These apple hand pies are the perfect dessert when you aren’t in the mood for a full-sized pie. They are also known as apple turnovers—pies that are stuffed with caramel apple filling on a buttery, flaky crust.
These mini pies are made with simple ingredients, but they don’t compromise on taste at all! Sweet and tart apples are sweetened with ground cinnamon and rich brown sugar.
Whether it’s a family backyard lunch, barbecues, or picnics at the park, they are a fantastic on-the-go dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth anytime.
So, try this recipe today if you’re thinking about making sweet, warm, and comforting apple pocket pies that will hit the spot!
Homemade Apple Hand Pies – Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s an on-the-go dessert that you can bring anywhere.
- These can be served as a dessert or snacks.
- They’ll always be a hit at parties.
- Perfect for fulfilling your sweet cravings when you don’t want to have a full-sized dessert.
Ingredients For Mini Apple Pies
I love baking. The aroma it fills the house with is just amazingly warm and cozy. It’s surprisingly easy to do. If you don’t have time there are store-bought pie crusts that are readily available.
The filling is as simple as it gets. Apples and cinnamon form a sweet and warm combination that always makes this pie a family favorite.
If you prefer, you can add more to the filling to make your own flavor and texture combinations. Also, I found it convenient that I could make and freeze extra batches of the crust or the baked turnovers themselves to serve for another day.
Makes: 10 – 3” “cookies”/ Prep Time: 45 minutes/ Rest Time: 45 minutes/ Bake Time: 25 minutes/ Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Pie Crust:
- 2 cups/240g all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp/25g granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp/2g salt
- ½ tsp/2g baking powder
- ½ cup/120ml vegetable oil
- 4 tbsp/60ml very cold water
Apple Pie Filling:
- 2 medium/250g apples, peeled and finely diced
- 2 tbsp/25g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp/2g ground cinnamon
Topping:
- 2 tbsp/30ml oat milk
- 2 tbsp/25g raw cane sugar
How To Make Apple Hand Pies
Pie Dough:
- To make the homemade pie crust, get a large bowl and combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir to evenly distribute.
- Pour the oil into the flour mixture and Stir to incorporate until lumps form.
- Add in cold water and stir until a dough forms. Some crumbles may remain but do not over-mix.
- Gather the contents of the bowl together and roll the dough into a ball or disc. Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Homemade Pie Filling:
- Peel and finely dice the apples as small as possible and add them to a small bowl.
- For the apple pie spice, mix sugar and cinnamon together. Pour it over the apples and toss to coat.
How To Assemble Hand Pie Recipe:
1. To make these apple hand pies, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough out between 2 layers of lightly floured parchment until they are ¼”/6mm thick.
2. Cut out even 3”/7.5cm rounds. Try to get as many rounds out from the first roll. Dough scraps can be rerolled once, but it gets tough very quickly.
3. To form the base of the crust, place half the pieces on one of the prepared baking sheets. Scoop a heaping 1 tablespoon or 15ml of apple filling into the center of each pastry.
4. Brush the edges of the pie crust and around the filling with a little bit of oat milk or water. Then cover it up with another cut piece of dough on top of the filling, lining up the edges. Press gently to remove any trapped air and make sure there are no leakages. Or use a fork to crimp up the edges.
5. Brush the tops with oat milk and add a little sprinkle of raw cane sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut a small slit on the top of each one. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes before baking.* Then preheat oven to 375 degrees F/190C 10 minutes before baking.
6. Bake for 24 to 27 minutes or until the pie crust turns golden brown on the edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Baked apple hand pies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Or freeze in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw to room temperature before serving.
Notes
What Are Hand Pies
Hand pies are a type of pastry that’s typically for a single serving. Assembling the pies consists of folding a piece of pie dough over a filling and sealing it by crimping around the edges with a fork to form a pocket.
Then it is lightly brushed with egg wash using a pastry brush to give it a golden brown finish.
