Quick & Cozy Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies Recipe for Fall

Chai spice elevates ordinary apple hand pies into an extraordinary culinary adventure that dances between warmth and comfort.

Fragrant, bold spices weave through delicate pastry, creating layers of sensational flavor that awaken your senses.

These miniature pies carry the essence of cozy autumn afternoons, where kitchen aromas tell stories of tradition and innovation.

Soft, flaky crusts cradle tender apple filling infused with exotic chai-inspired seasonings that surprise and delight.

Small handheld treasures like these capture the magic of baking—personal, intimate, and wonderfully unpredictable.

Sweet and spicy notes intertwine, promising a dessert experience that elevates simple ingredients into something remarkable.

Prepare to embark on a delightful baking journey that will enchant your taste buds and spark joy in every bite.

Why Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies Are Fall in a Bite

• Savor Exotic Spice Blend: Chai spices like cardamom, ginger, and cloves transform ordinary apple pies into a vibrant, aromatic dessert that dances with warm, complex flavors.
• Enjoy Convenient Hand-Held Delight: Perfectly portable mini pies make snacking, sharing, and entertaining a breeze without needing plates or utensils.
• Experience Quick and Easy Preparation: Simple blender dough method and straightforward filling technique allow even novice bakers to create impressive, restaurant-quality pastries in under an hour.

The Essentials for Chai-Spiced Apple Hand Pies

• All-Purpose Flour: Light and fluffy base for creating a tender, flaky pie crust.
• Coconut Sugar: Natural sweetener with a rich, caramel-like flavor.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter: Cold and cubed for creating a flaky, rich pastry texture.
• Ice Cold Water: Helps bind the dough without overworking it.

• Apples: Crisp and sweet fruit that provides the main filling, best when firm and slightly tart.
• Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger, Cloves, Black Pepper: Classic chai spice blend for warming, complex flavor.
• Vanilla: Adds depth and rounds out the spice profile.
• Coconut Sugar: Natural sweetener that complements the spices.
• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds a bright note.

• Egg: Used for egg wash to create a golden, shiny crust.
• Powdered Sugar: Base for creating a smooth, sweet glaze.
• Milk or Cream: Helps thin and smooth the glaze.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor to the glaze.

How to Fold and Bake These Spiced Apple Pockets

Step 1: Create the Dough

Grab your blender or food processor. Toss in flour, coconut sugar, and salt. Pulse the ingredients together. Add cold, cubed butter and pulse until crumbly. Slowly pour in ice cold water, at a time, until the dough feels sticky and holds together when pinched.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, gently flatten into a disc shape. Pop it in the refrigerator and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Filling

• Diced apples
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Ginger
• Cloves
• Black pepper
• Vanilla
• Coconut sugar
• Lemon juice

Transfer the mixture to a pan and cook over medium-low heat until apples become soft and tender.

Step 4: Shape the Hand Pies

Roll out sections of the chilled dough. Scoop apple filling onto each dough section. Fold the dough into half-moon shapes. Carefully seal the edges and brush with egg wash.

Step 5: Bake the Pies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the hand pies and bake for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Step 6: Create the Glaze

Combine glaze ingredients in a saucepan. Warm until the mixture becomes pourable. Once pies have cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top.

Tips to Seal in All That Juicy Goodness

• Master the Dough Chill: Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to ensure flaky, tender pastry that's easy to handle and prevents shrinking during baking.
• Choose Apple Varieties Wisely: Select firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape and provide a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Seal Edges Completely: Press pie edges firmly with a fork to prevent filling from leaking and create a beautiful, crimped design that traps delicious chai spices inside.
• Control Moisture Carefully: Drain excess liquid from apple filling to avoid soggy bottoms and ensure a crisp, golden-brown crust that maintains its structural integrity.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast whole spices briefly before grinding to intensify the chai spice blend, releasing more complex and aromatic notes throughout the hand pies.

Storing and Reheating These Warm Little Hand Pies

• Refrigerate hand pies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Warm individual pies in a preheated 325°F oven for 8-10 minutes to restore crispy crust and revive flavors. Avoid microwaving to maintain pastry's texture and prevent sogginess. Freeze unbaked hand pies on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 2 months. Bake frozen pies directly from freezer, adding 5-7 minutes to original baking time.

