Cherry Hand Pies that are so delicious, you’ll never want to put them down.

My mother always said that the best things in life were free. And in that spirit, I celebrated my 18th birthday by making cherry hand pies for everyone in my family. There was something about making these pies—the sweet, tart fruit filling and flaky crust—that made me feel connected to my family. Plus, it was just downright fun to make something together and enjoy the laughter and smiles that came with it.

The next day, I woke up to a stack of pies in the fridge. My sister and I eagerly brought them out to the living room, where my aunts, uncles, and cousins were already gathered. We passed around the pies and chatted as we ate, and I could feel the excitement in the air. This was going to be my favorite birthday yet.

As we finished up, my sister and I stacked our plates and took the pies back to the kitchen. We had just enough time to clean up before my mom and dad arrived home. When they walked in, we could tell that they were impressed. My aunts and uncles had never seen my mom so excited, and they all started congratulating me. It was the best feeling in the world to know that I had made everyone else happy too.

Best of all, my mother let us keep the cherry hand pies for ourselves. They were some of the best things I ever ate, and I’ll always remember that special day.

-What kind of cherries should I use for the pie?
-How many cherries can I fit in a 9 inch pie crust?
-What kind of jam or preserves should I use for the filling?
-How should I preheat the oven?
-How long does it take to assemble the cherry hand pies?
-Do I need to pipe the dough for the pies?
-Can I use frozen cherries for the filling?
-How can I prevent the pies from becoming soggy?
-What do I do if the dough doesn’t come out of the pie crust easily?
-Can I make the pies in advance and store them in the fridge?
-How do I add a topping to the pies?
-Can I freeze the pies?