George Washington’s birthday is coming up a week from today and I wanted to give you all notice about a suitable way to celebrate—with an All-American Pillsbury™ recipe, of course! He may not have really cut down a cherry tree (how did that rumor ever get started, and why would anyone care in the latter half of the 18th century? Questions, questions…) but these little individual cherry pies are quite tasty. 

When I was growing up in the 1910s we used to get February 22nd off as a school holiday but then at some point Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday morphed into one jarringly overly encompassing “President’s Day” holiday so that it took in all the good, the bad, and the ugly. Traditionalist that I am, but not in a Federalist Society sense, I try to make a little room in my culinary schedule specifically for The Father of Our Country.

Ingredients:

1 box (14.1 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts (2 Count), softened as directed on box
1 cup fruit cherry pie filling (from 21-oz can)
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons coarse white sparkling sugar 

How to:

Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

Unroll 1 pie crust on lightly floured work surface. Using rolling pin, roll pie crust into 12-inch round. Using 3-inch round cookie cutter (in my case, the rim of a juice glass), cut out 16 rounds from pie crust, rerolling scraps as needed. Repeat rolling and cutting with second pie crust.

Place 8 rounds on each cookie sheet. Spread 1 tablespoon pie filling in center of each round, leaving an edge. Brush edge of rounds with beaten egg. Using small (1 to 1 1/2-inch) cookie cutter of your choice (in my case, the rim of a liqueur glass), cut out center in each of the remaining 16 rounds. Top each bottom with cut out dough round, pressing down on outer edges with fork to seal.

The header image will show you what this should look like.

Brush tops of dough rounds with egg; sprinkle sugar on tops.

Bake 17 to 19 minutes or until golden brown on top and edges. Remove to cooling rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.