So today is the wrap up for Fun with Jars. It will be moved aside for Farm Fresh Fridays now that the Farmer's Markets and Fruit Stands are open in Ontario. I thought I would send it off with a big bang. I've been dying to make these for ages. So I hauled my butt to the store to buy wide mouth canning jars. I think it's the only kind I don't have. I picked up a case and got busy. Making pies in jars. Who knew? So much fun, so cute and such a huge pain in the rump. It's really flipping hard to get the dough in the jars properly. I mean wicked hard. I tried just cutting round pieces bigger than the jar but as you push them into the jars they fold over all over the place and you end up with a big old weird top. I tried strips but that looked weird. Finally I just starting winging it. Piecing bits together as I went. You get some spillage but heck it's pie so who gives a flip. I mean who in their right mind would refuse to eat a pie based on it not  being perfect. Okay so maybe Martha would but it's not like we're buds or anything. It's not like she's gonna show up here and then stomp off cuz she saw some pie leaked out the bottom. And quite frankly Martha if you're that uptight then I don't want to share my jars with you. So there!
So for all you less uptight people I'd love to share my jars with you. I mean look at these things. They are beyond adorable. Who would not love little apple or cherry pies served in cute little jars? You'd have to be out of your mind not to love these. I am totally in love with them. I want to marry them. I really do. Seriously.
Apparently you can actually freeze these little suckers. Again, who knew? I think it's such a cute idea. I think next spring I am going to plan ahead for our scorching, blazing hot summers and make a gazillion of these before it gets hot. Then I can just pop one or ten out every time I need a snack. Seems like a reasonable plan to me. I mean who wouldn't want to be able to snack on pie on a moments notice? I know I am all for pie snacking on the fly.
I've done Shepherd's Pie in a jar before but I had never done fruit pies. So I had no idea what temperature to cook these at so I did some ninja googling and came upon Squawkfox- Tiny Tarts: How to Make Pie in a Jar. That site is a mountain of information. I'd never seen it before so I had a blast poking about. It gives a way better tutorial than I'm about to so seriously you should scoot over there and see how it's done by pros. Cuz here you're just getting my slapped together jars Martha won't even look at. Martha honey, stop making the rest of us feel like under-achievers. Seriously woman, drop a pie on the floor, wear a shirt with a stain on it in public, heck let us see you covered in pet hair. I still can't figure out how you never have any on you. I have as many pets as you do and no lint roller from heaven above is going to get it all. You must be using black magic or something to get rid of it. What's your secret Martha?
Okay so I went on a tangent. Â Sorry. It happens. Maybe I need to shove some pie in my pie hole so Martha doesn't show up and take a strip outta me. Not that I think she could. I'm pretty tough. I may not be rich, or famous, or have loads of Friesian horses, or my own tv show, or my own magazine, or my...wait, where was I going with this anyway. Oh ya, I could take Martha in a smack down. Not a money challenge, but an actual smack down for sure. I'm scrappy like that.
Okay so now that I've embarrassed myself fully and challenged Martha to a duel maybe I should tell you how to make pie. In jars. Take that Martha!
Apple Pie in Jars | Cherry Pie in Jars
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 and a half packages of ready-made crust
For the Apple Filling:
- 6 Granny Smith apples peeled and cut up
- 2 Red Delicious apples peeled and cut up
- 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice to keep apples from browning
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt if desired
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter
For the Cherry Pie Filling:
- 1 can store-bought cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Clean your mason jars.
- Spray the heck out of your mason jars with non stick spray.
- Roll out the dough a little thinner than it is in the package. Use a pizza wheel to cut into pieces. Now place the pieces in your jars and press them so you have very little gaps. Just keep working it till you get the groove going.
- Set aside.
- Peel and cut up your apples. You want small cubes for jars. Sprinkle the lemon juice over them to keep them from browning while you measure out everything else.
- Combine brown sugar, flour and spices in another bowl and mix. Then pour over your apples and mix it all together.
- Spoon the apples into 8 of the 12 jars. Fill about ¾ of the way.
- Put a pat of butter on each one.
- Top with more crust.
- Pinch or use a fork to seal them up.
- You can brush the top with milk or butter if you like. I didn't this time.
- Open can, spoon into the remaining 4 jars.
- Top with crust.
- Pinch or use fork to secure tops.
- Make sure you leave a steam hole.
- Using a little cookie cutter to make the hole is fun.
- Place all the jars on a rimmed baking sheet. Carefully place that in your preheated oven. Cook for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove and let cool or eat right away.
- Serve with a big old jar happy smile!
