Description
These Apple Hand Pies feature a flaky all-butter pie crust filled with a warm, cinnamon-spiced apple filling. Perfect as a handheld dessert or snack, they combine the tartness of fresh apples with a sweet, aromatic cinnamon sugar crust, baked to golden perfection in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 tablespoons vodka, frozen
- 2 tablespoons ice water
Apple Filling
- 3 apples (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Cripps Pink)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 lemon, juiced
Topping and Finishing
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, kosher salt, and sugar. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the frozen vodka and ice water, mixing just until the dough comes together. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the Apple Filling: Peel, core, and dice the apples into small pieces. In a mixing bowl, toss the apples with sugar, light brown sugar, ground ginger, cinnamon, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into circles approximately 4 to 5 inches in diameter using a round cutter or the rim of a glass.
- Fill the Pies: Spoon a small amount of the apple filling (about 1 to 2 tablespoons) onto the center of each dough circle, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Seal the Pies: Brush the edges of the dough circles with a bit of beaten egg wash (egg mixed with a tablespoon of water). Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
- Prepare Egg Wash and Topping: In a small bowl, whisk the egg with the heavy cream. Brush each hand pie generously with this egg wash. Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the tops of the pies to add a sweet, crunchy finish.
- Bake the Pies: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the hand pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the pies cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set slightly. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- These Apple Hand Pies have a flaky all-butter crust and a cinnamon-spiced apple filling.
- They are baked quickly in under 20 minutes for a golden crust.
- Use a mix of apple varieties for depth of flavor and texture.
- Frozen vodka helps keep the dough flaky by inhibiting gluten development and not adding water.
- Egg wash ensures the crust develops a beautiful golden color and the cinnamon sugar topping adds crunch.
- Allow pies to cool before eating to avoid burns from hot filling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 268 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 141 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 47 mg
