Plum CupPies
Desserts, Food, Recipe, Sweet
I don’t exactly know what’s come over me the last month. But, I’ve had a huge case of blogger ennui. It’s not that I haven’t been cooking or shooting or even been too busy. It’s just that I haven’t found that particular spark to come tell you about it. I’m guessing as bloggers, we all feel that way from time to time. For me, it takes a big old self kick in the pants to actually sit down and pull a post together and to remind myself just exactly why I do this.
This week, I got some help from a neighbor who was happy to load me up once again with plums. You may remember that this has happened before. And it seems, this 10lb bowl was just what I needed to get back and have some fun in the kitchen.
I have all sorts of plans for these plums. A plum slump from Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies, and More. Some savory donuts like these, except using pork & plum instead of duck & cherry. Definitely some plum jam to put away for winter.
But to start it all out, I made these adorable little Plum CupPies with a bit of left-over pie pastry and just a few handfuls of the plums. I have some family coming in tonight for a quick night stay only to hop on a plane at some ungodly hour of the morning and thought it would be nice to send a couple of small treats with them. Pies baked in cupcake tins seemed just the thing. Especially after I found the beautiful ones on Eggs on Sunday.
Of course, I had to try one myself first, to make sure they were ok. Then, I just had to keep myself from eating all of them. I mean, they give them peanuts on the plane afterall, right?
To make your own CupPies, simply cut out circles of pie pastry large enough to leave a bit of overhang around the edge of the cupcake tin. Gently push the pastry into a cup, leaving a bit of rim around the edge. Leave an empty cup between cup pies. Fill with your favorite fresh, sliced fruit (cored or pitted as necessary… but skins on is ok) mixed in with a handful of sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch or flour, and a dash or two of spices. Top with another, slightly smaller, round of pastry and pinch shut. Brush with a bit of egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and cut about 4 vent holes in the top. Bake at 425F for about 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the filling is furiously bubbling and the tops are golden brown. Eggs on Sunday has far more detailed instructions, if you need them!
(I’ve also been mostly up to my elbows in donuts. And there are only so many donuts I can post here without it becoming crazy, boring or simply too much of a tease (but if you are curious, I’ve posted many of my experiments on Flickr. If you are interested in recipe testing the donut recipes, please let me know either in a comment here or via email! I’m going to have many, many recipes ready for testing any day now.)
33 comments on “Plum CupPies”
September 11th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
terrific idea! we have a bunch of italian plums that are sure to ripen off our tree with the warm weather today and tomorrow, and i’m absolutely going to try this idea on sunday. thanks for the inspiration…
September 11th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Lara, what a beautiful idea! And your pictures are phenomenal as always! I am guilty of having tons of fruit and I think I know what I am going to make with them… I can invite some friends from school over and treat them to my baking.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I love Seattlites. My neighbor just brought over several cups of Italian plums as well and I’m thinking I should bake one of your mini pies as a thank you to them.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
LOVE the idea of these!! Such gorgeous pics too
September 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
What a fabulous idea! I think I’ll be making my own version of these sometime soon. Genius!
September 11th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
the pies are too cute!
i just took a look at the doughnuts and oh my…i’d love to help test any recipe
September 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Love Italian plums! The cup pies are so cute. Is it bad that the table and cake stands caught my eye slightly even more?!! I can’t help it!
September 11th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Stunning photography!! This is such a cute idea.
September 12th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Fabulous idea!!! and your pictures are simply gorgeous. Here too (in France) plums are delicious now, and I bake them in tarts every weekend .
September 12th, 2009 at 2:09 am
WOW! those are pretty and they look wonderfully delicious..
September 12th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Oh, they’re *beautiful!* As are your photos – simply gorgeous. What a great idea to use plums! I’m happy I found your blog through your link – will definitely be following!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:40 am
When does the donut testing extravaganza happen? I am out of town (and crazy getting ready now) until mid October but would be interested, if it can wait a little.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Such a great idea. I can think of a ton of fun flavors that could go into these CupPies.
September 12th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
This is a great idea! It’s so fun and perfect for guests. I love it!
September 12th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Those look fantastic! I’ve made cuppies before (my fav were the pumpkin pie cuppies), but I’ve never used such a thick crust. I’ll have to try your method.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
These are adorable. The headline caught my eye and I was immediately intrigued. I can’t wait for stone-fruit season!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Would love to test donut recipes. Especially the chocolate macaroon!
September 13th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Amazing photos =)I specially love the ones of the already cooked Pum CupPies: the imperfections of the table give a warm and rustic touch that I like very much. And the combination of the colors is very good too.
I would like to try the Cup Pies…but I am trying to stay away from sugar and flour at least for a time. After spending three weeks in Moscow, when my most important food groups were coffee and sorbet ice cream, and wanted to go on a detox (although I have not succeded yet: the cake I baked for my brother’s birthday was the responsible…)
September 13th, 2009 at 4:15 am
I love this type of plum. I’m lucky to have plenty around here (Italy) at this time of year, they make the end of summer less painful to me! Thanks for the beautiful pictures!
September 13th, 2009 at 7:31 am
I am one of the silent admirers of your pictures (and the food!).
Have to say cup pies caught my attention. They look gorgeous. Plums are gone now, but I can try them with apples or pears.
Btw, would be happy to be a donut tester if you need one.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
These are ADORABLE! And the portion size is so “kid friendly”….can’t wait to make these with the nieces and nephews during the holidays! Precious!
September 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
LOVE these! Such a clever idea. Look delicious…you have me dreaming of all sorts of fillings! Yum.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I love this creative variation on the hand-pies that seem to be everywhere this year.
Please count me in if you’re looking for doughnut testers!
September 18th, 2009 at 7:09 am
I was brought in by the pictures, which are breathtaking (I like the distressed red table best) but I now have to make the plum cuppies – plums are in season here, it’s getting cool enough to bake, and they are perfectly portable (I think) for walking to a tailgate party. thanks!!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Another amazing idea with gorgeous photography!
I can’t wait to try!
September 21st, 2009 at 11:31 am
Beautifull idea!!!…perfect for these first days of autumn!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Oh the plums are just so adorable, and I love the little cake stands too! If you’re still looking for recipe testers, I’d be happy to help, just let me know.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Why have I never thought of this? The structural sides and tiny pie look make these so much more appealing than a turnover, somehow. Thanks for this!
September 27th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
those plums look gorgeous. and cuppie? what a great idea!
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Beautiful little pies! So cute. I’d make them if I had a neighbor with a surplus of plums.
October 6th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Hi!
You have been taken very beautiful pictures! I love them. So colourfull…
I stop by here every week
October 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I love the red table the pies are on… the paint wearing away gives the pictures so much charm and character!
October 11th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
The series of red and white photos with the worn table is completely captivating… wow.
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