Mini Cherry Empanada
Empanada dough is filled with cherries then they’re brushed with butter, sprinkled with sugar, and cooked at a high heat to get that golden brown crust that everyone enjoys. This delicious comfort food can be enjoyed anytime!
Ingredients
Let's gather the ingredients!
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- ½ pound sweet cherries pitted
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon ground
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1½ tbsp lemon juice
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ tsp nutmeg ground
- 1 egg for brushing
Instructions
Let's Begin!
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Filling
- Roughly chop half of the cherries, then leave the remaining cherries whole.
- In a medium saucepan, stir the cherries with the salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour with the lemon juice to make a smooth, pourable mixture, then scrape it into the saucepan and stir to combine. Stir in the sugar and nutmeg.
- Cook the cherry mixture over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the juices are very thick and turn a deep dark red, and the whole cherries have softened.
- Transfer to a small bowl and let the filling cool slightly, stirring often, then refrigerate until cold.
Let's Assemble!
- On a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the thawed puff pastry until 1/8-inch thick.
- Using a 4-inch paper circle as a guide, cut out rounds with a sharp paring knife.
- Place 1 tbsp of chilled filling in the center of a dough round and brush the edge of the dough very lightly with egg wash.
- Cover and close the mini empanadas, forming a half-moon. Using the tines of a fork, press the edges to seal, ensuring that no gaps remain in the dough.
- Transfer them to the parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring there are spaces for growth when baking. Repeat to form the remaining mini empanadas.
Let's Bake!
- Bake the mini empanadas for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, and lightly cool the mini empanadas before transferring to a plate.
- Serve and enjoy with family and friends!