There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm, flaky pastry filled with sweet, spiced fruit. These sweet little apple hand pies are the perfect little parcels of happiness, bursting with the tender, cinnamon-kissed flavor of baked apples and encased in buttery, golden crust. They’re wonderfully portable and utterly delightful, making them a favorite for any occasion.
Imagine these charming little pies, dusted with shimmering sugar, ready to be savored as a delightful treat or a sweet ending to any meal.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, warm apple with notes of cinnamon and brown sugar, encased in a rich, buttery pastry.
- Texture: Tender, slightly softened apples nestled within a crisp, golden, and flaky pie crust.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 30 minutes
- Total Time: Approximately 45 minutes (including cooling time for the apple filling)
- Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need
For these delightful sweet little apple hand pies, you’ll be working with a few key components. The star is a simple, sweet apple filling, brightened with a touch of lemon juice and warmed with cinnamon. This is then lovingly wrapped in a buttery, flaky pie crust. An egg wash gives them a beautiful sheen, and a sprinkle of coarse sugar adds a lovely sparkle and a touch of crunch.
Ingredient Notes
- Refrigerated Pie Crusts These make these sweet little apple hand pies wonderfully convenient, offering a shortcut to flaky, delicious pastry without all the fuss of making dough from scratch. Ensure they are at room temperature as directed on the package for easier handling.
- Apples Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples work beautifully here. Honeycrisp offers a lovely sweetness and crisp texture, while Granny Smith provides a delightful tartness that balances the sweetness of the filling. Aim for apples that hold their shape well when cooked.
- Light Brown Sugar Adds a subtle caramel note and sweetness to the apple filling, enhancing its natural flavor.
- Unsalted Butter A small amount of butter enriches the apple filling, adding a luxurious mouthfeel and helping the flavors meld together.
- Ground Cinnamon This classic spice is essential for that warm, cozy apple pie flavor we all adore.
- Lemon Juice A touch of fresh lemon juice brightens the apple filling and helps prevent the apples from browning too quickly.
- Egg Wash A simple mixture of one large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water creates a beautiful golden-brown finish and helps the sanding sugar adhere.
- Coarse Sanding Sugar This provides a delightful sparkle and a satisfying little crunch on the finished hand pies.
Add-ins and Substitutions
While these sweet little apple hand pies are wonderful as they are, you can certainly personalize them! For an extra layer of warmth, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or a tiny bit of ground ginger to the apple filling along with the cinnamon. If you love a bit of nuttiness, finely chopped pecans or walnuts could be stirred into the cooled apple mixture before filling the pies. For a touch of brightness, a bit of orange zest can be a lovely addition.
How to Make Sweet Little Apple Hand Pies
Making these sweet little apple hand pies is a joy from start to finish, and the results are always so rewarding.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In a skillet, gently cook your finely diced apples with the light brown sugar, unsalted butter, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir occasionally until the apples are tender, but not mushy. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Once tender, remove the skillet from the heat and let the apple mixture cool completely. This step is important to prevent the pie crust from becoming soggy.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on your pie crust package (typically around 375°F or 190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Cut the Pie Crusts: Carefully unroll your refrigerated pie crusts. Using a round cookie cutter or a glass (about 3-4 inches in diameter), cut out as many circles as you can from each crust. You should have enough for 8 hand pies total. Gently re-roll scraps if needed to get a few more circles.
- Assemble the Hand Pies: Take half of your pie crust circles. Place a generous spoonful of the cooled apple filling onto the center of each of these circles, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Seal and Vent: Place the remaining pie crust circles on top of the filled circles. Use your fingers or a fork to firmly press the edges together, sealing the hand pies. Be sure to create a good seal to keep the delicious filling inside. With a small knife, cut a few small slits in the top of each hand pie to allow steam to escape as they bake.
- Egg Wash and Sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create your egg wash. Gently brush the tops of each assembled hand pie with this mixture. This will give them a beautiful golden color. Immediately after brushing with the egg wash, sprinkle the tops generously with the coarse sanding sugar.
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Bake to Golden Perfection: Carefully transfer the prepared hand pies to your prepared baking sheet. Bake in your preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until the crust is beautifully golden brown and puffed.
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Pro Tip: Ensure the apple filling is completely cooled before assembling your hand pies. Warm filling can lead to a soggy bottom crust.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: When handling the pie crust, be gentle to keep it flaky. Overworking can make it tough.
- Seal Tightly: A good seal is crucial to prevent the delicious apple filling from leaking out during baking. Press the edges firmly with a fork or your fingers.
- Vent Properly: The small slits on top are not just for decoration; they allow steam to escape, preventing the pies from puffing up unevenly or bursting.
- Cooling is Key: Allowing the apple filling to cool completely before assembling the pies is one of the most important steps for achieving a crisp crust.
FAQs
- Can I use a different type of apple? Yes, any firm apple that holds its shape when baked will work. Fuji, Gala, or even a mix of apples can be lovely. Just adjust sweetness if needed.
- How do I know when the apples are tender enough? They should be soft enough to easily pierce with a fork but still retain some slight texture. They will continue to soften slightly as the hand pies bake.
- Can I make the apple filling ahead of time? Absolutely! The cooled apple filling can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
These sweet little apple hand pies are delightful served warm, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. They are also wonderful enjoyed at room temperature with a cup of tea or coffee. They make a charming addition to a brunch spread or a lovely individual dessert for a picnic or packed lunch.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can prepare the apple filling up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will save you time on the day you want to bake the sweet little apple hand pies. The assembled, unbaked hand pies can be placed on a baking sheet, covered loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerated for up to a few hours before baking. If baking from chilled, you may need to add a minute or two to the baking time.
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Sweet Little Apple Hand Pies
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 hand pies
Description
These sweet little apple hand pies are perfect little parcels of happiness, bursting with the tender, cinnamon-kissed flavor of baked apples and encased in buttery, golden crust.
Ingredients
• 1 package (14.1 oz) refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
• 2 medium Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, finely diced
• 2 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp water (egg wash)
• 2 tbsp coarse sanding sugar
Instructions
First, gently saut diced apples with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and lemon juice until tender, then let them cool.
Next, prepare your oven and baking sheet, and cut out small circles from your pie crusts.
Assemble your hand pies by filling half the circles with the apple mixture, topping with the remaining circles, sealing the edges, and venting the tops.
Finally, brush with an egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake until beautifully golden.
Notes
Don’t Overwork the Dough: When handling the pie crust, be gentle to keep it flaky. Overworking can make it tough.
Seal Tightly: A good seal is crucial to prevent the delicious apple filling from leaking out during baking. Press the edges firmly with a fork or your fingers.
Vent Properly: The small slits on top are not just for decoration; they allow steam to escape, preventing the pies from puffing up unevenly or bursting.
Cooling is Key: Allowing the apple filling to cool completely before assembling the pies is one of the most important steps for achieving a crisp crust.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
