Cookie dough is crust of tiny blueberry pies

These warm blueberry desserts aren't really pies, but don't let convention stand in the way of enjoying them. A simple lemon-accented blueberry filling gets a cookie dough topper. The cookie bakes along with the filling, providing a perfect foil to the tart berries.

Taste the blueberries before you begin; if they are quite tart, you might want to use more than 1/4 cup of sugar for the filling.

You'll need four 8-ounce ramekins or mini tart pans.

You can slice the dough into strips and make a lattice, cut a round, like a top crust, or -- my favorite -- use a cookie cutter to cut out a distinctive shape and top the filling with that. Stars are my shape of choice, but flowers work, too. These are best served soon after they are baked.

Cookie-Topped Blueberry Mini Pies

1 pound fresh or frozen/defrosted blueberries

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

6 ounces homemade or store-bought sugar cookie dough, suitable for rolling

Combine the blueberries, cornstarch, the 1/4 cup of sugar, lemon zest and juice in a mixing bowl, stirring until the cornstarch dissolves. Let the filling mixture rest for 15 minutes.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Arrange 4 (8-ounce) or similar-size ramekins on the baking sheet.

Divide the filling mixture evenly among the ramekins.

Roll out the cookie dough to a thickness of a generous 1/4 inch; cut it into the desired shapes or strips. Top each pie with a cut-out cookie or with strips of the dough arranged to form a lattice. If desired, sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the cookie tops are lightly browned. Wait 5 minutes before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Food on 07/09/2014

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