Concord Grape Jam Hand Pies

Concord Grape Hand Pies
Growing up we pretty much ate the same thing for school lunches; bologna or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And we always had a jar of Welch’s concord grape jelly in the fridge. In fact until we were older that was “the” only flavor. Our sandwiches were made with whole wheat bread and sliced right down the middle. They were then tucked into small brown paper bags along-side an apple or orange and two cookies.

Concord Grapes
Nowadays we hardly ever have the same thing for lunch and I rarely make a meal plan. I guess I like the spontaneity this type of behavior affords me. Anyway after spotting concord grapes at the Newport farmers market I knew exactly what I wanted to do, well sort of and I spent the rest of the day in the kitchen.

Concord Grape Skins

Concord Grape Pulp and Seeds
Now separating the grapes from their skins is a lot of work but totally worth the effort. After the seeds are removed from the pulp, (more on that in the recipe instructions) everything meaning the pulp, skins, juice and sugar are all boiled together and processed the normal way.

Concord Grape Jam Hand Pies
After the jam had cooled puff pastry was rolled out, cut, filled and then into the oven to be baked until crisp and golden. The smell reminded me of my grandmother’s kitchen. The flavor deep, tangy and sweet, just like I remembered.


Yield: 3 to 4 half pints, 6 hand pies

Concord Grape Jam Hand Pies

INGREDIENTS:


  • 2 pounds Concord grapes, stemmed
  • 2 ¼ cups sugar
  • 2 ounces lemon juice
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, mostly defrosted
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons of Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling on top

INSTRUCTIONS:


  1. Prepare the canner, jars and lids
  2. Using your fingers, pinch individual grapes to separate skins and pulp into two separate non-reactive bowls. Over medium heat bring grape pulp to a boil, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Press pulp through a sieve to discard seeds, set pulp and juice aside.
  3. Add the grape pulp, skins, sugar, and juices to a large non-reactive pot and bring to a boil over high heat stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Boil, stirring frequently until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and complete the plate test.
  4. Ladle the finished jam into clean jars, wipe rims, center lids on jars, screw bands down and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool and store.
  5. Roll the dough into a rectangle roughly 12 inches by 16 inches and 1/8''-1/4'' thick. Use a knife to cut the dough into even rectangles roughly 3 inches by 4 inches.
  6. Top 6 of the rectangles with a large heaping tablespoon of jam. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash. Top each pie with another piece of dough and crimp the edges with a fork. Place pies on a baking sheet and refrigerate 15 minutes or until firm. When you are ready to bake the pies, brush each top with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Cut a vent into each top. Bake the pies for 20-25 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Created using The Recipes Generator

Comments

  1. These pies seems so delightful! I will definitely try them as soon as possible!

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  2. Yes, that does seem like a lot of work. I have never seem grape jam here but I imagine it would be delicious! These hard pies are delightful and I think would be great with any type if jam.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Marcellina, I think any type of jam would work as well. Hope you are having a great week.

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  3. How could anyone not love these??? They look fabulous. Pinning.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lea Ann, have not had grape jam in a long, long time:)

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  4. hi Cheri ! I love these grape jam hand pies !
    look delicious !!

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  5. Outstanding recipe Cheri! The grape flavor must be fantastic. So pretty too!

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    1. Thanks Tricia, yes I forgot how much I like grape jam, it's been a long time.

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  6. I really like your recipe for the grape jam but I just made 12 pints of strawberry jam and I am pooped . I will pin it for later.

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    1. Wow! 12 pints of strawberries, good for you Gerlinde!

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    2. My back is killing me and I tried a new recipe that is not as good as my old one.

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    3. Hope your back feels better soon. xo Cheri

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  7. Growing up we had apricot jam on our peanut butter sandwiches. I could not eat it for years. Your jam looks amazing. Such a stunning colour. So glad you felt inspired to make this.

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  8. You are right...they look definitely worth all of the efforts!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Angie! I forgot how much flavor concord grapes have.

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  9. Oh my these are worth all the extra effort! Simply beautiful.

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  10. I've always wanted to make my own grape jam, Cheri and I'm so happy to have your recipe! I just love homemade hand pies like these and I know they are delicious filled with your grape jam :0)

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    1. Thanks Marcelle, I've made more jam this summer than ever before and it has been fun.

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  11. Love your spontaneity and creativity in the kitchen, Cheri! I've been interested in making hand pies for some time now...yours turned out great. The concord grape jam is a treat!

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    1. Thanks Monica, puff pastry sure makes everything easier, I always keep a box in the freezer now:)

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  12. These look delicious Cheri. Wow, ya. The work of working with the grapes certainly seems worth it. I can smell your little pies coming out of my oven right now......Thank you!

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    1. Awwww, thanks Dena! the house did smell pretty amazing, can't wait for the cooler months, take care!

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  13. This jam was great- almost as good as the peach jam Cheri made a couple of weeks back. The grape flavor was very intense Don

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  14. These look absolutely terrific! I make a Concord grape pie/tart almost every Thanksgiving. I buy the grapes now and make/freeze the filling. It is some work to separate them, but it's totally worth it. The flavor is so amazing! My family requests it every year. I love this hand pie version.

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    1. Thanks Amy, I can see why your tart is a big hit, such a great idea to buy and freeze for later.

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  15. Yup, it was always grape jelly when I was growing up, too. And peanut butter, of course. Is it even legal not to pair the two? Anyway, neat recipe -- always love hand pies. Thanks!

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  16. Very impressive Cheri! I found the pictures and reading of the recipe to be an effort on your part, but that separates the those who can and those who cannot. Great Job! I can only imagine the breaking apart of the baked dough and the wisps of grapes in the air! YUMMO!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sandra, I have tons of jam this year to bring back home this year, got a little carried away.

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  17. I made grape jam once and it was so fantastic - eons better than Welch's! I imagine yours is even better with all the care you took preparing it, Cheri! And the hand pies (we can't call them pop tarts, can we?) look amazing.

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    1. Thanks David, if I would of used regular pie dough instead of puff pastry they would definitely have been pop tarts;)

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  18. I love grapes but I never cook with them, I should! Separating the skins from the grapes does sound like a lot of work, but worth it as you say.

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  19. Love your remembrances of school lunches. Love your scrumptious looking and sounding hand pies too. Ps. Admire your patience with taking off the grape peels =)

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  20. Welch's Concord Grape Jam was my husband's favorite growing up too. I wish I could find such luscious grapes here :( Those hand pies look so good!

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  21. i don't enjoy peeling grapes, but your pies make it seem totally worth the effort!

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  22. These concord grape jam hand pies would be addicting and dangerous in my presence.

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  23. When I was growing up, a grape arbor (with concord grapes) separated our yard from our neighbor's. My grandparents grew concord grapes too. I ate lots of them off the vine and as jelly! These hand pies look divine.

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    Replies
    1. I've always wanted an arbor with grapes in the yard, what a wonderful memory Lisa, thanks.

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  24. That sounds like a lot of work, but they sure looked beautiful in the end! I need to plant some grapes!

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    Replies
    1. I've been thinking about planting some grapes myself, thank Inger!

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  25. Half a grapefruit or 8 onzes of unsweetened juice, plate of mixed greens with any dressing or red or green vegetables cooked in margarine or flavors, meat or fish any style and any amount, espresso or tea one container grape seed business

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