Cherry Pie Pastries

Instead of buying pre-formed pastry shells, the budget-conscious baker can save about 30 percent by using puff pastry sheets. Cut the sheets into squares and mold into muffin tin cups to make shells for these Cherry Pie Pastries.

Ingredients

12 frozen puff pastry shells

1 (4-ounce) package French vanilla instant pudding mix

1 (14-ounce) can cherry pie filling

1/2 cup whipped topping

Directions

1. Bake pastry shells according to package directions. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

2. Meanwhile, prepare instant pudding according to package directions.

3. Spoon pudding into cooled pastry shells.

4. Carefully spoon cherry pie filling over pudding. Top each pastry with a heaping teaspoon of whipped topping.