Apple Hand Pies
User Reviews
4.7
Apple Hand Pies
Description
This recipe makes a flaky pastry dough by combining all-purpose flour, salt, chilled butter, sour cream, lemon juice, and ice water, chilled before rolling. The filling consists of small-diced peeled apples mixed with sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. The dough is rolled out, cut into circles, filled with the apple mixture, folded, sealed, and baked to a golden finish.
The crust is tender with a slight tang from the sour cream and brightness from lemon juice, complementing the sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples inside. The pies are brushed with an egg yolk wash and sprinkled with coarse sugar for a crisp and shiny exterior. The recipe is forgiving regarding apple variety, adapting well with Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp apples, among others.
These hand pies can serve as dessert or an on-the-go treat. Their size and portability make them convenient, and the balance of textures offers a satisfying bite each time.
Ingredients
For the Pastry
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter chilled, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 teaspoons lemon juice fresh
- ½ cup water ice
For the Filling
- 2 apple peeled, cored and diced small, large
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch salt
To Finish
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons water
- sugar coarse
Instructions
- Make the Pastry: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the butter to the well and, using a pastry blender, cut it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, lemon juice and water. Add to the flour mixture and, using a fork, gently toss and stir together until large lumps form and all of the flour has been moistened. Using your hands, pat the dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour (if preparing ahead of time, the dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month).
- Assemble the Pies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the refrigerated dough in half. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one half of the dough to ⅛-inch thickness. Using a 4½-inch round biscuit cutter, cut seven circles out of the rolled dough. Transfer the circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat the rolling and cutting process with the remaining half of dough. Refrigerate the dough circles for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small pan, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon and salt, and cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender. Set aside. Prior to preparing the pies, drain any accumulated liquid from the apples.
- Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Spoon about 1 to 2 tablespoons filling onto one half of each circle of dough. Brush a little water around the circumference of the dough, and fold it in half so the other side comes down over the filling, creating a semicircle. Seal the hand pie, and make a decorative edge by pressing the edges of the dough together with the tines of a fork. Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes.
- Bake the Pies: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water for the egg wash. Remove the chilled hand pies from the refrigerator, and lightly brush with the egg yolk wash. Using a paring knife, cut a few small slits on the top of each hand pie, then sprinkle generously with coarse sugar. Bake until the hand pies are golden brown, anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how thick you rolled the dough. Remove the pies from the oven, and let stand to cool slightly before serving. The pies are best eaten within a day of baking them, but they can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They can also be wrapped with plastic wrap and placed in a freezer storage bag and frozen for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Nutritional values are calculated per one individual hand pie.
- The recipe is adaptable with different apple varieties like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp.
- Chill the dough before rolling to improve pastry texture and handling.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 14to 20 hand pies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 175 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 175kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 37mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 66mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 47mg | 1% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 340IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1.2mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 15mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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