These are individual-sized pies made in little glass jars that can go straight from your freezer to your oven to your mouth. SO cute. You can make these with store-bought crust and canned filling or jazz it up with homemade like we do. And just for added cuteness we teamed up with crafting expert Lolly for some personalized tags. These are just about the best little gift from the kitchen you could share with someone!
Pie in Jar
This is the type of jar you’ll need.
They’re half-pint jars, but short and squatty instead of tall and skinny (Ya know, like me as opposed to my mother. Why oh why did I have to get the other parent’s genes??!) Mine are made by Kerr (Here’s the link to buy them from Amazon). They’re stinking cute as is, don’t you think? Something about a short squatty jar makes me giddy with the thoughts of fun things I could put inside. Ya know, like PIE. (And also cupcakes.)
Step 1: Pie Dough
The first thing you’ll need is dough. You can use any pie dough you like. Here’s a great tutorial on making a basic crust. That particular recipe will make 4 jars. You can also use the all-butter crust from this post. Or if you’re really in a pinch, even a store bought crust will do.
Step 2: Make a topper and line the jar
Roll out a small handful of dough. This is just for the tops of your pies, so eyeball about that much. Grab the ring part of your jar and use that as your cookie cutter. Brilliant, right? Cut out the tops and set aside.
Use the rest of the dough to line the jars. (No, you do not need to grease them) The great part is that there’s no rolling required! Just take little pieces and press them in. Make sure it’s pressed all the way up to the top of the jar, or pretty close to it.
Step 3: Fill ‘er up
You’ll need about 1/2 C filling for each jar. You can use any filling your little pie-craving heart desires, even (gasp) canned! You can also use the same method shown in the galette post to use any fruit you happen to have around.
Here’s the basic recipe (for 4 pies)
2 C prepared fruit (pitted, diced, peeled, etc.)
2 T sugar- brown or white (use more or less depending on sweetness of fruit)
2 T flour- (again, more if your fruit is super juicy like cherries, less if it’s pretty dry)
1 T butter (divided between the pies)
Seasonings/flavorings- cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and almond extract, citrus zest etc)
Play around with it and come up with something yummy! I made 2 different pies in my pictures: one, a cut-down version of Kate’s Apple Pie and one with fresh cherries and almond extract.
When your filling is all combined, divide it between the jars and dot a pat of butter on top (about 1/4 T)
Step 4: Top it off
Make sure your “lid” has a vent so steam can escape. You can use a knive to make a couple of slits or a tiny cookie cutter to make it decorative. I am in LOVE with these little Autumn Leaf Pie Crust Cutters that my sister gave to me last fall. Oooh, I just saw this year’s set has an acorn in it! I might have to get that one too–how cute is that little acorn??! My little maple leaf is pretty darn cute, too.
When your topper is ready, slip it onto the top of the pie. It will be large enough that the outside edge goes up the side of the dough-covered jar a bit, as show in the picture below. Then use your finger, or a fork (as seen above), to press the 2 pieces of dough together to seal. And nobody even think about mentioning the state of my fingernails.
Another option is to do a crumb topping. I put a basic crumb topping on my cherry pies and they were sooo yummy.
Crumb Topping (for 4-6 pies)
1/4C brown sugar
1/4 C flour
2 Tbs oats
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbs cold butter
Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter. Add oats and stir to combine.
And I couldn’t help but try a mini lattice on one. Eeek! Dying of cuteness overload. (Click here for a how-to on a lattice pattern)
** Optional step here that I HIGHLY reccomend: Brush pie tops with butter and sprinkle with sugar at this point. Yumminess highly instensified!
Step 5: Freeze ’em!
Ready for this? When your pies are all done and topped, place metal lids back on and seal them tight.
Then pop these little cuties in the freezer. There they will stay until you find yourself having an insatiable craving for home-baked goodness. You’ll be reaching for the crumbs at the bottom of the keebler box when suddenly your eyes will light up because you remember you have THESE sitting in your freezer.
Or when you have unexpected guests in need of impressing, or a friend needing to be cheered up, or it’s Thursday…I can think of a million reasons why one should have a constant supply of fresh pie in the freezer.
Step 6: Bake ’em
Now first let me say that one of the biggest concerns from everyone is about the jars breaking in the oven. All I can say it that I’ve baked hundreds of these and never once has a jar broken. These are canning jars- they are designed to be boiled, pressure cooked, etc. So it’s different than putting any ol’ piece of glass in the oven. They bake just fine!But if you’re freaking out then my advice would be this: remove lids from jars and place jars on a baking sheet. Place baking sheet in a COLD oven. Then turn the oven to 375. That will give the jars a chance to warm up slowly as the oven preheats. If you’re really worried you can always let them sit at room temp for a bit first before putting them in a cold oven. Bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the middles are bubbly. If you’re baking them fresh and not frozen they take about 45 minutes.
Depending on your filling you can pop them right out of the jar and onto a plate like so:
Or just eat them right out of the jar. There’s something way more fun about eating it right out of the jar…
And if you have oozing cherry filling, that might be the only option!
Change out your cookie cutters on top for cute holiday versions
Lolly is the brain behind Lollychops. Some of you may remember last year when she designed these cute cute Christmas tags for us to put on our goodies. So of course, I instantly thought of her when I realized that I could not sleep at night knowing these mini-pies could be better dressed. They needed just a touch of Lolly. And she delivered like always with these adorable tags!
