Apple hand pies are a delicious summer and fall dessert with fruit fillings. It is the tasty baking that is very much liked by children. Its tangy aroma will fill your home during baking. Make it for any occasion to treat your guests or family. Everyone will like these little pies with crispy outside and soft inside.
Apple hand pies are a delightful dessert that not only captures the essence of summer and fall but also brings the joy of baking to your kitchen. The combination of buttery, flaky pie crust and the sweet-tart apple filling creates a treat that's sure to be a hit, especially among the younger audience. The process is not only delicious but also brings the inviting aroma of tangy apples, cinnamon, and butter, filling your home with the comforting scents of a bakery.
The apple hand pie recipe is really easy. Making pies is also a fun process. Using a prepared pie dough makes the preparation easy and allows you to save time. Follow the detailed recipe below to make apple hand pies at home.
Apple Hand Pies Ingredients
- Butter: Use butter to cook the apples and add richness to the filling.
- Green apples: They have a sweet-tart flavor and hold their shape well when cooked. They are ideal for pie fillings.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar complements the apples by adding sweetness with a hint of molasses flavor.
- White sugar: White sugar adds a sweetness to help balance the acidity of the apples and to enhance the overall flavor.
- Salt: Add salt to balance the sweetness of the sugars.
- Ground cinnamon: It gives the filling a warm and cozy taste.
- Water: Use water to soften the apples and create a syrupy consistency in the filling.
- Prepared pie dough: Use it to speed up the time of pie preparation.
- Egg: Gives the pies a golden brown finish.
- Milk: It provides for a glossy appearance for pies.
How to make Apple Hand Pies?
Make the filling
- First, you need to melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the butter brown until light golden and smell toasted, about 1 minute.
- Stir the apples into the hot butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the white sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Cook and stir the apple mixture until the apples are soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Then, stir in cinnamon and water; continue cooking until apples are soft and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes more. Spread the apple filling on a plate and allow it to cool.
Make the pies
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (400 degrees C). Then, line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Form a ball of dough. Place on a floured work surface and roll into a circle about 8 inches in diameter.
- Place a spoonful of 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the apple filling in the center.
- Fold the dough over the filling, leaving about 1 inch of dough on the bottom side visible below the top side. Using your fingertips, gently press the dough together around the filling.
- Fold the excess bottom dough over the top edge, gently pressing and pinching the overhanging dough to seal it with the top crust. Repeat this process around the entire edge of the pie crust.
- Crimp the edge tightly by pinching a little dough with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Then, use the index finger of the other hand to make a small notch in the pinched dough. Continue to pinch and notch all the way around until the crust is tightly curled. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Transfer the pies to the prepared baking sheet.
- Whisk egg and milk in a small bowl until well combined. Brush the top of each hand pie with the egg mixture and sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon of the white sugar. Cut 3 small vent holes in the top of each pie.
- Bake in a preheated oven until the pies are golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow pies to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- If you prefer, you can cut the filling recipe in half and use only 1 pie crust. This will make about 5 hand pies.
- This recipe is pretty forgiving, so feel free to use any type of apple you like. You can use Granny Smiths, Galas, and Honeycrisps!
Alternate Fillings for Pies
- Blueberry filling: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups fresh blueberries (avoid frozen ones due to excess moisture), 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Cook the filling similarly to the apple pie filling.
- Strawberry filling: Use 2 cups of chopped fresh strawberries and follow the blueberry instructions above.
- Jam: Fill the pies with one or two tablespoons of your preference of jam or preserves.
This Apple Hand Pies Recipe has several positive aspects:
- The use of green apples, rich in nutrients, as the main ingredient.
- Moderate amount of added sugar, allowing to maintain the taste and sweetness of the pies without excessive sugar consumption.
- The use of milk and eggs to give the pies a golden color and shine, without excessive amounts of fat or sugar.
- Baking in the oven, which avoids the need for additional oil or fat for frying.
- The use of butter and prepared pie dough, which add unnecessary saturated fats and simple carbohydrates to the recipe.
- Any amount of added sugar still contributes to cellular aging due to insulin spikes.
- Instead of prepared pie dough, consider making homemade dough using whole wheat flour or amaranth to reduce the amount of simple carbohydrates.
- Limit the amount of added sugar or substitute it with more natural and healthier alternatives, such as maple syrup or non-caloric sugar substitutes.
1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook until lightly golden and toasted, about 1 minute. Stir the apples into the hot butter; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the white sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Cook and stir the apple mixture until apples soften, about 5 minutes. Stir cinnamon and water into the mixture and cook until apples are soft and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes more. Spread the apple filling on a plate and allow it to cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
3. Form the dough into a ball. Place them on a floured work surface and roll into a circle about 8 inches in diameter.
4. Spoon 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the apple filling into the center.
5. Fold the dough over the filling, leaving about 1 inch of dough on the bottom side visible under the top side. Using your fingertips, gently press the dough together around the filling.
6. Fold the overhanging bottom part of the dough up over the top edge, working your way around the crust, and pinch the overhang to the top of the crust.
7. Crimp the edge tightly by pinching a little dough with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and using the index finger of the other hand to make a small notch in the pinched dough. Continue to pinch and notch all the way around until the crust is tightly crimped. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Transfer pies to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Whisk egg and milk in a small bowl until well combined. Brush the top of each hand pie with the egg mixture and sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon white sugar. In the top of each pie, cut 3 small vent holes.
9. Bake in a preheated oven until the pies are golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Calories: 728
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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To achieve the perfect balance of flavors and textures in your apple hand pies, consider experimenting with a mix of apple varieties. Combining the sweetness of Honeycrisps with the tartness of Granny Smiths adds depth to the filling. Additionally, when forming the pies, ensure a tight seal around the edges to prevent any filling from leaking during baking. For a final touch of golden perfection, brush the pies with the egg and milk mixture just before baking – it's the secret to that beautifully glossy finish.
