Love Cherry Pies

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min

MAKES: 12 servings

Ingredients

• 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 9 to 10 tablespoons cold water

                                            

For filling you'll need:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 cups fresh or frozen pitted dark sweet cherries, thawed, halved
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Coarse sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter and shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in half; form each into a disk. Wrap separately in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until easy to handle.
2. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, water, cornstarch and lemon juice until smooth. Add cherries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in extract. Set aside to cool.
3. Preheat oven to 400°(200 C). On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut out 12 hearts with a floured 4-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer half of the hearts to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a floured 3/4-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out small hearts from the remaining hearts. (Discard small hearts or reserve for another use.)
4. Spoon 2 tablespoons cherry mixture onto the center of each solid heart. Brush edges of pastry with egg. Top with cutout hearts; press edges with a fork to seal. Brush tops with egg; sprinkle with coarse sugar.
5. Bake 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. While tarts are baking, repeat with remaining dough and filling.
6. Let pies stand 5 minutes before removing to wire racks. Serve warm.