All of the directions are right on the tag and you can write a little To/From on it. Plus in true Lolly fashion there’s like, a million different versions to go with any flavor you could possibly imagine.
These little pies are perrrrrrfect for giving. So once you have these cuties made up, download Lolly’s tag set, and get your cute on. People will think you are amazing because not only did you come up with the brilliant idea to make a mini pie in a jar, you also made an adorable personalized tag. Talk about moving up a notch on the popularity ladder.
–> CLICK HERE <– to head over to the Lollychops blog and get all of the instructions and details on downloading and using the tag sets. And here is a direct link to the tags.
All of the rest of you- get baking and have a great week!
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Questions & Reviews
Those are the cutest and the best idea ever.
This may be the most brilliant use for jars ever! And def the most delicious!
So gosh darned cute! Once again, thank you for sharing your practical geniousness.
OH MY GOSH! That is cutest thing I've ever seen! I LOVE your recipes!!
SO CUTE! I could die from the cuteness! Thank you for sharing!
Aaaaaaahhhh! Too cute. Must make. How can someone with a name like "Lolly Chops" ever steer you wrong? 🙂
Found you through Secret-Agent-Josephine.com And wow these are so sweet and delicious. I have made cakes in a jar, but pies would be so wonderful. Thank you!
This is an awesome idea…
i love this idea! so cute!! And I love making jam topper labels, too cute 🙂
For those looking for Jars. Here's the link to the kind I have, made by Kerr. They are available from Amazon, and a lot of other on-line retailers. The wording on the box is: 12 Wide Mouth Half-Pint Mason Jars. #70610-00500 (whatever that # means!)
http://www.amazon.com/Kerr-0500-wide-mouth-mason/dp/B000V85JNO
I purchased mine at a regional store called Cash & Carry. You can use other sized of jars, that should be no problem; they're just a little harder to eat! And make sure you get a wide mouth jar, not one that tapers at the top. I would call around and ask retailers if they have this type in stock. It's worth a little hunting; they're the cutest!
I just tried to find this size of jars and came up empty handed. I was able to find the standard tall 8 ounce "jelly jar" kind and bought a crate just in case – have you tried doing it with the tall jars and had it fail? Where did you buy your jars?
The 4 ounce, wide mouth jars are available at Walmart. You may need to check for availability. I bought a dozen today. They have two kinds but both are wide mouth and 4 ounce.
Oh my, I am so hungry now! I will bookmark this page to come back and make some tasty treasures! Thanks!
These are great! I'm going to bake these and hand them out to all my neighbors =)
Are the jars just regular or wide mouth? I want to go get them but live in a small town and have to travel so I want to make sure when I go I get the right ones. BTW the popcorn recipe was yummy!
Are the jars just regular or wide mouth? I want to go get them but live in a small town and have to travel so I want to make sure when I go I get the right ones. BTW the popcorn recipe was yummy!
There is a link at the top of the page that takes you to the correct jars on amazon. Free shipping!
I to live in small town. We have an ace hardware store. They have any size jar you want in the kitchen aile
Deena
Making them for valentines day
I made the Chicken Pot Pie version of these last night – they were super yummy and super cute!! Thanks!
This is GENIUS!!!! I cant wait to try this out and tell my Father about it (who loves pie too!)
Absolutely fabulous! I love anything that comes in a jar. I can think of a million and a half reasons that I need to make these… That's a lot of pie (and a lot of jars now that I think about it). Is there a pie fairy that will pick up the tab?
I am SO going to make these with my YW!!! Thank you!!
Thanks,Sara!
Hayley- sure, you can put anything in here!
Nedry's- here's the link to the shirts: http://strawberrypearlapparel.blogspot.com/
Oh my GOSH! These are the most amazing little things I've seen in a long time! I think I'll make up a batch for emergency I-just-remembered-it's-your-birthday-today moments.
What a great gift idea! I will be making these this holiday season.
Also, I wanted to buy one of those cute t-shirts for my son for Christmas (dirt that wiggles), but I can't seem to find the link on your blog anymore. What is it again?
Hey gals! Its your picky friend Hayley. I am always trying to change up the recipe…sorry. But I just don't like cooked fruit. Do you think I could a non fruit filling?
How do you feel about nuts and coconut Hayley? This is my alltime favorite non-fruit pie (and I’ve made it without coconut before, no problem)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/lubys-german-chocolate-pie/
OK Sara. These are the cutest thing ever!!
Found through Lolly's site. Love your blog! The pie in a jar is fantastic! I will be doing this!
What a wonderfull, yummy idea!!!! Sounds good to me. I'm definitely going to make these.
Sandra
Ok, I have done mini pies before but these are awesome!! I love it when you can bake right away or freeze some for later. Makes the effort so much more worth the while if you ask me. Like a 2 for 1. Thanks for sharing this fabulous idea! I wonder can you do something like pumpkin pie this way? OOOO or cheesecake?
Katrina
I came over from dear Lolly's and am SO GLAD I DID!!! I want to make a million of these, RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU!!!!!
This is such a cute idea!!!
Love your blog!!!!!!!!