Sweet Little Apple Hand Pies Recipe: A Portable Treat Joy

Warm, golden pastries filled with cinnamon-spiced apple hand pies burst with homemade comfort that transports you straight to grandma’s kitchen.

Sweet aromas of baked fruit and buttery crust will dance through your home, tempting every hungry soul nearby.

These little pockets of deliciousness combine flaky dough with tender, caramelized apples in a perfectly portable dessert.

Crisp autumn afternoons call for something special, and these hand-held treats deliver pure delectable magic.

Each bite promises a rich blend of traditional flavors and modern simplicity.

Compact, adorable, and irresistibly delicious, these hand pies offer a delightful twist on classic apple desserts.

Grab your ingredients and get ready to bake pure happiness in every single bite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 15 min

Total Time: 35 min

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 9

Apple Hand Pies Ingredient Guide

• Pie Crust: Provides the crispy, flaky foundation for the hand pies, selecting a high-quality, buttery dough ensures a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Apple Pie Filling: Delivers sweet and spicy apple goodness, choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for a perfect balance of flavors and texture.

• Confectioners' Sugar: Creates a silky, smooth glaze that adds a delightful sweetness and glossy finish to the hand pies.
• Milk: Helps thin and smooth the glaze, ensuring a perfect drizzling consistency.
• Vegetable Oil: Enables deep-frying, creating a golden, crispy exterior that's irresistibly crunchy.

• Water: Acts as a natural adhesive to seal the pie edges, preventing filling from leaking during frying.

Equipment Needed for Apple Hand Pies

• Rolling Pin: Essential for rolling out pie crusts evenly to the perfect thickness.
• Cookie Cutter: Use a 4-5-inch round cutter to create uniform pie crust shapes.
• Large Fork: Perfect for crimping edges and helping glaze the hand pies.
• Frying Pan: Deep enough to hold 2-3 inches of oil for frying hand pies.
• Candy Thermometer: Crucial for checking oil temperature and ensuring perfect frying at 375°F.
• Mixing Bowl: Used for preparing smooth glaze and combining ingredients.
• Paper Towel-Lined Cooling Rack: Great for draining excess oil from fried hand pies.
• Large Spoon or Ladle: Helpful for adding apple pie filling to crust rounds.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Apple Hand Pies

Flaky Pastry Delight

• Pastry Preparation

Roll out smooth pie dough into thin, delicate rounds using a circular cookie cutter. Each round should be small enough to create a handheld treat.

• Apple Filling

Spoon fragrant apple mixture onto center of each pastry round. Ensure filling is cooled to prevent soggy edges.

• Sealing Magic

Gently fold pastry into half-moon shapes, pressing edges together with a fork to create decorative crimped borders. Seal with a light water wash to ensure no filling escapes.

• Crispy Cooking

Heat oil in a deep pan until shimmering and hot. Carefully lower pies into bubbling oil, cooking until they transform into golden, crispy parcels.

• Sweet Finishing

While pies are still warm, drizzle with silky sweet glaze. The coating should cascade gracefully over the crisp exterior, creating a tempting shine that beckons hungry taste buds.

• Serving Suggestion

Transfer to a beautiful serving platter, allowing the pies to cool slightly. These handheld delights are best enjoyed fresh, with their crisp exterior and warm, gooey center.

Pro Tips for Flaky Apple Hand Pies

• Maintain consistent oil temperature around 375°F to ensure golden, crispy exteriors without burning the delicate pastry.
• Experiment with different apple varieties like Granny Smith for tartness or Honeycrisp for sweetness, and add nutmeg or cinnamon for extra warmth.
• Prepare unfried hand pies in advance and freeze them between parchment paper layers for up to one month, allowing quick frying when unexpected guests arrive.
• Enhance the classic milk glaze by adding vanilla extract, maple syrup, or a splash of bourbon for sophisticated flavor complexity.
• Store cooled hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, reheating briefly in the oven to restore their crispy texture.

Serving Ideas for Apple Hand Pies

• Party Platter Paradise: Create a stunning dessert display with these golden apple hand pies arranged on a rustic wooden board, garnished with fresh apple slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon for an elegant touch.
• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these crispy hand pies with a steaming cup of chai tea or coffee, making them a delightful morning treat that adds warmth to weekend gatherings.
• Dessert Buffet Centerpiece: Serve these hand pies on a tiered dessert stand, allowing guests to easily grab and enjoy the portable, delectable pastries during parties or potlucks.
• Ice Cream Fusion Delight: Top warm hand pies with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, creating a decadent contrast between the crispy fried crust and creamy, cold ice cream.

Best Storage Methods for Apple Hand Pies

• Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store these delightful apple hand pies in an airtight container inside the refrigerator. They'll stay fresh and delicious for 3-4 days, maintaining their crispy texture and fruity flavor.
• Freezing Magic: Wrap individual hand pies in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen pies can last up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before enjoying their golden, crispy goodness.
• Room Temperature Tip: If serving within 24 hours, keep hand pies on a countertop in a covered container. This method helps maintain their ideal crunch and prevents moisture buildup.
• Reheating Hack: Warm refrigerated or thawed hand pies in an oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. This technique restores their original crispy exterior and ensures the filling remains warm and gooey.

Golden Apple Hand Pies

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4.7 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 35 min
• Yield: 9 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Home bakers can master this delightful apple hand pies recipe with simple ingredients and classic techniques. Crisp pastry envelops sweet, spiced apple filling, creating a portable dessert perfect for autumn gatherings and family celebrations.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 boxes store-bought pie crust dough
• 1 homemade pie crust recipe
• 1 can (21 oz / 595 g) store-bought apple pie filling
• 2 cups apple pie filling
• 4 cups (250 g) confectioners’ sugar
• 5–7 tbsps whole milk, room temperature
• Vegetable oil, for frying

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Roll out pastry dough to a thin ⅛-inch thickness and cut into 4-5-inch circular rounds using a precise circular cutter, aiming for 26-28 total pastry circles.
2. Filling and Sealing: Distribute cooled apple filling at the center of each round, carefully folding pastry into half-moon shapes. Moisten edges with water, then crimp firmly with fork tines to create a robust seal.
3. Oil Heating: Warm oil in a deep skillet to 375°F, using a cooking thermometer to ensure precise temperature control for optimal frying conditions.
4. Frying Process: Gently submerge 2-3 hand pies into hot oil, allowing them to transform into crisp, golden-brown pastries through 3-4 minutes of careful frying. Transfer immediately to paper towels to absorb excess oil.
5. Glazing Technique: Whisk confectioners’ sugar with milk to create a smooth, pourable glaze. While hand pies remain warm, generously coat with glaze by drizzling or full immersion, ensuring complete coverage.
6. Serving: Present hand pies immediately to maintain peak texture and temperature, showcasing the delicate balance of crisp pastry and luscious apple filling.

Notes

• Dough Thickness Matters: Roll pastry precisely to ⅛-inch for consistent, delicate texture that ensures even cooking and crispy edges.
• Cooling Filling Prevents Disaster: Allow apple mixture to completely cool before adding to pastry to avoid soggy, weak dough structure.
• Sealing Technique is Critical: Use water and fork crimping to create tight, leak-proof edges that prevent filling from escaping during frying.
• Temperature Control Ensures Perfection: Maintain oil at exact 375°F using a cooking thermometer to achieve golden-brown exterior without burning or undercooking.

• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 15 min
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg