Description
Warm, flaky Apple Hand Pies bring comfort straight from your kitchen, offering a delightful twist on classic apple pie that fits perfectly in your palm. Grab some crisp apples and buttery pastry to create these portable treats that will make your dessert time feel special and homemade.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups finely chopped fuji or honeycrisp apples
- 1 box store bought pie dough
- 1 large egg
Filling Components:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- Juice of ½ lemon
Topping:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Remove pie dough from refrigerator, letting it rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to become pliable.
- Melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 2 ½ cups chopped apples, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and lemon juice to the pan, stirring frequently for 5-7 minutes until apples soften.
- Whisk ½ tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water, then stir into apple mixture to thicken for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unfold pie dough and roll gently to smooth any creases, then cut into 3-inch circular shapes using a cookie cutter or glass.
- Arrange half of the dough circles on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between each pie base.
- Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of cooled apple filling into the center of each dough circle.
- Whisk 1 large egg and brush the edges of each pie base with the egg wash.
- Cover each filled base with a second dough circle, pressing edges with a fork to seal completely.
- Brush the top of each hand pie with remaining egg wash.
- Mix ½ cup granulated sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle generously over pie tops.
- Cut a small vent on the top of each pie to allow steam to escape.
- Bake at 400°F for 12-14 minutes until edges turn golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- Letting pie dough sit at room temperature makes rolling and shaping easier, preventing cracking and tears.
- Cook apple filling slowly to develop deep caramel notes and ensure apples are perfectly tender without becoming mushy.
- Cornstarch helps thicken the filling and prevents soggy bottoms, creating a more stable and delicious hand pie.
- For gluten-free version, swap traditional pie dough with almond flour or gluten-free pastry dough to accommodate dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 282 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg