Claire Saffitz's Irresistible Fried Cherry Pies | Dessert Person

Claire Saffitz's Irresistible Fried Cherry Pies | Dessert Person
Cherries hold a special place in my heart, and it's no surprise they feature prominently in my book. I simply couldn't resist sharing a variation of the classic sour cherry pie, a dessert that brings me so much joy. That's why I've taken my definitive recipe for Sour Cherry Pie from Dessert Person and transformed it into these delightful fried mini hand pies.
To ensure the best results, I recommend using frozen sour cherries. Unless you're in certain parts of the country during early July, frozen cherries are more readily available (I always keep a stash of them year-round, pitted and frozen during the summer season). The advantage of using frozen cherries lies in their ability to release their juices easily, which can then be cooked down and thickened to prevent the filling from oozing out of the pastry.
#clairesaffitz #pie #cherry
Fried Sour Cherry Pie Ingredients:
1 3⁄4 pounds (795g) frozen pitted sour cherries, thawed (about 5 2⁄3 cups)
2⁄3 cup granulated sugar (4.7 oz / 133g)
1⁄4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 1⁄8 teaspoon Morton kosher salt, plus a generous pinch
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄8 teaspoon almond extract
1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
2 rectangular portions All-Purpose Flaky Pastry Dough (page 331), chilled
All-purpose flour, for rolling
6 cups neutral oil (2.9 lb / 1.3kg), such as peanut, for deep-frying
1 1⁄4 cups confectioners’ sugar (4.9 oz / 138g)
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:13 Ingredients & Special Equipment
03:20 Roll Out the Pie Dough
04:43 Make the Filling
06:51 Cook the Cherries
10:03 Finish the Filling
12:34 Form the Pies Part 1: Fried
14:36 Form the Pies Part 2: Baked
15:58 Fry the Pies
18:14 Make the Glaze
19:14 Glaze the Pies
20:26 Serve
23:04 Chicken Cam
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Video Series:
Producer/Director: Vincent Cross
Camera Operator: Calvin Robertson
Editor: Hal McFall
Assistant Editor: Asher Rogers
Theme Song: Michael Guggino
Animation Credits:
Character Designer/Animator: Jack Sherry
Character Rigger: Johara Dutton
Background/Prop Designer: M. Cody Wiley
Background Illustrator: Jagriti Khirwa

[@skilletfan932]

the tiny sound effects (glass breaking) just make me smile, thank you editor! Edit: YO EDITOR WITH THE EDITING THE BURNS OUT YO NICE JOB! WHOA!

[@ewoo251]

glass breaking at 6:04 was actually kinda subtle -- made me do a double-take before my brain caught up and got the joke :D

[@asuban]

Would be nice to see Cal and the other crew try the baked goods you make :)

[@akarirei]

they showed it in the birthday cake video

[@kalinkonrad1853]

I didn’t know how good sour cherries were before Claire and I am so grateful I know now!

[@CSaffitz]

Glad you gave them a try!

[@sunspot42]

@@CSaffitz Try mixing frozen cherries with frozen cranberries. I went to make a cherry pie one time with what I thought were two little bags of frozen cherries...only one of them was a bag of frozen cranberries. It was late and I'd already prepped the crust and dumped one bag of cherries into a saucepan to thaw on the stove, so I was sort of committed. I decided that Ocean Spray Cran-Cherry was my favorite Ocean Spray flavor, so maybe it would work as well in a pie... I got lucky. It was *amazing*. At a 50/50 blend like that you definitely taste the cranberries but the pie wasn't too bitter and I loved the tang it brought. It mostly tasted of cherries still. Cranberries seem to act like MSG for cherries - they really enhance the cherry flavor. Now whenever I make cherry pie I always incorporate about 1/4 cranberries. At that level you don't really taste a distinct cranberry flavor but they really punch up the cherries and I think the resulting pie tastes more of cherries than an all-cherry pie.

[@susanschroeder8021]

This reminds me of my Grandmaw that passed away a couple years ago at age 99-3/4 years old. This was something she and I always made together in the kitchen. When she became frail, we cared for her in her home and she ate 3 square meals a day, snacks, goodies and anything she wanted. She waited until it was my turn to care for her to request fried apple pies. We would do cherry every so often but she had to have cherry ice cream with cherry pies. Bless her and how we miss her. But I have such wonderful memories that I’ll never forget.

