Hand-pies with apples
By Olga Babitskaya
Prep Time:
1h 20m
Cook Time:
30m
Making delicious homemade hand pies is a simple and rewarding project. These versatile sweet treats are delightful whether you enjoy them warm or chilled. The real joy lies in customizing them to your liking—feel free to experiment with various fruit fillings like caramel, cranberry, or any flavor that captures your imagination! For this recipe, you can take a shortcut by using store-bought crust and filling, or opt for a completely homemade approach as detailed here. There are several convenient ways to prepare these petite pastries; you can bake them in an oven, fry them in oil, or even cook them in an air fryer. The possibilities for your perfect dessert are endless!
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Hand Pies
For the Flaky Hand Pie Crust:
- 235 gr of all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1/2 tbsp of sugar
- 100 gr. of chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 65 gr. of ice water
- 1/2 tsp of baking powder
For the Sweet Apple Filling:
- 4-6 apples (peeled and diced)
- 200 gr. of sugar
- Zest and juice of half an orange
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp of spice blend (cinnamon and ginger)
For Tossing and Finishing:
- Additional sugar and cinnamon for tossing
Step-by-Step Instructions for Apple Hand Pies
- Making the Flaky Hand Pie Crust and Assembling Apple Hand Pies
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tbsp sugar, and baking powder. Cut the chilled unsalted butter into pieces. Use a blender, fork, or your preferred method to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Pour in the ice water and work the ingredients with your hands until the dough comes together. If the dough is still crumbly, add more ice water, one tablespoon at a time. Avoid overworking the dough to ensure a flaky crust. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour.
- Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle. Cut the dough into small rectangles of your desired size for individual pies.
- Assemble the Apple Hand Pies: Place each dough rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon 2 heaping tablespoons of the prepared apple filling into the center of each pie. Brush the edges with water and bring the corners together to form the pastries. Trim excess dough if necessary and crimp the edges firmly to seal each one.
- Bake or Fry: Bake the pies in the oven until golden brown, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can fry them in oil until they achieve a beautiful golden brown color.
- Cool and Toss: Allow the baked or fried pies to cool completely on wire racks before serving. For an added touch of flavor and sweetness, toss the cooled pastries in a bowl with the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
- Preparing the Sweet Apple Filling
- In a large pot, combine the peeled and diced apples, 200 gr sugar, orange zest, orange juice, a pinch of salt, cornstarch, and spice blend (cinnamon and ginger). Stir until all ingredients for the filling are thoroughly mixed.
- Bring the apple mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat and boil for approximately 5-6 minutes, or until the apples become soft and the filling thickens slightly.
- Remove the pot from heat and let the filling sit for about 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the mixture to cool completely before using it to assemble your hand pies.
