Heart-Shaped Cherry, Chocolate, and Almond Ricotta Hand Pies [Vegan] – One Green Planet

Make the chocolate crust

1. In a food processor, pulse the walnuts a few times to break them down. Add the flour, cacao, stevia, and salt and pulse to combine.
2. Add the vegan butter and pulse until the texture of the mixture looks like coarse meal.
3. With the processor running, pour the ice water in through the chute and process until the dough comes together.
4. Remove the dough and knead it a few times to form a smooth ball; flatten it and cover with plastic wrap.
5. Chill the dough for a few hours.

Make the vanilla crust

1. In a food processor, add the flour and salt and pulse to combine.
2. Add the vegan butter and pulse until the texture of the mixture looks like coarse meal.
3. With the processor running, pour the vanilla extract, vanilla stevia and the ice water in through the chute and process until the dough comes together.
4. Remove the dough and knead it a few times to form a smooth ball; flatten it and cover with plastic wrap.
5. Chill the dough for a few hours.

Make the almond ricotta

1. In a food processor or blender, process the drained almonds with the 1 cup water and salt until the mixture is very smooth. Add some vanilla extract if you want a more pronounced vanilla flavor.
2. Set aside until ready to assemble the hand pies.

Make the cherry-chocolate filling

1. Combine the chopped cherries with the chocolate chips.
2. Set aside until ready to assemble the hand pies.

Make the hand pies

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Roll out one of the rounds of dough until it’s about 1/4″ thick. Using a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut as many hearts as you can, placing them on the baking sheets.
3. Knead the remaining dough, roll out, and cut as many additional hearts as you can.
4. Place about 1 tbsp. of ricotta in the middle of each heart, spreading it out a bit. (You’ll have leftover ricotta.)
5. Divide the cherry mixture between the hearts, spreading it on top of the ricotta.
6. Roll out the other dough round and repeat the process of cutting out hearts, re-rolling and cutting more hearts.
7. Place the hearts on top of the filled hearts, gently pressing the edges to seal. Seal completely using the tines of a fork. Prick the tops of the hearts with the fork.
8. If you like, melt some coconut oil or vegan butter and brush the tops of the hand pies. Then sprinkle with sparkling sugar.
9. Bake the hand pies for about 15 minutes. They should be browned on the edges. Let pies cool for a few minutes on the pans, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.