for the best summertime dessert. Not only are they hand-held, which makes them perfect for a potluck or outdoor gathering, they are also easier to make than you might think!

Easy Cherry Pastry Pies

Cherry Hand Pies are just the treat to bring to any backyard cookout or potluck! This recipe takes all of the deliciousness of cherry pie and bakes into a handheld pastry crust. These hand pies are filled with juicy tart cherry filling and have the flakiest, most tender crust.

The best part? Hand pies freeze really well! So, go ahead and make a double batch to have some for now and some for later.

Ingredients Needed

Here is an overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. The full recipe is listed below in greater detail.

• 1 batch All Butter Pie Crust
• sour cherries (or you can use sweet cherries if you can't find sour)
• granulated sugar
• cornstarch
• lemon juice
• tart cherry juice
• almond extract
• butter

Tools Needed

Here is a list of some of the primary tools I use in this recipe. You won't necessarily choose to use them all, but they are exactly what I used. Any links may contain affiliate links.

• food processor
• rolling pin
• pastry brush
• circle cutters
• baking basics: bowl, spatula, sheet tray, measuring cups

What Kind of Cherries to Use

There are quite a few types of cherries out there, and many of them will work for this recipe. Most cherries can be categorized as either sweet or sour. This recipe calls for sour cherries. The reason this matters is because the amount of sweetener called for is based on the cherries being sour.

You can use fresh or frozen sour cherries. Some common varieties that are good for pies are Montmorency or Morello.

I love using frozen cherries because they're already pitted and taste just as good. But this recipe is great with fresh cherries too.

Want to make this recipe but have sweet cherries? That's fine! You can use this recipe, but reduce the amount of sugar to ⅓ cup of sugar. The recipe has all the notes you need to make the adjustment.

Making the Cherry Pie Filling

Hand pies bake quickly, which means there might not be enough time for the filling inside to bake by the time the pie crust is finished cooking. For this reason, the cherry filling needs to be made ahead of time.

Making the cherry filling is a very simple recipe. Essentially, cherries are mixed together with sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch and then cooked. I wrote a whole post dedicated to making Cherry Pie Filling, so be sure to check that out for more tips.

You likely won't use all of the cherry pie filling made. You can enjoy any leftover cherry filling over ice cream or yogurt. It also freezes well.

Steps Needed to Make Cherry Hand Pies

There are a few steps needed to make hand pies. Luckily, the steps can be broken down and spaced apart, so in the end, it will seem very easy.

First, you have to make the pie dough. The dough needs to chill overnight. If you are new to making pie dough, check out this comprehensive guide on making butter pie dough.

Next, the filling needs to be prepared. This can be up to 7 days ahead of time. Just make sure it is chilled thoroughly before you assemble the pies.

Like any pie, you'll need to roll out your dough. This recipe is based on a 4″ round hand pie. To simplify things, I recommend buying a 4″ circle cutter, especially if you plan to make hand pies of any variation in the future; I think you'll find it to be a "go-to" tool in your kitchen. If you don’t want to buy one, you can cut out a 4-inch circle of parchment paper and use it to trace and cut out the circles.

Keep in mind, if the dough gets too warm, it might need to be chilled between cutting out the circles and assembling the hand pies, as this step will take significantly longer without a circle cutter. Just be sure to keep an eye on your dough as you progress forward.

Once you have your dough rolled, it’s time to assemble: brush an eggwash around the edges of one circle of pie dough. Place about a ¼ cup of the cherry filling in the middle. Place a circle of pie dough over the top and press down on the edges to seal the two pieces together. Crimp the edges of the bottom to the top, which will seal the pie and add a decorative touch. Place the pies on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining dough circles. When finished, place the sheet pan inside a freezer to chill, while your oven preheats.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If at any point your pie dough is getting too warm, simply place it in the refrigerator or freezer to chill until it is easy to work with
• Filling the hand pies are a delicate balance of not overfilling them, and not under-filling them. If you find that you are having trouble closing the hand pies, then use less filling.
• It's best to chill the hand pies briefly before baking, or you can chill them overnight and bake the next day! Hand pies can even be frozen unbaked, and then later baked straight from the freezer.

How to Bake Cherry Hand Pies

Before being baked, the hand pies can be optionally brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with turbinado sugar for a beautiful color and crunch.

Because the filling is premade I find it unnecessary to poke holes in the pastry to let steam escape. However, if you'd like to make holes in the pastry for aesthetic reasons, it's fine to do so.

To bake, pre-heat the oven to 400ºF and set a rack to the second-lowest position in the oven. This small step will ensure a crisp bottom crust of the hand pies. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the pie dough is lightly golden all over. If you are baking from frozen, you may need to bake for an extra 10 minutes or so.

How to Freeze Unbaked Hand Pies

These can be frozen, unbaked, for up to 3 months. Assemble the hand pies up to the point of the final egg wash, and then freeze them flat on a sheet tray for 24 hours. Then, transfer to a bag with as much air removed as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. The pies can be baked from frozen. Doesn't get much easier than that! Bake them as directed plus 10 additional minutes or so.

More Fruit Pie Recipes

• Sweet Cherry Pie
• Strawberry Cream Pie
• Spiced Blackberry Pie
• Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

I am so honored when you make a recipe from my site! If you make these Cherry Hand Pies, please leave a comment and a star rating with your experience! If you have any questions about this recipe, feel free to comment here, too!