The Unlikely Baker

Easy and Delicious Recipes for the Home Baker!

Mini Cherry Galette

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A buttery, flaky crust envelope plump, juicy, sweet cherries in this quick and easy but exceptionally delectable mini cherry galette recipe.

Mini Cherry Galette

Don’t you just love cherries? They’re like the unicorns of the fruit world – only appearing for a very small window of time in the year but when they’re around, everything is wonderful.

I’d be perfectly happy just eating a whole bag of cherries and be done with it but this year I thought to bake a galette (for, you know, educational purposes). I’d love to say “pie” or “tart” but knowing that dough is my undoing (un-dough-ing?), I am sticking to the easy, rustic and just as lovely galette to enjoy my sweet cherries with.

What’s a galette anyway?

According to the always awesome David Lebovitz  in an article for Fine Cooking, a galette is a free-form tart that consists of a thin layer of fruit baked on top of a buttery, crisp crust. It’s less formal than the French fruit tart; instead of the straight, stiff sides you get from a tart pan, the edges are just folded over the fruit.

Mini Cherry Galette

He also said he preferred the look of galettes over the formal tarts so…if it’s good enough for David Lebovitz it’s sure as heck good enough for me.

Another shortcut

I’m also using store-bought puff pastry. No shame in admitting that I don’t know how to make puff pastry (not yet anyway). But well done you if you do! By all means use your favourite puff pastry recipe (I will catch up soon!).

Mini cherry galette

[clickToTweet tweet=”Delightful cherry galettes – personalized!” quote=”Delightful cherry galettes – personalized!”]

Mini Cherry Galette

Store-bought puff pastry or not, this recipe is a breeze. Seriously, the hardest part was pitting the cherries. But after that, just a quick half hour in the oven and you have adorable, personalized galettes that look charmingly rustic (imperfections are OK!) and taste outstanding. Nobody would suspect it’s an easy recipe at all (aren’t those the best?).

Cheery cherries

And you don’t lose the cherries in all that pastry at all. I was hesitant to bake with cherries at first because they’re already so wonderful. But in this galette, the cherry flavour stands out and the buttery crust simply highlights the cheery cherry we all love.

Mini Cherry Galette

Go after those cherry unicorns!

So hurry and grab a bag of cherries now (or, you know, after reading this). Mini cherry galette or not, savour those wonderful fruits while they last.

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Mini Cherry Galette

Mini Cherry Galette

A buttery, flaky crust envelope plump, juicy, sweet cherries in this quick and easy but exceptionally delectable mini cherry galette recipe.

Ingredients

  • Butter puff pastry (see notes)
  • 2 cups halved and pitted sweet cherries (about 30 cherries)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg, room temperature, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water
  • 2 tablespoons apricot jam mixed with 1 tablespoon water
  • Sliced almonds, toasted, for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F. Prep a rimmed baking sheet by lining with lightly floured parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out your puff pastry into a 10x10 inch square (about 1/4 inch thick). You would need two of these. Cut each square into 4 smaller squares so that you would end up with 8 squares of 5x5 inches each. Trim the corners of the smaller squares, cutting about 1/2 inch from each corner to get hexagon shapes (not perfect hexagon shapes but they will have 6 sides).
  3. In a medium sized bowl, stir 2 cups cherries, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined.
  4. Transfer about 1/4 cup of the cherry mixture into each hexagon, making sure to leave about an inch of pastry on each side. Fold the edges of the pastry around the cherry filling to make little cherry bowls. Carefully transfer each cherry bowl into your baking sheet, ensuring the bowls don't touch one another.
  5. Brush the egg/water mixture over the edges of the pastry and bake on the bottom oven rack for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry turns golden brown and the cherries are slightly softened.
  6. Take out of the oven and let cool on the pan.
  7. While the galettes are cooling, microwave your apricot jam/water mixture on high for 30 seconds or until it liquifies into a glaze. Brush this on top and on the sides of the galettes while the galettes are still warm. Top with toasted almonds, if using.

Notes

Whatever kind of puff pastry you decide to use (whether store-bought or homemade), the thing to remember is you need 2 10x10 inch squares that's about 1/4 inch thick.

If using store-bought, thaw according to package instructions.

Once you mix the cherries with sugar and other liquids, it will start to become very juicy and can get messy when transferring to the pastry. To make my life easier, I spooned the cherries first then followed with the "juice", though I only used minimal liquid - I didn't want my galettes to be soggy.

