April 02, 2023

Frozen Berry Pie Bites

Cherry season is coming! These beautiful sweet red jewels of flavour are a bit divisive when it comes to flavour. Some people love them, some people hate them, but the good news is that if you’re not a cherry lover you can easily swap them out for your favourite berry in this recipe.

For us in New Zealand, cherries are always available in December, right around Christmas, so we’ve replaced them with strawberries, cranberries and raspberries For the northern hemisphere cherry lovers, you will have to wait until somewhere between May and July to see these beauties available at your local grocer or market. Thankfully frozen cherries or berries are also a great option for this sweet delight, as you will be freezing it before you eat it anyway!

Gluten and dairy free, our Frozen Cherry Pie Bites are the ideal healthy sweet snack and exceptionally popular in place of Easter Eggs if you’re encouraging your little one to reduce their refined sugar intake around this time of year. They’re also incredibly pretty and ‘Easter-y’ looking, and they can be decorated with chocolate, coconut, nuts and dried fruit to make them even more bejewelled.

Best of all, these will keep in the freezer for a couple of months so make them well in advance and grab them out on the day or simply snack as you walk past the freezer if you need a cherry / berry pick-me-up.

Enjoy!
The Steens Team x

INGREDIENTS

1cup pecans
⅓ cup desiccated coconut
1Tablespoon Manuka honey
1teaspoon olive oil
1cup fresh or frozen cherries or berries of your choice
½ cup unsweetened coconut yoghurt yogurt

In a blender combine the pecans, coconut, honey and olive oil until fully combined and at a desired crust texture.

Spray a mini cupcake tin with non-stick cooking spray. Press the pecan mixture into each individual hole of the tiny cupcake tin.

Clean blender and add your cherries or berries. Blend until it is a smooth liquid-like smoothie.

Pour the blended cherries into a small bowl and fold in the unsweetened coconut yoghurt. Fold until it is fully combined.

Spoon the cherry / berry mixture on top of the pecan crust until it reaches the top. Do not let it bubble or pour over, because it will make them tricky to get out. Place the pan in the freezer and freeze for 30 minutes to an hour.