Mini Shamrock Pies offer a whimsical and delicious way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. These bite-sized treats feature a buttery crust filled with a green-hued filling, evoking the spirit of the Irish countryside. Perfect for parties or a festive dessert, Mini Shamrock Pies are easy to make and sure to delight everyone with their charming appearance and delightful flavor.
Marvelous Mini Shamrock Pie Recipe
Mini Shamrock Pies are festive St. Patrick's Day treats consisting of buttery, flaky crusts filled with a vibrant green filling. Easy to make and bursting with flavor, these bite-sized pies are perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to your holiday celebrations.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowls
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Shamrock-shaped cookie cutter
- 1 Mini muffin tin
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 1 Pastry brush
- 1 Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 2 cups Milk
- 2 Egg Yolks beaten
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
- Green Food Color
- 1 sheet frozen Pie Pastry
- small shamrock cookie cutter
- 4 Pre made 5″ Pie Shells
- Leprechaun Sprinkles
Instructions
- In preparation for this recipe, have your ingredients, on the counter, measured and ready to use. Place your egg yolks in a medium bowl, to accommodate 1 cup of liquid.
- Combine sugar, cornstarch and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring the entire time over medium heat until it becomes thick and bubbly. Once it is bubbly, cook for 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- Measure 1 cup of the mix to the egg yolk and mix together.
- Pour the egg mix into the pan with the rest of the milk mixture.
- Cook and stir 2 minutes more.
- Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter and vanilla until combined.
- Add green food coloring, and mix until combined. I used liquid food color for this recipe, but you could also use paste color.
- Pour pudding in to a bowl and cover with plastic. Place plastic on the surface of the pudding, to prevent air from getting to it. Chill in fridge.
- While your pudding is chilling, unroll 1 sheet of the pie crust and cut out small shamrocks. Bake for 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Bake the pie shells according to the package directions.
- Let the pie crusts cool.
- Fill the pie crusts with the pudding. Decorate with sprinkles. Decorate the cut shamrocks with sprinkles by spraying a little water on the crust, then pouring sprinkles on the crust. Let dry.
Notes
- Decorative Touches – Consider topping your Mini Shamrock Pies with a sprinkle of green sanding sugar or a dollop of whipped cream tinted with green food coloring for a festive flair.
- Customization Options – Experiment with different flavors by adding mint extract to the filling for a refreshing twist. Enhance the filling with add-ins like mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts for added texture and flavor.
how can i make a vegan version of this pie?
To make a vegan version of Mini Shamrock Pies, you’ll need to substitute traditional pie crust ingredients and adjust the filling to ensure it’s plant-based. Here’s how you can do it:
Vegan Pie Crust:
- Use a vegan pie crust recipe made with plant-based fats such as vegetable shortening, coconut oil, or vegan butter.
- Ensure that the pie crust recipe you choose doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients like butter or lard.
Vegan Filling:
- For the filling, use a vegan-friendly alternative to traditional dairy products. You can make a custard-like filling using coconut milk or almond milk instead of dairy milk.
- Sweeten the filling with a vegan sweetener such as maple syrup, agave nectar, or coconut sugar.
- Add green food coloring to achieve the desired shamrock hue. Look for natural, plant-based food coloring options or use ingredients like spinach or matcha powder for a green tint.
Assembly and Baking:
- Follow the same assembly and baking instructions as the traditional recipe, using the vegan pie crust and filling ingredients.
- Keep in mind that vegan pie crusts may behave differently than traditional ones, so you may need to adjust baking times accordingly.
Optional Vegan Toppings:
- Consider topping the vegan Mini Shamrock Pies with vegan whipped cream made from coconut cream or aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) whipped with powdered sugar.
- Alternatively, you can dust the pies with powdered sugar or sprinkle them with crushed pistachios or coconut flakes for added flavor and texture.
By making these simple substitutions and adjustments, you can create delicious vegan Mini Shamrock Pies that everyone can enjoy, whether they follow a plant-based diet or not.
how to store the mini shamrock pie?
To store Mini Shamrock Pies, follow these steps:
- Cool Completely: Allow the pies to cool completely on a wire rack before storing them. This prevents condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can make the pies soggy.
- Single Layer: Place the cooled pies in a single layer in an airtight container. If stacking is necessary, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
- Refrigeration: Store the pies in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Refrigeration helps maintain the texture of the pie crust and filling and prevents the growth of bacteria.
- Covered Container: Ensure the container is tightly sealed to prevent air from entering and drying out the pies.
- Consume Promptly: Mini Shamrock Pies are best enjoyed within 2-3 days of baking for optimal freshness and flavor. Beyond that, the crust may start to lose its crispness, and the filling may become less vibrant.