Cute Little Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Introduction

These Cute Little Apple Hand Pies are a charming and delicious treat perfect for any occasion. With a flaky, buttery crust and a warm, spiced apple filling, they’re sure to delight both kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, very cold and cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream, cold
• 4 large apples, peeled and cored
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons sparkling sugar (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar for the crust.
2. Step 2: Add the cold butter and work it in with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse meal with pea-sized butter pieces.
3. Step 3: Stir in the sour cream with a rubber spatula until the dough is shaggy. Turn it onto a floured surface and knead a few times to bring it together.
4. Step 4: Pat the dough into a 10-inch log, roll it into a 12″ x 14″ rectangle, fold it into thirds like a letter, flip, roll again to the same size, and fold again. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.
5. Step 5: For the filling, dice peeled and cored apples into tiny pieces.
6. Step 6: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat until it turns light golden, about 1 minute.
7. Step 7: Add apples, sprinkle with salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples soften, about 8 minutes.
8. Step 8: Mix in apple pie spice and lemon juice, cook 1 to 2 more minutes until soft and sticky.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stir well, and cook for 2 more minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool 15 minutes.
10. Step 10: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
11. Step 11: Roll dough to an 18″ x 18″ square. Use apple-shaped cookie cutters or cut it into 16 squares.
12. Step 12: Place about 1 heaping tablespoon of filling on 8 squares. Brush edges with beaten egg.
13. Step 13: Cut vents into remaining 8 squares using a small knife or cookie cutter.
14. Step 14: Top each filled square with a vented square and seal edges with a fork.
15. Step 15: Brush the tops with remaining beaten egg and sprinkle with sparkling sugar if desired.
16. Step 16: Bake for 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbling.
17. Step 17: Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for a more complex filling flavor.
• Chill the dough well to keep the butter cold, ensuring a flaky crust.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the crust dough for extra warmth.
• Swap sparkling sugar for coarse sugar or leave it off for a softer topping.
• Freeze assembled pies before baking; bake frozen pies adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Storage

Store any leftover hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, warm them in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes until heated through and crisp.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be made up to 2 days in advance and kept wrapped in the refrigerator. Just bring it to room temperature before rolling out.

What apples work best for these hand pies?

Firm apples that hold their shape when cooked, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, work best to maintain the texture in the filling.

Cute Little Apple Hand Pies Recipe

---

★★★★★

4.8 from 150 reviews

• Author: Rafael
• Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
• Yield: 16 mini hand pies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

Description

These Cute Little Apple Hand Pies are charming, perfectly portioned pastries featuring a flaky, buttery crust and a warm, spiced apple filling. They are ideal for cozy fall gatherings or anytime you crave a delightful homemade treat that’s easy to share.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, very cold, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream, cold

For the Apple Pie Filling:

• 4 large apples, peeled and cored
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For Assembly:

• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons sparkling sugar (optional)

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the crust dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar to combine all dry ingredients evenly.
2. Incorporate butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry mixture and work it in with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture forms a coarse meal texture with pea-sized butter pieces remaining.
3. Add sour cream and form dough: Stir in the cold sour cream using a rubber spatula until the dough is shaggy. Turn it onto a floured surface and quickly knead it together into a cohesive dough.
4. Roll and fold dough: Pat the dough into a 10-inch log, then roll it out into a 12″ x 14″ rectangle. Lightly dust with flour, fold into thirds from the short end like a letter, flip it over, and roll out again to 12″ x 14″. Fold again into thirds, then wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
5. Prepare the apple filling: Peel and core the apples, then dice into small pieces. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat until golden (about 1 minute), then add apples, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes until apples soften.
6. Spice and thicken filling: Mix in apple pie spice and lemon juice, cook an additional 1–2 minutes until sticky. Sprinkle flour over apples and stir well to thicken, cooking for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes.
7. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Heat oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Cut out dough shapes: Roll chilled dough out into an 18″ x 18″ square. Using apple-shaped cookie cutters, cut 16 apples, or cut dough into 16 squares for pies.
9. Fill pies: Place about 1 heaping tablespoon of apple filling on 8 dough pieces. Brush edges with beaten egg to help seal.
10. Create vents for pies: On the remaining 8 dough pieces, cut small vents using a knife or cookie cutter to release steam during baking.
11. Assemble pies: Top each filled piece with a vented piece and press edges firmly with a fork to seal completely.
12. Prepare pies for baking: Brush the tops of each pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with sparkling sugar if desired for a sweet, crunchy finish.
13. Bake: Place pies on the baking sheet and bake for 15–18 minutes until crusts are golden brown and filling bubbles through vents.
14. Cool and serve: Remove pies from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before serving for best flavor and texture.

Notes

• Use very cold butter and sour cream to achieve a flaky crust.
• Folding the dough as described creates layers for a tender, flaky texture similar to puff pastry.
• You can substitute apple pie spice with cinnamon and nutmeg if preferred.
• Ensure apple filling is cooled before assembling the pies to prevent soggy dough.
• Sparking sugar is optional but adds a lovely crunch and sparkle to the pies’ surface.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple hand pies, mini apple pies, flaky apple pastry, homemade apple pie, hand-held dessert, fall dessert recipe, apple pie filling, easy pie crust