These Apple Hand Pies are simple to make! They’re easy to make ahead of time, and you can always freeze them for later!
If you loved the old fashioned apple pies from Mcdonalds, you are going to love these!
Apple Hand Pies are a delicious and easy dessert to make. They are perfect for a party or any special occasion. The recipe is simple, and the pies can be made ahead of time and frozen. These apple pies are even better when apples are in season!
What are hand pies?
Hand pies are small, individual pastries that are filled with a variety of sweet or savory fillings. They can be made using many different types of dough and flours, and they can be baked or fried. Some common fillings for hand pies include apple, pumpkin, pear, peach, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, or savory fillings like meat or cheese.
These delicious little individual apple hand pies are really fun as an easy grab and go dessert, so they’re great for any occasion. Perfect for portion control. No utensils or plates are required. You can eat them warm, room temperature, or cold!
Why are hand pies a great dessert option?
There are many reasons why hand pies are a great dessert option. They are easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. This makes them perfect for parties or special occasions when you may need to prepare food in advance.
Ingredients Needed
- Sheet puff pastry – A puff pastry dough can be used to make hand pies. It is typically made from flour, butter, and water.
- Unsalted butter – Unsalted butter gives the hand pies a rich flavor and creamy texture.
- Granny Smith apples – Granny Smith apples are one of the most popular and versatile types of apples for baking. They have a slightly tart flavor that is perfect for sweet desserts like hand pies.
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar is a sweet, syrupy sugar that gives the filling in these pies a rich and caramelized flavor.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is a thickening agent that can be used to help bind the fillings in these pies.
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a popular spice that adds a delicious and aromatic flavor to the hand pies.
- Egg – An egg is used to help seal the hand pies’ edges, giving them a golden and crisp crust.
- Water – Water is typically used to help roll out the puff pastry dough.
Tips for Making Easy Hand Pies
- Puff pastry can be delicate when cooked. Be gentle when topping the turnovers with glaze so the pastry doesn’t flake off.
- Try drizzling caramel over the tops of your apple turnovers.
- Make sure your apple chunks are too big. Large apples won’t get tender during cooking.
- If you want to add more flavor to your hand pies, try mixing in a bit of nutmeg or ginger.
- To help prevent the filling from burning, bake the hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Allow the hand pies to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. This will help ensure that they stay crisp and delicious.
Customizing Options for Hand-Held Apple Pie
- There are many ways that you can customize your hand pies to suit your tastes and preferences.
- Try using different types of apples, like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, for a sweeter filling.
- Experiment with different spice combinations, such as mixing in nutmeg or ginger for a more complex flavor.
- You can also fill your pies with other types of fruit, such as berries or peaches. Top the pies with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon for a delicious dessert that brings out the flavor of the filling perfectly.
- You can bake these pies or put them in the air fryer. Both options are quick and easy, letting you enjoy your hand pies whenever the craving strikes.
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Apple Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry defrosted
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- 3 granny smith apples
- 1/4 C brown sugar
- 1 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Glaze
- 1/2 C powdered sugar
- 1/4 C heavy cream you can substitute 3 tablespoons of water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Peel, core and cut apples into pieces about 1⁄3” wide by 1-2” long. Toss in brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add apples to saucepan. Stir frequently. Cook for about 5 minutes when the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat.
- Open puff pastry. Cut down the center both ways to make 4 equal squares.
- Divide the apple filling into 4 parts and place the apples in the center of the puff pastry pieces.
- Whisk together the egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush edges of the pastry with the egg wash. This will help seal the edges together.
- Fold the pastry over to line up the edges. Be careful to keep the apple filling inside and away from the edges. Gently smash 3 open edges with a fork to seal.
- Transfer the turnovers to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Brush the tops and sides with the egg wash.
- Cook for 18-20 minutes or until the puff pastry has puffed up and is a golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack.
- Whisk together the heavy cream and powdered sugar.
- When turnovers are cool, top with glaze. Allow to harden.
- Serve.
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