[@roxpr2000]

I loved this comment so much. Currently I'm helping take care of my own grandmother who will turn 100 this December. She hasn't been able to cook for many years but I definitely learned a lot from watching her in the kitchen. Your memories of your grandmother are so sweet. 💐

[@susanschroeder8021]

@@roxpr2000 Awhhh, you’re so sweet. I loved my grandma and she was definitely the matriarch of our family. She passed when everyone was knee deep in the pandemic but she passed because he body was just worn out. She never took any meds except centrium vitamins! I love your story just as much and I just know you will be celebrating 100 with your grandma in December!! Tell her you met someone that wishes her an early happy 100th birthday!! I wish her many more birthday blessings!! ♥️♥️♥️

[@TreyMcDonaldAnimator]

You had me at fried hand pies. You're a beast, Claire.

[@sarahhembree9722]

The kitty appearances bring me so much joy lol

[@user-qf4tp2ix5v]

Claire’s recipes are single-handedly making me the favorite family and friend to invite to parties because I always whip up something from her books. Thanks for the help with this socially awkward gal, Claire!

[@tchellyng]

Watching Claire close that perfectly square sheet of dough was very inspiring. It feels like her level of perfection doesn't come from a toxic place but rather from a place of love and respect. She doesn't need to do that perfectly because of pressure but because she feels comfortable and happy with being good at what she loves.

[@livesouthernable]

I love how kitty wants to help make pies…or eat pies, or both! 🥰😂

[@katiemclaneak5182]

OMG. 8:54. She MEASURED the reduction!! How brilliant (and simple) to know you are at the right point! I’m off in reducing in a recipe that says to reduce the 2 tablespoons and oh my gosh I do not have a clue what to tablespoons looks like in bubbling liquid!

[@frosty_ryan]

Same, I never how to tell if something was reduced from half, but now I known that it’s just as simple and easy as measuring it!

[@MimiBrokkoli]

thanks for also baking half of them! frying things is scary 💀 but they look so good, definitely trying these

[@MattJamesHarrell]

Could this be considered a Gourmet version of a McDonald's apple pie?

[@jw77019]

The original McDonald’s “hot apple pie” was discontinued years ago. It was fried. I remember it being labeled “caution: filling is hot.” It was. They were not cooked to order, but they were cooked frequently enough that they were extremely hot and crisp. The closest thing that exists today is Whataburger’s apple pie. It is packaged in the same type of container, but McDonald’s had colorful red apples printed over the entire package. They had cherry pie too but it wasn’t as good or as popular. I am 60. (Big Macs we’re 65 cents when I bought my first in 1969.) The new apple pie (probably introduced 35 years ago) is not fried, although I doubt the calorie count is lower. It’s not very good, in my opinion.

[@lyricbread]

No, because McDonald’s Apple Pies were made with apple. This is made with cherries.

[@dennisc8578]

Claire would not know the answer to this question. You will need to make it and report back.

[@MsShellectable]

@@lyricbread 😁

[@hammerdick82]

I would equate this more to streudels i would think. But like everything she does, much higher quality

[@cibot2]

My beef with McD’s apple pie is that it’s not puffed nor flaky, and the filling is goopy! Would like to try this with blueberries, since cherries are uncommon in my country…

[@brt5273]

I've never liked them or understood them. The only thing I can say good about them is that they are marginally better than the ones at Hardees. How an establishment could come up with something worse and actually sell them is beyond me.

[@princess536]

Love when we get cool variations of things in the book like baking these instead of frying. I feel like I just keep learning techniques all the time

[@catherinek0922]

I would love for you to do more bake-alongss with others! The episode where you made croquembouche with your brother in law was fantastic and I'd love to see some with Cal and Vinny.

[@TheKrinkled1]

mcdonald's fried apple pies were so good, a core memory of my childhood.

