5/16/11

chocolate dipped cherry-rum hand pies


Cherries soaked in rum are one of my favorite treats. I love to use them in homemade ice creams, use as a topping on ice cream, pour over warm pancakes, and have even thought about making them into a jam. Wouldn't that taste good? A rum-cherry jam? Maybe not kid friendly, but definitely adult friendly. The dark rum marinating fresh tart, ripe cherries...heavenly. Instead of making a cherry pie I wanted to kick it up a notch and make hand pies because I had in the back of my mind (for ages) on taking flaky hand pies and dipping them in milk chocolate. I got the idea (several times) when I would dip strawberries in chocolate. Why not cherries? Well, why not cherry hand pies? Cookies are done this way why not hand pies?
Well, I'm really glad I did, they were so tasty. The rum-soaked cherries, the flaky pie crust and the milk chocolate all paired really nice together. Plus they were super easy to make. If you're ever strapped for time you can easily make these with pre-made pie doughs.




chocolate dipped cherry-rum hand pies
print recipe

2 cups of dark cherries, chopped & pitted (don’t chop too small)
¼ cup of good quality DARK rum
(Might need a pinch or two of white sugar in the filling)

1-2 TB cornstarch, sifted
6 pre made round pie crusts or make your own pie dough
1 egg, beaten for egg wash
¼ cup of half & half and a beaten egg for brushing the tops of the hand pies

Milk or dark chocolate chips for dipping the hand pies in

Cook notes: I don’t have exact measurements here as I did not write the recipe down. The only area you have to look out for is making cooking the filling over heat; you might need 1 or 2 TB of cornstarch to thicken it. Use 1 TB and see how the filling comes along as you heat it up. If it’s too thick add a bit of water or if it’s too thin add some more cornstarch –just watch it as you cook it. I tend to like my pie fillings very thick. Make sure to use a dark rum—they taste better and don’t have that strong alcoholic flavor. I like to sift my cornstarch as it avoids any lumps in the sauce/filling. I used dark cherries; I have not used red cherries—don’t know how they would work. Please taste test the filling after it’s cooked and see if it needs a pinch or two of sugar. Some people love their pie fillings sweet, I do not. But experiment as you go along!

For the marinade:
use a cherry pitter or by hand slice the cherries in half, place in a glass or ceramic bowl and drizzle with dark rum, toss, cover, then refrigerate overnight.

For the filling:
When you are ready to use the cherries, let them come to room temp and mix with a generous tablespoon or TB and ½) of cornstarch. Mix thoroughly. Put into a small saucepan and cook until you have your desired thickness. Take off heat and set aside.

For the pie crusts:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take your egg wash, place in a small dish and beat it well, set aside. Take your other egg wash: the half & half and egg and mix well in another dish, set aside. Use pre made pie crusts or make your own using the recipe I provided above. When you are ready, lay your pie crust on a well floured board, cut the circle in half. Take one half, place about 3-4 TB of the filling on one half, don’t spread the filling to the edges. Take your egg wash, and brush the edges of the pie crust—all edges. Then seal them up. Take the edges and fold them over about a ¼ of an inch all the way around; take a fork and crimp them down. This way you have a pie crust all the way around and it prevents any filling spillage. Now take your half & half and egg wash and brush the tops of the hand pies before baking. Also place a small slit or two on the top and middle of each hand pie to let the steam vent. Bake on parchment lined cooking sheets for about 20-30 minutes or until the tops are light golden brown.
Mine were done around the 30 minute mark.

Let them cool before dipping into melted chocolate. I also topped a couple of mine with fresh coconut right after they had been dipped in chocolate.

37 comments:

  1. Sounds Amazing! I just saw huge bunches of cherries at the farmers market... should have grabbed them!

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  2. mmm so delicious! I think I would have to eat every crumb off the plate! The chocolate dipping really puts it over the top! beautiful

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  3. I need this!!! I'd probably use Bourbon or whiskey in place of the rum. Fantastic idea!

