Mini Pear Pies to Celebrate Pi Day!

Mini Pear Pies - Foodstirs

What’s your favorite kind of pie? Apple? Cherry? π?

On 03.14.15, Pi Day will be celebrated around the world. If you aren’t familiar with Pi Day, it’s a day many mathematicians and scientists celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi). And it’s a great excuse to eat pie! Pi Day is particularly special this year because on 3.14.15 at 9:26:53, sequential time will occur following the sequence of pi.

This year, we’re celebrating Pi Day with a nontraditional pie recipe: Mini Pear Pies! This recipe is healthier than your traditional pie recipe because the pear sweetens the recipe naturally, requiring no added sugar. Thanks to the pear used in this recipe, there are a number of other health benefits you’ll receive.

  • By eating one pear, you’ve already consumed half of the daily fruit recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • Pears are an excellent source of fiber. A medium-sized pear has about 24 percent of the daily recommended value of fiber.
  • Vitamin C is one of the most valuable vitamins you can get from eating a pear. Vitamin C is often referred to as the “antioxidant vitamin” and helps with wound healing, metabolism, and proper immune function.

Kids Can Help:

  • Scoop out the center of the pear.
  • Shape the puff pastry around the pear.
  • Pierce the dough with a fork.
  • Mix together the filling.

Print
Mini Pear Pies
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 3 pears, firm and ripe
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 puff pastry sheet
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2 ounces goat cheese
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • ¼ cup walnuts, chopped, toasted, reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set one piece of frozen puff pastry aside to defrost.
  2. Peel 3 pears and cut in half. Drizzle with lemon juice.
  3. Scoop out center of each pear and place into a bowl. Remove any seeds and fibrous pieces.
  4. Place pears onto baking sheet, flat side down.
  5. Cut puff pastry into 6 rectangles.
  6. Place individual puff pastry pieces onto each pear half.
  7. Shape into a pear. Cut away excess dough.
  8. Using the excess dough, shape stems and leaves onto each pear.
  9. Pierce dough with a fork and brush milk onto each pear.
  10. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
  11. While pears are baking, prepare filling.
  12. Using a fork, mash the pear pulp in a small bowl.
  13. Add 2 ounces goat cheese, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 dash of cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts.
  14. When pears are finished baking, allow to cool slightly.
  15. Fill each pear with 1 teaspoon of cheese filling. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon reserved walnuts for garnish.
  16. Serve warm.

~ Recipes and photos by Katie Romey, MS, RD, Foodstirs Chef; Text by Jessica Schuster

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