Galettes are not supposed to be perfect. So if you peek into your oven and see some of your bowls are starting to open up like a flower, it's OK. Don't stress out. Rustic is the way to go.

https://theunlikelybaker.com/mini-cherry-galette/

(Recipe adapted from Canadian Living).

Happy baking!

Did you make mini cherry galettes? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you. What’s your favourite way to enjoy cherries?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Cherries are little fruits of deliciousness! 🙂 And yes, these galettes are so easy to make…they don’t need to be perfect which is what I like. Thanks Adriana!

      Reply

  2. These are adorable! They look just as cute as little tartlettes but are definitely not as much work to assemble.

    And YES, I agree that it’s a shame that cherries are only available for such a short time!

    Reply

    • I’m jealous of all your cherries! 🙂 We’re all out (must change that haha). Let me know how it goes. Thanks Jovita!

      Reply

    • Thanks a lot Tara! “Rustic” is kind go charming isn’t it? Easy too, it doesn’t have to be perfect 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Ana! Thank you! And appreciate the pin! Would love to hear how it goes when you get around to making it 🙂

      Reply

  12. Well aren’t these just adorable! I’m glad you took the time for an “educational” experiment…and shared it with us! (Anything David Lebovitz says is solid advice in my book as well!) Any tips for pitting lots of cherries? Ross was very grumpy when he had to pit a whole pile for a clafoutis. But I’m sure these galettes are worth the time!

    Reply

    • Hi Liz! Of course, because David Lebovitz! 🙂 I would say buy a cherry pitter (haha) but if you search for Jeff in the comments thread – he has a pretty great DIY idea using paper clips that’s worth to try!

      Reply

    • Thanks a lot Cynthia! Yes they would be great if you’re having company for brunch or tea or just whatever 🙂 Nobody would need to fight for the last slice haha.

      Reply

  14. I have to confess, I’ve never made a galette. But, the free form really speaks to me (and my challenges with dough). These look wonderful, and cherries are one of my favorite fruits! I usually just stand at the counter and eat them…

    Reply

    • I am dough-challenged too! So yes I guarantee you will love the galette. It doesn’t have to be perfect like a tart. (I have to stop myself from eating the cherries too haha so I can have some to bake with). Happy Sunday Andrea!

      Reply

  15. I love tart so will definitely like galette too. With these cherries, sure I can eat several of these yummies. Excited for the next recipe you will share and crave I will have.

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    • Yes! I was at the store a couple of days ago and people were going a little crazy grabbing cherries lol. I just waited until they refilled teehee. Thanks Dahn. Happy Sunday!

      Reply

    • Yes! I was at the store a couple of days ago and people were going a little crazy grabbing cherries lol. I just waited until they refilled teehee. Thanks Dahn. Happy Sunday!

      Reply

  20. These look delicious, I have an end of summer party coming up, might make these for my guests! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    Reply

  22. Girl, I have a puff pastry recipe for you that is amazing. It’s light and buttery and would go so well with these!
    I love how you describe the cherry! It made me laugh for a good little bit.
    I then proceeded to scold myself because I haven’t made anything this cherry season!
    But, I think you may have just changed that. I’m buying cherries tomorrow and going at it with this recipe!

    Reply

    • Thanks Krysten! Do let me know what you think 🙂 And hey, your puff pastry recipe only has 6 steps! You make it looks so easy, and make me less afraid to try again haha! Maybe I will. I should, really.

      Reply

  23. This looks like such a yummy treat idea to have. I love me some cherry flavored anything really. Never ate anything like this before, so certainly MUST make it and try it!

    Reply

    • Hi Brandy! Cherries are little bites of happiness aren’t they? 🙂 Hope you get to try these, they are a treat for cherry lovers!

      Reply

    • Hi Amy! Thanks! Since they’re “personalized” yes, they would be perfect to serve at a party. You don’t have to worry about slicing and all that 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Laura! That was exactly my problem. Pastry, dough and all that kind of generally don’t like me lol! So you can just do what I did and buy ready-made puff pastry. You’d do great 🙂

      Reply

  27. Oh, this looks great! I made something like this before, but I used cookie dough instead of puff pastry, every time I tried making it I failed miserably also I can’t buy it because my bro has celiac disease and I can’t seem to find the gluten free one. So cookie dough seems like a fair substitute.

