Thursday, May 16, 2019

May is National Strawberry Month

Strawberry Pie in a Jar
May is National Strawberry month. Fresh strawberries are the first fruit to ripen each spring and can be used in recipes from breakfast to dessert. Pick your own fresh strawberries to make this recipe for Strawberry Pie in a Jar from Tablespoon.com. These mini pies are cute, easy to make and you can use Virginia Maple Syrup in the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 box Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust, softened as directed on box

2 lbs. strawberries, hulled and divided
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
Cinnamon Sugar, for topping

Small cookies made from leftover crust for serving (if desired). Use the extra scraps of dough to cut out fun holiday-shaped mini cookies. Sprinkle the cookies with cinnamon sugar and bake. They're a fun and delicious finishing touch to your pies!

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease four 8-ounce wide-mouth canning jars with cooking spray.

Unroll your pie crusts and lay them on a clean surface. Use a knife to cut out four 6-inch circles. Carefully press the dough into the bottom of the jars and up the sides.

Place a piece of parchment paper in each jar to cover the dough. Add pie weights or dried beans on top of the parchment and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Let cool completely before removing the parchment paper and pie weights.

Meanwhile, add 1 pound of strawberries, the maple syrup, brown sugar and vanilla to a saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer 8-10 minutes.

Use a fork to mash the strawberries. Remove from the heat and allow to cool 5 minutes.

Divide the remaining pound of strawberries among the 4 pie-crust-filled jars. Drizzle the strawberry sauce evenly over the strawberries. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours OR serve warm.

If desired, serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a mini pie-crust cookie dusted with cinnamon sugar.

Please be aware that baking in glass jars requires special care. Make sure that the batter or crust in the center of the jar is fully cooked. Never seal the jar while still warm or “can” the baked good for longer-term storage, because that can be unsafe. Always clean and inspect glass baking containers before use. Do not use if you find any chips or cracks, as these can increase the risk of shattering.