Best Beverages and Sides for Spiced Hand Pies

• Brew Chai Tea Companion: Pair these hand pies with a freshly brewed, warm chai tea that echoes the spices inside the pastry. The cardamom, ginger, and clove notes will dance perfectly with the pie's aromatic filling.
• Creamy Vanilla Complement: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The cool, smooth texture balances the warm, spiced apple hand pies beautifully.
• Caramel Cider Sip: Enjoy with a chilled glass of spiced apple cider or a light caramel-infused beverage. The sweet, tangy liquid enhances the pie's rich autumn-inspired flavors and provides a delightful refreshment.
• Maple Cream Drizzle: Top the hand pies with a light maple cream sauce or sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon sugar. This extra layer of sweetness elevates the dessert's warmth and complexity.

Fun Twists on Traditional Apple Hand Pies

• Tropical Chai Fusion: Swap apples with a mix of mango and pineapple, keeping the chai spice blend for a vibrant, tropical-inspired hand pie experience.
• Nutty Chai Crunch: Add chopped pecans or almonds to the apple filling for extra texture and a rich, roasted undertone that complements the warm chai spices.
• Chocolate Chai Dream: Incorporate dark chocolate chips into the apple mixture, creating a decadent flavor profile that marries the spicy chai notes with smooth chocolate.
• Autumn Harvest Remix: Replace some apples with roasted butternut squash, enhancing the pie's warmth and adding a subtle earthy sweetness to the traditional chai spice blend.

Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies Recipe

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4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Chai spice apple hand pies deliver a delightful fusion of warm Indian flavors and classic American pastry. Delicate pastry pockets cradle spiced apple filling, offering you a portable dessert that combines comforting sweetness with aromatic complexity.

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Ingredients

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Crust:

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) plant-based butter, cold & cubed

Sweeteners and Seasoning:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) coconut sugar (or white/raw cane sugar)
• ¾ teaspoon (3.75 milliliters) salt

Liquid:

• 2–5 tablespoons (30–75 milliliters) ice cold water

Filling:

Main Ingredients:

• 4 large apples (or 5 small apples), peeled, cored, and diced

Spices:

• ¾ teaspoon (3.75 milliliters) ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 milliliters) ground cloves
• 1 pinch black pepper

Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:

• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) coconut sugar (or white/raw cane sugar)
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
• 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice

Egg Wash:

• 1 egg, beaten

Cardamom Glaze:

• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon (2.5

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Instructions

1. Craft a delicate pastry dough by combining flour, coconut sugar, and salt in a food processor. Incorporate cold, cubed butter through gentle pulses until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
2. Introduce ice-cold water gradually, at a time, pulsing until the dough coheres when gently pressed together.
3. Form the dough into a flattened disc, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow gluten to relax and butter to firm.
4. Create a fragrant apple filling by combining diced apples with warming spices: ground cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. Add vanilla extract, coconut sugar, and fresh lemon juice.
5. Simmer the apple mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and caramelizes slightly, approximately 8-10 minutes. Allow the filling to cool completely.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Roll out the chilled dough to approximately 1/8-inch (3 millimeters) thickness and cut into individual circles using a 3-inch (7.5 centimeters) round cutter.
8. Place a small spoonful of cooled apple filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over to create half-moon shapes, pressing edges firmly with a fork to seal.
9. Brush the hand pies with beaten egg wash to ensure a golden, glossy exterior.
10. Arrange the prepared hand pies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each pie.
11. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the pastry turns a delicate golden brown and appears crisp.
12. While pies cool, prepare a simple glaze by whisking powdered sugar with a touch of milk or cream until smooth and drizzling consistency is achieved.
13. Once pies have cooled to room temperature, delicately drizzle the glaze over the tops, allowing it to set for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

• Dough Prep Tip: Pulse flour mixture quickly to avoid overworking, ensuring a tender, flaky crust that melts in your mouth.
• Chilling Magic: Refrigerating dough allows butter to firm up, creating beautiful layers and preventing shrinkage during baking.
• Spice Blend Wisdom: Toast whole spices before grinding for deeper, more complex chai-inspired flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
• Filling Technique: Cook apple mixture until slightly reduced, concentrating sweetness and preventing soggy pie bottoms.
• Sealing Secrets: Use a fork to crimp edges tightly, preventing filling from leaking and creating a beautiful decorative border.
• Cooling Crucial: Let pies rest before glazing to prevent melting and ensure a smooth, glossy finish that looks professionally made.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Indian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 245 kcal
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg