Baked Homemade Apple Hand Pies
Golden and flaky, these homemade apple hand pies are packed with the sweet, warm flavors of apples simmered in maple syrup and cozy spices.
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- Pie Crust - homemade or store bought
Apple Hand Pie Filling
- 5 medium apples peeled, cored, diced
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
Maple Glaze
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a heavy-bottomed pan, such as a Dutch oven. Add the maple syrup, flour, and spices to the apples, then stir everything together to combine.
- Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples should soften, and the syrup will thicken slightly. Once done, remove the pan from the heat and let the filling cool to room temperature.
- If you’re using homemade pie crust, make the dough. Then, roll it out on a floured surface to 1/8–1/4-inch thick and cut it into 4-inch circles, using a round cutter (I used a lid) as a guide. If you’re using store-bought crust, roll it out and cut it into 4-inch circles.
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the apple filling into the center of each dough circle. Then, brush a small amount of water around the edge of the bottom crust to help seal the edges when you add the top crust.
- Before placing the second circle of dough on top of the apple filling, use a knife to cut three small slits into the center of the top crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Then, place the top crust over the apple filling. Press the edges together and use a fork to crimp them tightly.
- Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes to help the crust hold its shape during baking.
- While the hand pies chill, preheat your oven to 425°F.
- While the oven is preheating, bring 1/4 cup of maple syrup to a boil on the stovetop. Once it’s boiling, please remove it from the heat.
- Remove the chilled pies from the refrigerator and brush them with the maple syrup. Then, immediately place them in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
- Serve the hand pies warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. They’re perfect alone or paired with a cup of tea or coffee!
Notes
- Chill Time: Don’t skip the 30-minute chilling step. It helps the crust hold its shape and bake up flaky.
- Make Them Smaller: Cut the dough into 3-inch circles instead of 4-inch.
- Customize the Spice: Adjust the spices to your taste.
- Homemade or Store-Bought Crust: You can use homemade pie crust or store-bought crust for a quicker option.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overworking it can result in a tough crust. Keep it light and quick to maintain that perfect, flaky texture.
- Let Them Cool: Let the hand pies cool before serving. This will allow the filling to set.