[@kungfukaity]

I made these for two family Christmas events and they were a SMASH HIT!! I actually made the pies mini, about 1/3 of the size that Claire did and was able to actually fully deep dry them in my dutch oven. They were perfect and delicious and I will make them again!

[@lisapanozzo-tucker3280]

Thank you for all of your hard work and the time that you spend to make things easier and more manageable for us home cooks! I am going to make these this weekend. FYI if I were at a state fair and you had a booth for these hand pies I would definitely pay you 25$!

[@CSaffitz]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@sixregrets]

okay, this was the final straw, I just ordered both of your cookbooks.

[@paulamorris4727]

I grew up with my aunts making dried apple fried pies. Haven’t had those in years, but oh, the memories❤. I’m a sucker for cherry pie, so I look forward to making these.

[@cristinacaos]

Made these with this year’s first cherries and came back to my KZbin archives to find this video and THANK YOU Claire for this wonderful recipe. My sweet dreams are now made of these 💘

[@Lia-OwO]

Can’t wait to mark these for my dad’s birthday as he not a cake person but loves cherry pie

[@babibamboo8643]

i am LOVING the funnier editing choices. would also love to see the crew trying the foods!

[@MarshallKrueger]

Just moved to the cherry capital Traverse City MI area. Can't wait to pick the sour cherries down the road and make them into these amazing hand pies!!

[@imogenimagine1328]

These videos are so calming and comforting, my older sister bakes and I haven’t lived with her in five years- watching Claire do her thing reminds me of her :)

[@sylviasayers9332]

Sour cherry pie, my absolute favorite. Brings back memories of my sister and I picking sour cherries off my Aunt Toot's cherry tree. Our reward was a pie!❤

[@floraluxla]

Perfect summer pastry! Mmm.

[@cherylgarrett4455]

Fried pies are a Southern thing. I always used dried fruit because it was available year round, and the fruit was sturdy. Instead of triangles, I was taught to use a saucer and cut rounds of pie dough. Other than that, it was very similar to Claires.

[@gabirondel]

I love seeing you make savoury dishes as well! Huge fan of the Dinners series

[@maven.beauty]

Imagine this with Rhubarb and or Raspberry😍😍😍🤤

[@andrewmccrea37]

A new Claire video on my birthday- and what a recipe! Can't wait to make these!

[@CSaffitz]

Happy Birthday!

[@yogawithbrookecorazon9051]

I made these a few weeks ago! Must be in the air. I used a pre-made sour cherry jam and added frangipane (your recipe), bc I adore cherry + almond. I also put them in the air fryer! They turned out fantastic. I would love to see your take on hummingbird cake (or cupcakes?)! It was a favorite of my dear great aunt, but I’ve never found a recipe that I felt confident enough to try.

[@Gleem1313]

Maybe you might answer this, but is it just one recipe of her dough but halved into two portions OR does she double the dough recipe?

[@charlotteandjohn8951]

Our cherry tree was exceptionally generous this year. Will be trying these soon!

[@cynthiabecerra5002]

As someone who loves cooking but has no easy access to an oven, I love to see no baking recipes like this one, thanks!

[@hoperouse9117]

I made these with blueberries instead of cherries and they were out of this world good!

[@AbbeyLove7]

I’ve never liked cherries cause of the sweetness but you make sour cherries sound so good I’m gonna have to try them!!

[@marinaszabo23]

Leftover cherry juice + cherry schnapps + vanilla extract = incredibly delicious drink!

[@arianemariano3807]

They both look amazing! I love cherry pies! 🍒

[@anthonydolio8118]

As always, your dessert looks perfect. My mouth is watering as I watch. Thanks so much.

[@yousefebrahim3473]

The fights between Claire’s counter and her cats will go down in history

[@pegparrish3512]

Have fresh cherries in the fridge and ready to try in my new air fryer! Thanks, Claire! Love to see the girls in the yard. 💕😘

[@AnnapolisGirly]

I hit like before watching because Claire gave me her croissant recipe and I truly need to send her flowers, or perhaps flours.

