Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Introduction

Apple Hand Pies are a delightful treat combining tender, cinnamon-spiced apple filling encased in flaky dough. Perfect for a cozy dessert or a sweet snack, these pies are easy to make and delicious served warm.

Ingredients

• 5 medium/large apples (Granny Smith & Macoun)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4–1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Homemade pie crust or biscuit dough
• Canola oil for frying
• Granulated sugar or powdered sugar for finishing (optional)
• Simple glaze or caramel sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces. Melt the butter in a 10–12 inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Step 2: Cook the apples, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes until soft. While cooking, sprinkle in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Be careful not to let the mixture burn.
3. Step 3: Dissolve the cornstarch in about 1/4 cup of cold water and stir to combine. Pour this mixture into the skillet once the apples are almost done.
4. Step 4: Cook the filling until it bubbles around the edges, allowing the cornstarch to thicken the mixture. Remove from heat, stir in cinnamon and nutmeg, and let the filling cool completely.
5. Step 5: Roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface into 4–6 inch ovals, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
6. Step 6: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cooled apple filling onto the center of each dough oval.
7. Step 7: Fold the dough over the filling and press the edges gently to seal. Lightly wet the edges with water if needed and crimp with a floured fork.
8. Step 8: Place the hand pies on a parchment-lined half-sheet pan. You can freeze them covered loosely with plastic wrap for later or refrigerate while heating oil for immediate frying.
9. Step 9: Fill a frying pan with 2–3 inches of canola oil and heat to 370–375°F (188–190°C).
10. Step 10: Fry a few hand pies at a time, avoiding overcrowding, until golden brown on both sides, about 3–4 minutes per batch.
11. Step 11: Remove pies from oil and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with granulated sugar or dust with powdered sugar while warm, or drizzle with a simple glaze. Let dry slightly before serving.
12. Step 12: Serve the pies warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream and warm caramel sauce for an extra special treat.

Tips & Variations

• For a crispier crust, chill the dough before rolling it out.
• Mix in chopped nuts or raisins to the apple filling for added texture.
• Use store-bought pie crust or biscuit dough for a quicker shortcut.
• Try baking the hand pies instead of frying at 375°F for about 20 minutes until golden for a lighter version.

Storage

Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a toaster oven or conventional oven to keep the crust crisp. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of apples for the filling?

Yes, any firm apple variety works well. Granny Smith and Macoun are great for balance between tartness and sweetness, but Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala apples also make delicious fillings.

Is it necessary to fry the pies, or can I bake them?

You can bake the hand pies for a healthier alternative. Bake at 375°F for around 20 minutes or until golden brown. Baking will yield a slightly different texture but still delicious results.

Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.5 from 115 reviews

Delicious homemade Apple Hand Pies featuring a tender, flaky crust filled with a warm, spiced apple filling. These hand pies are fried to a golden brown perfection and make a perfect treat served warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

• Author: Yana
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8–12 hand pies depending on size 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Apple Pie Filling

• 5 medium/large apples (Granny Smith & Macoun), peeled, cored, and chopped
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Dough & Finishing

• Homemade pie crust or biscuit dough
• Canola oil, for frying (about 2-3 inches in pan)
• Granulated sugar or powdered sugar, for dusting
• Optional simple glaze (for drizzling)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Apple Pie Filling: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces. Melt butter in a 10-12 inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Cook the Apples: Add the chopped apples to the butter and cook for 15-20 minutes until soft. Sprinkle in brown sugar, granulated sugar, and lemon juice during cooking, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
3. Thicken the Filling: Dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water, then pour the mixture into the apples. Cook until the filling bubbles and thickens around the edges.
4. Seasoning: Remove from heat and stir in ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Allow the filling to cool completely before assembling the pies.
5. Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out pie crust or biscuit dough into 4-6 inch ovals, about 1/8-1/4 inch thick.
6. Assemble Hand Pies: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cooled apple filling into the center of each dough oval. Fold over the dough and gently press down on the filling and edges. Wet edges lightly with water if needed and crimp with a floured fork to seal.
7. Optional Freezing: Place hand pies on a parchment-lined sheet pan, overlap slightly, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and freeze for later use if desired.
8. Chill Before Frying: Place uncooked pies on a parchment-lined half-sheet pan and refrigerate while oil heats.
9. Heat Oil: Fill a fry pan with 2-3 inches of canola oil and heat to 370-375°F (188-190°C).
10. Fry the Hand Pies: Fry a few pies at a time in hot oil without overcrowding for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown on both sides.
11. Drain and Finish: Remove fried pies and drain on paper towels placed on a half-sheet pan. While warm, sprinkle with granulated or powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze and allow to dry slightly.
12. Serve: Serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel sauce for an indulgent dessert experience.

Notes

• Use a mix of tart (Granny Smith) and sweet (Macoun) apples for balanced flavor.
• Make sure oil is at the right temperature (370-375°F) to ensure even frying and avoid greasy pies.
• The pies can be frozen before frying for convenient make-ahead treats.
• If you prefer, you can dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze instead of granulated sugar.
• Serve warm for the best taste and texture.

Keywords: apple hand pies, fried pies, homemade apple filling, dessert, fall desserts, hand-held pies