Cherry on Top and Jam Pasties

"Forget the dress.  It's all about the cherry on top: the hat."

Start with the hat.  Then work your way down.  The outfit will follow.  It doesn't have to be too matchy-matchy, in fact it shouldn't.  It is more important to get the era, or a particular genre right.  Just think of the hat as that pop of color, like the cherry on the top.

With it's sweet treat hidden inside, a jam pastie is the opposite of a cherry on top.  Inside a tender crust is a bite of your favorite jam.  Unexpected and sweetly delicious.  More subtle than your hat.

Jam Pasties

makes 12-15 pasties

Gluten-free Cream Cheese Dough

1 stick, 4 oz. butter, room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup Zazu & Violets' all purpose gluten free flour mix
3/4 tsp, xanthan gum 
1/2 tsp. salt

Your favorite jams for filling


In a mixer, cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar.  Add the flour, xanthan gum and salt and mix until it forms a ball.  Take out of the mixing bowl and form into a disk.  Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees

Preferably working on a marble or very cold surface, roll out the dough to 1/4" thick, using a bit of flour to keep from sticking.  The dough is quite tender.  Using the fluted side of a 3 1/2" biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as you can.  Keep rolling the scraps and cutting disks until you run out of dough.

Fill each disk with 1 scant tsp. jam.  Moisten half the edge with a little water and fold over into a half moon shape.  Press the edges together and seal. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.  Remove to a rack to cool. Dust with powdered sugar before eating.

You can have your hat: the cherry on top and jam pasties too.  Forget the dress.


To see the latest collection of Zazu & Violets' hats, visit our on-line Etsy shop.