    Reply

    • Thanks Ana! That flaky pastry complements the soft juicy cherries really well. I’ll race you – 4 seconds! LOL

      Reply

  30. I love cherries..these galettes look yummy. I love how you say they don’t have to be perfect and that makes them what they are. The most important thing is that they taste good and they do look tasty.

    Reply

    • Hi Kim! Yes, love that about galettes too. I can never make the perfect pie dough so this rustic looking version is right up my alley. No stress and delicious too!

      Reply

  32. Not only that it looks so beautiful, it also looks so delicious! If I have not invited you yet, I would love for you to share this over at Healthy Living Link Party. It is live now until Sunday, 11pm. ( Wednesdays, 5pm PST until Sundays)
    Hope to see you there! Yummed and Pinned!

    Reply

  33. It looks like a work of art, seriously 🙂 Puff pastry with fresh berries, it is excellent, and thanks for the tip for handling dough 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks Hannah! That’s what’s wonderful about a galette, you can pick your favourite fruit or whatever is in season 🙂 Blueberries would be awesome.

      Reply

  36. I love that you made these galettes with sweet cherries. So many recipes use sour cherries. I vacation every year in an area where cherries grow, so I go cherry-crazy every summer. There’s a trick to pitting them: use a paper clip! Unbend it so that you have something that looks like an s-clip, and then shove one end into the stem end of the cherry and scoop the pit right out!

    Reply

    • Hi Jeff! Sour cherries look prettier than sweet ones but I really (obviously!) would rather go with the sweet ones! Thanks for the pitting tip! Wish I knew that before I did this because it took me a while to do it. I was planning on buying myself a pro-pitter as a result but I think I’ll try you trick first! And I’m like you, I go cherry crazy too 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Melanie! I think they’re really just a fancy word people use for free-form tarts 🙂 Hope you try the recipe!

      Reply

    • Hi Suchi! Your galette would most likely beat my galette haha! I know, we need to grab cherries while we can 🙂 Have a wonderful day!

      Reply

  40. To be honest, I don’t like cherries . . . at all. But, the galettes look yummy. I would think any fruit would work. Apples with some cinnamon come to mind, with some slightly melted vanilla ice cream on top.

    Reply

    • My partner didn’t use to like cherries at all too. She associated it with cough syrup, go figure haha. And yes, any fruit would work. Pick your favourite or whatever is in season 🙂 Vanilla ice cream would be amazing yum!

      Reply

  42. Hey! I don’t mind making me some galettes too, it’s really easy to put together and you don’t have to be a pro baker to make it look all fancy. I love that you used cherries as well, it’s perfect for the summer and that sweet flavor just makes this pastry even better.

    Reply

    • Absolutely! I’m not a pro baker either (so so very far from it) and I was able to manage 🙂 And yes, the sweet cherries and the buttery puff pastry go really well together. Hope you get to try the recipe. Thanks Elizabeth!

      Reply

    • Hi Liz! Thanks! I’m in summer fruit mode at the moment. I feel like I have a deadline because before I know it bam! It’s winter and they’re gone lol. Winter has a way of creeping up on you up here so summer and all it’s glorious produce are so precious 🙂

      Reply

  45. They look so good! I didn’t know what a galette was before but now I do. Cherries are my favorite fruits ever, fresh or baked. I simply love them, which makes me think that your recipe is fantastic as well

    Reply

    • Thanks Joanna! Galettes are fancy schmancy names for rustic tarts I think haha. Whatever they’re called, they are easy and they are delicious 🙂 And with cherries – yum! Hope you try them!

      Reply

  46. First of all, Jolina, your comparison of cherries to unicorns just put a smile on my face. That is so cute! Secondly, I love the in rusticness of a tart. I’m not super awesome at pastries so this works perfectly for me 🙂 Plus, I love puff pastry and store bought is the way to go. I seem to remember hearing someone on tv saying why make puff pastry ’cause store bought was so good and it’s just so much work to make it. So, store bought is definitely good for me. Love using that stuff for dessert and savoury things. Pinning this recipe. Looks so perfect for Summer!! YUM!!

    Reply

    • LOL! Thanks Dawn! It’s nice that someone appreciates my (borderline?) weird analogies haha. I’m not good at pastries or dough AT ALL so this is so perfect for bakers like me. Did they really say that about puff pastry?? Wee! 🙂 Thanks for the pin! Hope you had a great day!

      Reply

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