Mini apple pies with cherries

Method

1. Prepare the crust: finely chop the almonds to make a sort of flour.
2. Mix it with the white flour, make a big well in the centre and add sugar, a pinch of salt, the vanilla extract, the cold butter cut into cubes and egg yolks.
3. Knead well until you get a smooth mixture. Wrap it in clingfilm and leave to rest in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: pit the cherries and put them into a pan.
5. Add the sugar and cook over a medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
6. Then remove the cherries leaving the syrup in the pan.
7. Peel and core the apples, cut them into cubes, put in the pan with the cherry syrup and soften over a low heat for 10 minutes.
8. Leave to cool, then add back the cherries.
9. Take the pastry out of the fridge and soften it a little by kneading it in your hands.
10. Roll out the pastry into a thin disk and line 6 single portion baking tins, previously buttered and floured.
11. Crumble 2 shortbreads on the bottom of each mini pie, then add the apple and cherry filling and cover with another thin disk of pastry by pressing right on the edges.
12. Bake in preheated oven, static, at 190 °C for 20-25 minutes.
13. Leave to cool, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.

This recipe was created by the foodblogger Elena Levati for Noberasco

Chef's tip

If cherries are not in season, feel free to replace them with the fruit you like best! Apple and oranges, apple and pears, apple and peaches.. these are all great combinations!

Serving suggestion

Serve with a nice cup of tea!

Wine selection

Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry, Moscato or Passito.

Family tip

If you want to make your little pies a little crunchier, you can add some crumbled nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds..) on top of the filling, before sealing them with the pastry layer.

Dish history

There's something magical about homemade pies: just thinking about them evokes memories of cosy Sunday afternoons at home, mum baking in the kitchen, the aroma of fruit and sugar all around, and a cup of tea waiting for us. Apple pies are among the most famous and loved cakes, not only in Italy, but in many countries around the globe.. in the end, simple, genuine things are always the best.