Mini Apple Hand Pies

If you’re looking for a delightful dessert that feels like a warm hug, these Mini Apple Hand Pies are just the thing! They capture all the cozy flavors of a classic apple pie but in a fun and portable form. Perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings, these little pies bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Plus, they’re so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried them sooner!

There’s something incredibly special about biting into a perfectly baked hand pie filled with sweet and cinnamon-spiced apples. These Mini Apple Hand Pies are not only delicious but also a great way to get everyone involved in the kitchen. So roll up your sleeves, gather your loved ones, and let’s create some sweet memories together!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy: With store-bought pie dough and simple filling ingredients, you can whip these up in under an hour.
• Family-Friendly: Kids will love helping out with cutting the shapes, and everyone will enjoy the tasty results!
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare the filling ahead of time and assemble whenever you’re ready for fresh-baked goodness.
• Versatile Treats: Perfect for dessert or as a snack; they’re great for lunchboxes too!
• Deliciously Flavorful: The combination of sweet apples and warm cinnamon is irresistible!

Ingredients You’ll Need

These Mini Apple Hand Pies use simple, wholesome ingredients that you probably already have at home. Let’s gather everything we need to create this delightful treat:

• 1 box store bought pie dough, containing 2 sheets see notes for GF option
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter (regular or plant-based)
• 2 1/2 cups finely chopped fuji or honeycrisp apples (about 2 large apples)
• 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp water
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Variations

This recipe is wonderfully flexible! Feel free to get creative and mix things up with these variations:

• Add some nuts: Toss in some chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch and flavor.
• Mix in other fruits: Try including some finely chopped pears or berries for a fruity twist.
• Switch up the spices: Experiment with nutmeg or ginger to give your hand pies a unique flavor profile.
• Glaze it up: Brush the tops with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice after baking for extra sweetness.

How to Make Mini Apple Hand Pies

Step 1: Prepare the Filling

Start by allowing your pie dough to come to room temperature while we focus on making that delicious apple filling. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt down the butter until it’s bubbly and fragrant. This step is crucial because it creates the base flavor for our filling.

Step 2: Cook the Apples

Once your butter is melted, add in your finely chopped apples along with brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Let this mixture cook for about 10 minutes until the apples are tender and juicy. This step not only softens the apples but also allows them to soak up all those wonderful flavors.

Step 3: Thicken the Filling

Next, mix together cornstarch with water in a small dish. Pour this mixture into your pot of apple goodness and stir well. Heat for another 30 seconds until you see it thicken beautifully. This will help keep your filling nice and cohesive inside those hand pies!

Step 4: Preheat Your Oven

While your filling cools, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. A hot oven ensures that we get that perfect golden-brown crust on our hand pies.

Step 5: Roll Out Your Dough

Dust your work surface lightly with flour and unroll one sheet of pie dough. Use a rolling pin just enough to smooth out any wrinkles—this gives us even shapes for our hand pies.

Step 6: Cut Out Shapes

Using an apple-shaped cookie cutter or homemade template, cut out as many apple shapes as you can from the rolled-out dough—aiming for about eight per sheet! Gather any scraps back into a ball and roll out again if needed.

Step 7: Assemble Your Hand Pies

Place half of your apple cutouts on the prepared baking sheet. Don’t crowd them! Add about a tablespoon of that luscious filling into the center of each shape while leaving some edge space for sealing.

Step 8: Seal Them Up

Beat an egg with two teaspoons of water; this will be our egg wash! Brush it around the edges of each filled apple shape before placing another cutout on top—make sure to press down gently around the seam to seal them tight.

Step 9: Add Vents & Sugar

Cut four small slits into each top piece—this allows steam to escape while baking! Then brush each one with egg wash again before sprinkling on that heavenly cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 10: Bake & Enjoy!

Pop those beauties into the oven for about 12-14 minutes until golden brown. Once baked, let them cool slightly before transferring them onto a cooling rack. Now they’re ready to be enjoyed!

Dessert

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