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  4. Oh. my. I want one of these right now. The chocolate dip looks absolutely divine and how can you go wrong with rum soaked cherries?

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  5. oh my, chocolate-covered pie?! LOVE that.

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  6. I need to make some hand pies! I have always wanted too, and dipped in chocolate would be awesome=)

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  7. Every time I come here, I'm like OH YES. THIS IS WHY DAWN AND I ARE SOULMATES. I shriek it actually. My upstairs neighbor probably wonders who the hell "Dawn" is.

    Nothing better than rum-soaked fruit, but especially cherries and especially covered in buttery dough and dipped in chocolate. Swoon.

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  8. Oh good lord. Amazing. an I get drunk off these? I hope so.

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  9. I used to make a sour cherry whiskey jam- if that gets ne brownie points LOL. I would eat three of what you got cookig there. I think that a good dark chocolate would be money there though, what do you think?

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  10. What a decadent way to fill AND dip these treats! I've been wanting to make hand pies for a long time... this looks like the best way to start!

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  11. Chocolate and cherries! I like the sound of this!

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  12. Everything you make is extraordinary! I LOVE your creativity!

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  13. DAAAAAMN GIRL. Those look amazing. Ughhh I love cherries paired with dark flavors like this! Awesome.

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  14. Oh my. Just gorgeous!

    I love the combination of chocolate, cherries and rum.

    Love it.

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  15. These hand pies look beyond amazing! Love that the cherries are drenched in rum.....

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  16. Cherry and chocolate is a classic fave! Love love love the new twist!

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  17. Well, you've certainly answered the question of how to make pie even more delicious... dip it in chocolate, of course! Love it.

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  18. I'm so happy cherries are back in season.

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  19. cuteee :)
    hope you like my blogg too :)

    cocinaconmama.blogspot.com
    cocinaconmama.blogspot.com

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  20. amazing and delicious, you have an amazing blog and delicious recipes! gloria

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  21. You had me with the words RUM. CHERRIES, and CHOCOLATE. OMG, you come up with the most amazing ideas Dawn!

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  22. Oh gosh..you make the most amazing things!

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  23. These look outrageous. I've heard of chocolate-dipped cookies, but a whole hand pie that's dipped? Now, that is pure decadence. Bring it on -- please! ;)

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  24. Me too i love cherries and rum - i have to try that ice cream recipe. But these hand pies look amazing. YUM! As always just over the top from you :)

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  25. I'll make you ANY of my Mexican dishes if you make me one of these beauties. Please?

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  26. Hiding this post from my husband or I'll be in the kitchen cooking!

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  27. There is something so wondrously, deliciously efficient about these treats: they combine all the best food & drink indulgences (fresh fruit, chocolate, spirits, buttery pastry) in one portable form. All the better to hold one in each hand... 8-D

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  28. Oh my gosh! They look so amazing! :D

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  29. Oh my goodness... Those look like I need to make them asap. And, beautiful photos.

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  30. I have to tell you, I love cherries and I love pie, but I don't love cherry pie. And yet. I would totally eat this, you know, if you forced me.

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  31. When I make this slaw for my husband would you mind if I add it to my blog? He loves slaw and LOVES blue cheese. He rarely gets excited about much (pretty even tempered guy) but I think I may just be able to get a rise out of him with this little ditty.

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  32. cherries are my favorite. soak them with booze and then cover them with buttery pastry and chocolate? i'm sold. and how did you know dark rum is my favorite? :) bet it would also be good w/amaretto...

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  33. I've never seen a chocolate dipped pie but OH MY what a fantastic idea!

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  34. chocolate, cherries, pastry. It's morning and I have an empty fridge staring back at me and I cannot get these out of my head! They look beautiful

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  35. These would be fantastic with Captn Morgans Passion Fruit Rum.. Try it..I have!! :)

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  36. these hand pies have been enhanced in not one way, not two ways, but three ways! cherry--mmm, okay. rum? yum. chocolate dipping? a dream come true. bravo, dawn, bravo.

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