Ingredients:
For the Pie Crust:
· 1 1/3 cup flour
· 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1/2 cup lard, very cold
· ¼ cup ice water
· 4 teaspoons cider vinegar
For the Cherry Filling:
2 cups pitted cherries
½ cup sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
¾ cup cherry juice
For the glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2-4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon orange zest
Method:
Read the recipe. Did you read it? Read it again…
Do all of your mise en place for this recipe before beginning. It will help with the timing.
For the Crust:
1. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder in a bowl. Using a scoop, drop small scoops of lard into flour mixture, shaking slightly periodically to make sure lard doesn’t clump. If lard starts to get warm, pop in freezer for 10 minutes.
2. Using a pastry cutter, knives or your hands, cut the butter into the flour until the butter is in small pieces.
3. Add the water and work in gently until a dough has formed. If dough is soft, wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
4. Shape into a ball, and place on floured work surface or between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out until it is large enough to lay across your pie plate. Gently work the dough into the pie dish, shape crust as desired, and cut off any overlaying pie dough. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
For the Filling:
1. Mix cherry juice (if using) sugar and cornstarch together in a small bowl.
2. Place cherries and cornstarch mixture into a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until thickened and bubble.
3. Set aside to cool.
For the Hand Pies:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Roll the pie crust out, shape based on desired shape of hand pies. If doing circular pies, roll out into a circle. If doing rectangles, roll into a rectangle.
3. Place filling in the middle of the pie. Brush edges with water or egg wash to seal. Fold and crimp as desired. Place on lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.
4. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
5. Mix together glaze ingredients and drizzle over hand pies.
6. Serve warm and enjoy!