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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thanks! also, i don't know if this has been answered already or not, but when you give these as gifts do you pre-bake them so they just need to be heated or give them frozen?
ps these are seriously the greatest things ever and i can't wait to make them.
Jess- not a dumb question at all! All you need to do is make sure they are clean and dry. That's it!
ok this might be a dumb question…do i have to do anything to prepare the cans before (or after) filling them?
Oh! I forgot to add that I found wide-mouth mini jars at a local grocery store called Woodman's (you may have one near you.) But, they are wider and more squatty…but very cute! I'll be posting pics on my blog soon with details.
Thanks for the idea! I made them for Thanksgiving place holders yesterday for 10 guests and they were a hit! I'm going to bake mine and my hubby's tonight! YUM!
We now have a new Thanksgiving Tradition thanks to Our Best Bites. My children 6 and 7, were very pleased to make 12 pies. 2 Peach, 2 Blue Berry, 4 Mixed Berry and 4 Apple. Some with your crumbled topping, some lattice, and some just topped. They would like to give them out as teacher gifts for Christmas. GREAT IDEA from them!
decided to make these today for thanksgiving. i made cherry and apply. i think i put too much filling in b/c my tops popped off! i can't wait to try them, i'm sure they will be a huge hit tomorrow even with popped tops.
I wish this would work with custard pies!! It would be ideal for coconut loving me.
If some are worried about the frozen jars breaking when placed in a hot oven, I would suggest the following.
Place them on the baking sheet in a cold oven. Then turn the temperature to 375. That way, the pies will slowly warm up while the oven warms up. You might have to bake them a bit longer if you have not preheated the oven.
These are terrific! I'd like to make a whole load of them. Maybe it's time to buy that extra freezer for the garage!
I just stumbled on your blog from who know where and found these pies in a jar. What luck!
Love, love, love the idea. Thanks so much for the very clear tutorial. I wonder if I could find these jars in my travels through regular stores before I order from amazon?
This has got to be the most creative idea for individual pies that I have EVER seen. I'm so excited, I even have those small canning jars!
These are so cute!! I love the lattice, heart, and leaf ones! Wow!
Thank you ever so much for this friendly tutorial. I made a bunch of these (or versions of them) for housewarming party favors and they were a huge hit. Of course I blogged about them and linked this tutorial since it was so helpful. Thanks Again!
My chicken pot pies in a jar are in the oven right now. I however used pint size wide mouth jars because my husband laughed at me when I brought home the mini ones for the family. However I'm planning on lots more batches- and think the mini ones will be great for baby food- for my older I used to buy frozen pot pies for a yummy meal- my new baby will get homemade ones!
Love these!! The bad news is that I cannot find the jars
ANYWHERE!
They are sold out on the websites that I could find them.
Anybody have a source for them?
I have a pretty good source for the jars. E-mail [email protected] with what you want and address for shipping and will get you a quote. Payment can be pay pal.
Can split boxes.
Carol
I've made cake in a jar and sealed them to give people but this is really cuter and I like pie better than cake anyhow.
can someone send me the cake in a jar? Sounds wonderful, as does this pie!
what about the cheesecakes?
Thanks
cl
I love your idea! I will be linking on myskinnypurse.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Tiffany
[email protected]
These are amazing! I bake a lot of pies for my friends…these are so much cuter!!
I cannot wait to try these out for the Holidays 🙂
Wow…these are so adorable. What a great idea for Christmas gifts for coworkers. Love it!!!
Suburbangrandma.com
This is the most genious thing I have ever seen!!! I always make & freeze my thanksgiving pies ahead…this year there will be jar pies!!! Brilliant!
Okay, that lattice one – it says you have WAY too much time on your hands. LOL. I came over here from Sew, Mama, Sew and will be staying. I love your blog and I know what I'm doing with the rest of my apples today. Thanks so much to you and Lolly!
I made these today—they are just as cute as can be and as easy as can be. I made cherry & apple. Next time I would like to try pumpkin. I will be making these to have on hand for gifts. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks Kate for the apple pie recipe, now if we could just get a Pumpkin one.
Lisa, Sara posted the link to the apple pie in the post, but here it is:
https://ourbestbites.com/2008/07/apple-pie.html
Hope that helps! 🙂
If anyone would care to give me some recipes it would be appreciated. i bought some jars and was going to let my Daisy Girl Scout troop help me make this and earn a patch. If you guys have some recipes for pumpkin, apple what ever we will take them You can email me at [email protected]
Thanks a million
Lisa
Wow! I just got on your site today and am already drooling over my keyboard! I am definitely going to make these cute little pies for Thanksgiving!! How fun that will be!
I've made these before! I made pumpkin and gave them as gifts to my clients. I put a leaf cutout on the top, baked them and dropped them off to my clients…they LOVED THEM!!!!
what an awesome idea! thanks 🙂
I just love your idea of your single pies. I can't wait to try it and give as gifts. There are many ppl who are single and just don't want a whole pie then the pie is wasted. Thanks to Joanne – Craft Passions who led me your Blog, once again thanks Joanne!
Carrie McVeigh-Crow