1-Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and cleanup.

2-Next, wash and pit the cherries if using fresh fruit, or thaw frozen cherries and set them aside to drain excess juice. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar, then cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add vanilla extract and mix gently; if the dough feels dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water incrementally to help it come together.

3-Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut into small circles using a cookie cutter or glass. Place a spoonful of cherries onto each dough circle and fold the edges over to create bites, pinching the dough to seal. Arrange the cherry pie bites on the prepared baking sheet and optionally brush with a milk wash for a glossy finish.

4-Finally, bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and allow to cool slightly before serving. Adapt cooking times slightly for dietary alternatives as needed. For instance, our peach cobbler dump cake recipe offers similar tips for quick bakes, showing how easy it is to vary fruits.