Heart Pies
Makes 4
Prep time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Pastry
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup cold butter
1/4 cup ice water
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Place 1 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
in a shallow bowl. Using a grater, grate 1/2 cup butter into the flour
mixture, fluffing the shreds with flour as they fall from the grater.
Break up any clumps with your fingers. Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar into 1/4
cup ice water and sprinkle on the flour mixture, stirring with a big fork,
or your fingers until the water is absorbed into the flour and a dough
comes together. You may need more or less water. Do not overwork the dough.
Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes while you make the filling.
Filling
1 cup frozen strawberries (also wonderful are cherries or blueberries)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cool water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Place 1 cup strawberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small sauce pan.
Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the cornstarch slurry
and cook until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cool.
Assembly and baking
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons coarse sugar
2 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate (optional)
Preheat oven to 400º. Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface to
about 1/8-inch thick. If you have these fancy-dancy pie molds, follow
the directions on the box. If you don’t…. cut out 8 large hearts. You
will have to re-roll scrapes to get 8 hearts. In 4 of the hearts cut out
tiny hearts to create a vent and show the filling. Place a heaping tablespoon
of filling in the center of the plain heart. Place the cut out heart on
top and press the edges together. Use a fork to seal the edges. Place
on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden. If you like, drizzle melted chocolate
on the plate to serve, or over the pies. Or dust with confectioners’ sugar.
Or just dig right in and enjoy!
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