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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Can you bake these then seal them and send them in a care package overseas? Will the sealing keep them fresh? I don’t want to poison my husband! lol
Could you make pumkin pie using the recipe? I am not a cooking but I am trying to learn.
After 3 years, I am finally making these! I’ve been calling my last baby “pie” since she was a few months old so it is only fitting that she has a “pie” themed 1st birthday party. I am giving these away as party favors and I was wondering if they took a full hour to bake if the guests are only baking one in their oven?
Thanks for a great idea well presented. I’m going to try chicken/turkey pot (jar?) pies to take to work for lunches. I like how your crusts are rather thin and yet the pies seem quite intact after baking (except the cherry!)
I found the jars with clip at a reasonable price at Williams=Sonoma
I love these and have made them several times with fruit pies and the chicken pot pie recipe. Is there any difference in cook time for making a pumpkin pie version? I think a regular pumpkin pie take a little longer to cook than the fruit variety and didn’t know if the 45 mins should be drawn out a little longer.
This is perfect for me , I Think you are a genius!!!!!!
So i came across this recipe about 2 months ago, and even though I didn’t have the jars, i book marked the website but then forgot about it. Yesterday I was at whole foods and I happened to see a pack of the jars and i was like “omg now i can make the jar pies!” so i bought them and i was so glad I had saved the recipe.
I just finished making these for the first time and am waiting for them to come out of the oven. I made the pie crust with no problem and since i didn’t have that cool wire tool to cut up the butter, i used a fork. I used the apple pie filling with a little tweaking since i love basically any dessert made with apples. Even without the baking and decorations, these look totally adorable, and if these turn out to be yummy as i made them, i’ll focus more on the decoration next time and ask for a friend’s opinion.
thanks so much for posting this great idea! I found all the pictures really helpful to give me an idea of what to do.
You have a new fan….Fab site!
Hi there! LOVE your blog! Super cute idea for the apple pie in a jar! Thanks for posting it! You have a new follower!!
I was already geared up to make pies today, but I happend to see this and I tryed one, and OMG it is so neet. Great lunch packer for the kids.
I have used white cake mix on top, about 2tbs, then a pat of butter, bake as usual.
My fiance’ sent me this idea! I’ve decided to use them as wedding favors for my southern/country themed wedding! 😀 I’m so excited! Thank you!
this is really cute! will need to go and buy some jars =)
Thanks so much for the great idea! I actually used it for a preschool lesson as we talked about the letter A. We made apple cobblers in a jar (since cobbler is a little simpler than pie) and it was a big success! I linked back to your blog and you are welcome to check it out if you want. Thanks again!
http://chipmanscornerpreschool.blogspot.com/2012/08/mini-apple-cobbler.html#
These are just ALmost too cute to eat!!! It reminds me of the applesauce-cake-in-a-jar recipe, which incidentally is theoretically shelf-stable for up to a year (for those asking about shipping a jarred dessert.) Personally, I’ve never successfully kept one in the cupboard for more than a week. Anyhow, if anyone’s interested, here’s a web addy: http://www.food.com/recipe/applesauce-cake-in-a-jar-469603
I made these pies for my son’s rehersal dinner “favors”. Everyone LOVED them. I wanted to show you some picutes but don’t know how…
I made them in the short squatty jars and it looked like a mini-pie!
Would this trick work with say…Pumpkin Pie? Or Pecan? or even a merangue(SP)? I’m also wondering if I can do this with Chicken Pot Pies, or Shepard’s pie….Hmmmm….THoughts?
You can bake pretty much anything in a jar 🙂
Simply lovely – my guy would love to find these in the freezer! Plus, I think they’d make great co-worker gifts. 🙂
I love your pies and brownies in the jar and have made them for me and given them as gifts. I love love love key lime pie and was wondering how easy (or difficult, but hopefully easy) it would be to make a key lime pie in a jar. mmmmmm
Thanks,
Carly
1 word ” amazing “
Hi! I’m new in this home-based baking biz and was trying to find some great ideas to have some variety to offer when I came across this page and your website (even though it has been like 3 years or so ….)Your idea of pie-in-a-jar in fantastic!! Thank you for the interesting info and for sharing it. Can’t wait to start this project. Now to find that jar in this side of the world 😀 Roz
My daughter wants me to make these for her Fall Bridal Shower, can you tell me how long these will freeze? How nice would that be to make these ahead of time then take them out and bake them fresh right before guest arrive giving the house an awesome country fresh smell. Yummy!
I’m really not positive, but certainly up to a month.
Does anyone have a calorie count on any of these. I love them! Our school had a Bake Sale and one of he gals made dozens of these and they all sold. I bought 2 and LOVED them both. Just wondering how much damage they will do to the waisteline. lol She offered, Apple, Strawberry (sooo good) mixed berry and Blueberry.
ok,now you have me looking for excuses to give gifts out, volunteering to do party favors, accepting dinner invitation, etc. just to give a pie-in-the-jar to someone.
Well my blackberry little lattice cuties are in the oven now! SOOOOOOO much fun! Can’t wait to taste!
we are making mini apple crisp for my daughters wedding this fall. What an absolutely wonderful idea!!
This is absolutely the cutest idea I have ever seen! I am going to try it this weekend. Thank you for such a wonderful site.
Perfect solution for my husband who is always asking if there is a dessert….and I don’t need to eat it!
I saw a similar demonstration of these little pies in jars on Martha Stewart. Martha reassured the viewers that her management had checked with Kerr Canning Jars regarding safety, and were reassured that if these jars can withstand a boiling water bath or pressure cooker, they can withstand oven heat. In fact, Kerr had never thought of marketing the jars with this option and were thrilled to know that people had found another creative way to use them.