[@jacquelinetouchie9218]

Oh wow! I can’t wait to try these! It’s cherry season here 🎉

[@kevinpoole6122]

A summer staple from my mom! 🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒

[@carolinemayer5418]

Love this idea! My mum makes mulled spiced cherries, this would be perfect for winter! I love how you explain things and talk about how you’ve tested the recipes before. You and your team put a lot of effort into your recipes and videos and it shows. Love it!

[@sydbofficial]

Sooo cool to see techniques from other recipes come into play again (like the Cherry Jubilee) - it's fun to be able to reuse skills! I totally loved this recipe!

[@cassermck]

I need these immediately

[@flamshiz]

love the breaking glass sound fx. laughed out loud. very nice subtle touch

[@DJ-xk1bp]

Thank you Claire! What a great happy recipe for the weekend!

[@StanErvin-yo9vl]

Love me some Claire! They were dissing you badly. You show them baby girl. Love when you deconstruct a product. The KitKats were #1.

[@jenihansen7201]

This was great, thank you Claire.

[@CSaffitz]

Thank you!

[@kizzer20052]

Claire brings me comfort

[@kb2023]

The fried pies look gooood!

[@jillianprice6279]

Absolutely amazing 🥲 can't wait to try making these!

[@CSaffitz]

Let us know what you think!

[@camilaborjac]

These pies are soooo good!! I am absolutely in love with your pie dough, so flaky!! I made them with blackberries and they turned out so delicious 🤤

[@J0ssySkull]

I am a sucker for cherry pie. I used to buy the 99 cent cherry pies that they sell at gas stations and these remind me so much of those! I'm gonna have to give them a shot. Thank you Claire! I hope one day to be able to purchase one of your cookbooks

[@msdos6670]

Made this but baked in the air fryer....it was sooooo good!

[@Cstylinn]

I appreciate you showing baking method as well. Cherry is my favorite but I can't have all that oil. These both look delicious!🍒

[@ellcubed]

These were the first thing I made when I bought your book. Having been raised with tart cherry pies, I knew immediately they would be 'to die for'; and they were! I had to watch this video - twice 🙄.Probabaly gained 2 pounds just from watching, but so-oo worth it. You are the best, Claire❣Thank you so much 🥰

[@bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb-]

I love that you include your kitties in the video. They add character to your home and your baking and recipes. Thank you Claire for representing people with White Forelock, aka poliosis or "poliosis circumscripta". Rogue from the X-Men introduced general populous. Claire is our modern day Rogue.

[@dennisc8578]

My son asked for these for his birthday... At the end of the year. Then he was lamenting that he wished i was as good at baking as you. I try. I really do.

[@princessalways4eva]

The fried looks mmm,mmmm good! Tfs.🤗

[@laurenschenck5355]

So pretty and cute and amazing piece of pie’s wonderful for summer ❤

[@gemmacasement1600]

2:06

[@EatCarbs]

Baked or Fried.. Yes. Thanks for the video

[@MarioMVasilev]

My town is known for it's Cherries across Bulgaria. I have to try these.

[@didisinclair3605]

Oh how I love sour cherries!! Every year I anxiously await their season. I go up to Love Apple farm in Ghent NY, for pick your own. Pitting them is the pits.. but as cherry pie is, imho, the BEST pie, worth every bit of work. I will be making these for sure!!!! Thanks, Claire!!!

[@Verlisify]

Its incredible. The recipes never end

[@CSaffitz]

Glad you like them!

[@petbird19]

Who ever is doing the audio is hilarious! Love it!

[@lstein0]

Oh! That last bit of drained cherry juice, use it for the drizzle. YUM!

[@lainyjada3666]

Claire! Sour cherry pie is my FAVORITE! I have to say, you MUST bite the food you make at the end of your video!! Watching you eat it is the grande finale! You have to tell us how it tastes! How it feels in your mouth! How it makes you feel!! DON’T LEAVE US HANGING!!!

[@hhueter]

I didn’t know you had a second cook book out. The first one got me into desserts. I’m going to try to make these for a trip I have coming up soon.

[@lisacothron1208]

I have to say, I literally teared up when I saw this. My late mother was "the fried pie" lady at church and lodge events. She typically made dried apple and dried peach pies, using dried apples and dried peaches she made herself. She baked the pies, after being frustrated that the filling would come out of the pie.Her crusts were a bit thinner than what you show. Now, I'm just awaiting your help with baking for those of us with gluten and dairy sensitive family members.