Filling recipes vary widely. Sweet pies are filled with fruits or berries along with sugar and spices. It is also served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the pie. Savory pies are filled with meat, mushrooms, cheese, and various vegetables.
The pie crust recipe also varies but usually has a flaky texture. These recipes are easy to follow which requires you to roll out the dough and are shaped using a cookie cutter. But for some people, store-bought puff pastry is more convenient and easy to work with.
These mini pies are convenient and portable. Making them popular as a go-to main or dessert and can be baked or fried. They are included in many culinary traditions and have many names like empanadas, pasties, turnovers, or calzones.
Types of Apples For This Recipe
There are thousands of apple varieties with different flavors, textures, and uses that are found around the world. Let’s look at some of them and what they are used for:
- Red Delicious: Red Delicious apples are known for their vibrant red skin and mild, sweet flavor. They are best for eating fresh or in salads, as they are not ideal for baking due to their soft texture.
- Granny Smith: These green apples have a tart, crisp flesh that makes them perfect for adding a tangy kick to salads and slaws. They are also excellent for baking in pies, crisps, and tarts.
- Gala: Gala apples are sweet and mildly tart with a crisp texture. They are great for snacking and adding to cheese platters. They can also be used in pies and applesauce.
- Fuji: Fuji apples are sweet, juicy, and crunchy. They are excellent for eating fresh and can also be used in salads or as a topping for desserts.
- Honeycrisp: Honeycrisp apples are known for their sweet, juicy, and crisp flesh. They are excellent for snacking, and their juice can be used for beverages and cider. They can also be used in salads and pies.
- Braeburn: Braeburn apples have a sweet and slightly tart flavor with a firm texture. They are versatile and can be used for snacking, baking, and in salads.
- Jonagold: Jonagold apples offer a sweet and tart flavor with a firm, crisp texture. They are great for both eating fresh and baking in pies and crisps.
- Cortland: Cortland apples are slightly tart and resist browning when sliced, making them ideal for salads and fruit platters. They can also be used in baking.
- Golden Delicious: Golden Delicious apples have a sweet and mild flavor with a slightly softer texture. They are versatile and can be used for snacking, pies, applesauce, and salads.
- Pink Lady (Cripps Pink): Pink Lady apples are sweet, crisp, and slightly tart. They are excellent for snacking, and their flavor holds up well in salads and pies.
- McIntosh: McIntosh apples have a slightly tart and tender flesh. They are great for applesauce, cider, and baking in pies.
- Empire: Empire apples are sweet and slightly tart with a firm texture. They are versatile and can be used for snacking, salads, and baking.
- Winesap: Winesap apples have a tangy, wine-like flavor and are suitable for both snacking and baking in pies.
- Stayman: Stayman apples have a tart, spicy flavor and are excellent for making applesauce and for use in pies.
These are just a few examples of apple varieties, and there are many more to discover. The choice of apple variety depends on your personal preference and the specific culinary application you have in mind.
Whether you prefer them for snacking, baking, or incorporating into savory dishes, there’s an apple variety to suit your needs.
Tips, Variations, And Substitutions
Walnuts – You may add this to your filling and it will give your apple pie filling some nuttiness and add a crunchy texture.
Vegan Cheese – You mix this with your apple mixture for a robust taste.
Whenever you make pie crust, you can make a large batch and freeze it. This way you have a pie crust that’s always ready when you need it and keeping it in the freezer extends its shelf life.
Frequent Asked Questions
Can I Make These Mini Pies Ahead Of Time And Freeze Them?
Yes, you can. If you’re short on time. These delectable pies can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
Can I Use A Food Processor To Make This Recipe?
If you don’t have time to cut your apples by hand, using a food processor is convenient. Just make sure it doesn’t turn into puree.
What Are The Ingredients In Apple Fillings?
For the classic apple pie recipe, we use apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar. You may add other stuff like walnuts and cheese to the apple pie filling.
