Heart-in-Hand Pie

This is a pie for everyone; cute, easy to make, and delicious!

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar (Optional)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) very cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 4 to 8 tablespoons ice water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Add 1 1/2 cups flour, salt and sugar (optional) to a food processor. Pulse 2 to 3 times until combined.

Scatter butter cubes over flour and process until dough or paste begins to form, about 15 seconds. (There should be no uncoated flour).

Scrape bowl, redistribute the flour-butter mixture then add remaining 1 cup of flour. Pulse 4 to 5 times until flour is evenly distributed. (Dough should look broken up and crumbly). Add in vanilla and pulse 4 to 5 times.

Transfer into a medium bowl then sprinkle ice water over mixture - start with 4 tablespoons and add from there. Using a rubber spatula, press the dough into itself. The crumbs should to form larger clusters. If you pinch some of the dough and it holds together, it's ready. if the dough falls apart, add 2 to 4 more tablespoons of water and continue to press until dough comes together.

Remove dough from bowl and place in a mound a clean surface. Work the dough just enough to form a ball. Cut in half and form each half into balls or discs. Wrap each disc with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour, up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove the dough balls from the refrigerator and let them sit for 5 minuets. Then roll them out with a rolling pin on a flat, clean surface. ( Sprinkle flour on the surface to avoid sticking) Place your hand on the dough and trace your hand with a butter knife, cutting out a hand shape. make as many hands as the dough can make, and lay them out flat.

Use a cookie cutter or a butter knife to cut out small hearts.Cover the surface of the hearts with powdered sugar. Place the hearts on the bottom right or middle of the hand.

Bake the heart-in-hand pies for 15 minutes or until golden brown.