[@aliciaf1055]

She sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing your memories with us.

[@XENONPLASMA]

They look delish!

[@LissetteRominaYT]

I loved everything about this video, especially the cat.

[@darcelknowles8665]

My Grandmother was a German from Russia and she made something called greble(sp). It was a sour cream based dough that was fried in lard and sprinkled with sugar, I have tried to recreate it but couldn't. Like all grandmothers when she made it she made the process look so easy.

[@brady376YT]

There used to be a little fried pie place near my house that served fried hand pies like this and I have been missing them since they closed. I may have to make some of these now

[@jaloux8583]

I’m in love, Harris kick rocks bro.

[@carrutc2]

Omg I now need to re-watch Claire making pizza rolls back in Bon Appetit day. One of my favourites

[@parisXxpedalsXx1]

Look absolutely delicious! Do these have to be refrigerated?

[@cjcampos79]

I would do baked because I don’t love the work of frying and the smell in the house! Def making these.

[@kenobi7584]

I love hand pies!

[@johnsprague4914]

That drag queen that did the spoof of you (in good fun) was HYSTERICAL.

[@manof1000voices]

Yes please!

[@emmyali920]

OOOOH!! These look delicious!!! I am going to fry them with apples and eat them with some vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. OMG that sounds AMAZING!!!

[@Skorpse]

I love chaussons so much!

[@danielmejia5249]

it looks so gooooooooooooood

[@wakeboyy]

Would love to see you tackle a baklava! I'm definitely going to try this cherry pie though, looks delicious!

[@jolantapogoda3849]

Ummm yummy 😋 yummy

[@sakuraiblossom128]

we love you Claire

[@leesagrrl]

They look AMAZING, Claire!!! What Sugar Substitute would you use for Diabetics? Or is there even one that works in Pasties et al?

[@dwaynezilla]

14:46 he's so happy!

[@MsShellectable]

Oh my gah. Tooo goood. I'd love a bit of cardamom in in the filling too.

[@h7opolo]

incredibly yummy

[@erinh2077]

lol the little *plunk* of your kitty cat landing on the floor

[@M_Ladd]

Delicious! Great job! Thank you very much! Are there any fur balls?

[@amymcluskie8508]

This is my saturday project sorted😂 would love to see Claire make my favourite pie - pastel de nata

[@daniellira3295]

Would be awesome to see you recipe testing!

[@betsybarber7161]

I made half the batch fried and half baked, and it was a fun way to explore the diversity of the different techniques. Both were amazing in their own way.

[@kenashariggs1343]

did you make her pastry dough or did you buy it?

[@betsybarber7161]

@@kenashariggs1343 I made her recipe. Absolutely worth the effort. It’s just my husband and I, so I used 1 portion of the dough and half the filling to make them fried one weekend, then kept the other portion of dough and other half of the filling in the fridge, and make the baked half the next weekend. Held up well!

[@kenashariggs1343]

@@betsybarber7161 that’s great! I was wondering if I should put the effort into making the dough. I’m scared !🙈 I love when people post their experience/challenges when making recipes. Thank you!

[@betsybarber7161]

@@kenashariggs1343 I’m sure they will taste great, whichever route you take! I will say that the dough is pretty easy to throw together, it just may not look as pretty and neat as Claire’s (at least mine never is). Best of luck! Have fun!

[@sneakybuns]

i would love to see you recreate the tim hortons garlic n herb lattice top pastry, im sure the home made version would taste amazing :)

[@joelcostanzo123]

So great! Would love to see some cannolis from Claire! 🇮🇹

[@madtown2048]

Hi Claire, this is a beautiful recipe, hope to try one day. Watched you since BA and you were an instant favorite. I have a humble suggestion, could you use the remaining cherry juice you suggested to save after you made the filling to incorporate in the sugar glaze? You could set aside some of the glaze and add the juice to it. Drizzle the white vanilla and come back and drizzle the pink one from the cherry juice. This would be the cherry on top 😉. Flavor and a pop of color.