Notes
See, it's as easy as pie. Oh come on now. You didn't think I was going to get through a whole pie post without saying that did you. I mean by now you should all know the cheesy, corny jokes are never far away. Yah, I went there. And I'll do it again, I'm sure. It's how I roll. Lunatic style. And this is how you roll and press your pies in jars. Subtle right!
Okay so the photos of the steps blow. What can I tell you, my cell blows too. As does my multi tasking skills. As does my kitchen lighting. As does my sentence skills. Thankfully my pie skills rock! Maybe Martha will see and feel bad for me and send me an Iphone as a gesture of kindness. She'll take pity on me, then I'll email to thank her, then she'll call me, then she'll invite me up to her place to go horseback riding, then we'll become BFF's. Okay...so...ya...probably not. I suppose us underachievers can dream right.
I did not say my crust skills rock. Clearly they do not. They might roll, but rock they do not. It's really freaking hard to get these right. I intend to practice till all my neighbours look like Santa Claus so I can nail this. I might even send some to Martha to Santa her up too.
Okay so are you sick of looking at pies in jars yet? No. Anyone. Anyone. I hope you haven't nodded off or been inspired to go visit Martha . As we say goodbye to Fun with Jars I'm a little sad but also filled with wild anticipation at all the fun posts I'll be doing for Farm Fresh Fridays. I had a blast with that series last summer. So out with the old and in with the new. I could make a totally inappropriate  Martha reference right now but I'll refrain. After all I really do love me some Martha. I also know she has a wicked sense of humour. Did you all see her years ago with Conan O'Brien when they did a whole skit based on romance novel covers. It was beyond funny. The woman can cook and take a joke. I still think I can take her in a smack down though.  All that jar lifting and filling has made my guns like steel. How do you like me now Martha baby.
Other Apple Recipes from Cravings of a Lunatic:
Fried Apples with Apple Caramel Sauce, pictured below:
Apple Pull Apart Bread with Caramel Drizzle, pictured below:
Turtle Apples, pictured below:
Spring Apple Pie, pictured below:
Christmas Apple Pie, pictured below:
Other Cherry Recipes from Cravings of a Lunatic:
Cherry Cobbler Pizza, pictured below:
Black Forest Bites, pictured below:
Black Forest Cheesecake, pictured below:
No Bake Black Forest Cheesecake, pictured below:
Coconut Whipped Cream and Cherry Parfaits, pictured below:
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Donna @ The Slow Roasted Italian
Love these jars Kim. Sharing this morning on FB. Have a great day.
Kim Beaulieu
Your rock Donna. You sent a ton of traffic and new likers my way. I can't thank you enough. Thanks so much for sharing. xx
Katie Coates
You are clever and funny. Loved your comments about making pies in jars! Just wanted to let you know it was fun reading your instructions!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Katie. I tend to be a bit silly and lack a filter. The first time I did these was a lesson in patience. I should redo the pics cuz these ones suck.
JaniceT
I am having a hard time finding the short wide mouth mason jars. I can only find the tall ones. Did you get them online? Thank you.
Kim Beaulieu
Nope, I'm trying to remember if it was Walmart or Home Hardware. You can have local hardware stores order special sizes. I have mine order in the 1L ones for cereal and rice.
JaniceT
Thanks! I'll keep looking. We have Home Depot. I'll check there too. Determined. 🙂
Nancy
What size jars????
Judy A Burcham
Do they have to be refrigerated?
Kim Beaulieu
Hi Judy. You can store fruit pies on the counter for up to 2 days. Anything with eggs, like custard pies have to go in the fridge right away.
Typically I stash mine in the fridge after 24 hours just to be on the safe side. Also because one of my kids likes cold pie.
Hope that helps. Have a great week.
Karlee
I’m very excited to try these!! What brand of jars did you use that are oven safe and where can I buy them? I bought Bernardin jars without realizing they aren’t oven safe lol:(
Kim Beaulieu
Hi Karlee. This post is really old so not sure which brand of jars I used. Technically all mason jar companies suggest not putting them in the oven. Glass can explode, I've heard of glass casserole pans breaking in the oven too. So just use caution if you do these. I always let mine cool before serving them just to be on the safe side.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Be forewarned the first few jars you try to stuff with pie crust will make you scream till you get the hang of it. Ha!
Jessica Cross
I have been looking for a recipe of a whole pie including the crust in a jar but wanting to actually pressure can it . I had one a few years ago but can’t find anything on the internet. Any suggestions?
Kim Beaulieu
Hi Jessica. I'm not someone who cans, it makes me nervous for some reason.
Anyhow, I've never seen a recipe that includes the crust being canned, just the filling.
I know family members who can pie filling then freeze pie shells. My MIL also freezes baked pies. I know that's not what you are hoping for but it's the only way I know how to save pie for future use. If I come across any information I'll pop back and let you know.