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
So, for pumpkin pie would you need a crust? I'm guessing not…
Yay–thanks for posting this! I bought some of those jars last year intending to make the cupcake-in-a-jar things but have never gotten around to it, and I think the pie idea will be easier! This will be darling for the ladies I visit teach!
LOVE IT!!!
This is such a good idea. I love pie!
Holy cow those are BEYOND cute! Only need to find me some of those little jars and then it's on!
Btw, I can't remember if I mentioned that I made & blogged about your cinnamon caramel popcorn. VERY good stuff!
~ingrid
Seriously? Those are so freakin' adorable! [I know everyone's already used that word, but I can't help it!] What an awesome idea and what a great gift those will make. Seriously need to get myself a pastry-cutter-thing and get over my fear of pie making… Pumpkin pie in a store-bought frozen crust is as good as it gets at our house! I love all the variety for the tops, too – lattice, crumb topping, cute cut-out. How fun!
How cute and adorable!! What a great idea for gifts for the holidays!
Im here from Lollychops and now im in the mood for some apple pie {Yummy} Thanks for the great ideas! Now can this work with just any old pie? there are so many out there and so little time. Great Xmas idea also along with lollys brownie in a jar idea. Hmmm….
They're so cute! I bet you could fill em with Kate's Chicken Pot Pie filling, too. I love frozen pot pies but they are so big and caloric, so it would be nice to have little mini ones that are a bit healthier!
OMG pot pie. Fantastic idea…. Sheppard pie …. possibilities galore!!!
These are adorable!!! I cannot wait to try these mini pies in a jar!!! Great gift idea!!!!!!!!! Love them, and love this blog!!!!
so so cute!
Bethany-
My unbaked pies took about 45 minutes to cook still.
And don't ask me how the frozen jars don't break, but none of mine have!
Such a fun idea! I have a couple questions:
1) what would the baking time and temp be if you do not freeze them?
2) How do the jars not break going straight from the freezer to the hot oven???
Absolutely adorable. Of course, now I have "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here" from Schoolhouse Rock stuck in my head.
Oh my, I'm dying of cuteness overload! I'm totally making those this week.
Thanks!
These are just too cute. Really. And I realized that I have a little leaf pie cutter like that, too!!
This is totally cute! And my neighbors will love them for christmas!! 🙂
I just got my marinade in the mail (from the giveaway) and I love it- Thank you so much! I (and my baby) really appreciate the low carb alternative!
So cute! I love that the jars make cute little single serving pies. Can't wait to give these a try!
this is A D O R A B L E !!!
WOw, what a great idea, I loved it so much I had to post it on one of my blogs here : naomialice.blogspot.com
Thank you THANK YOU!
N:)
Ooh sorry! Lucious is Luke's log in.
Nathaly- I still do it too, I'm sorry!
This look so cute and great gift for christmas. Love them, good work girls!
unbelievably ADORABLE!!!! LOVE the idea… LOVE IT!!
Thank you Nathaly!!!!!
These are adorable! Thx for sharing!
Thank you-Thank you!!!
I love this idea!
I am making this for the sweetest little 3 year old boy [grandson] and 'sometimes sweetest' 78 year old boy [daddy] this evening.
I hug you.
These are so fabulous (the lattice topped pie is so cute I want to ask it out on a date… sorry Sara)! hehe
It was a real blast doing this little co-post with you guys. I'll be happy to come back anytime!
Good Pie HUGS!
Yay! I knew you girls could make this adorable! I'll be giving these away for Christmas. Sara….NaTHaly? Still?? For shame. 🙂
Totally adorable.
And I got the short & round genes and have a tall, skinny mom. Sometimes life isn't fair. 🙂
Me too!!!
Absolutely adorable! I am going to do this! Thanks!
oh my! cutest idea ever! I love them popped out of the jars, knowing my luck, they'd bust open and make a mess. haha. Is glass ok to be kept frozen for long? I'd love to try this!
Yes, no problem keeping glass in the freezer for extended periods. Think about your window panes on your house, they survive the long winter and canning jars are even tougher.
The only way the glass will break is if it full up with liquid and sealed without any expansion room but these pies have room at the top.
Happy Baking!