Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Now you can have a healthy and delicious pie any time with these homemade apple hand pies.

These mini apple pies are great for a healthy snack or a simple dessert, even on the go!

What Is A Hand Pie?

Generally speaking, a hand pie is like a regular pie, but with the filling enfolded in crust that has been folded and pinched closed around the edges. They are basically mini pies. A pie you can hold in your hands.

How Is This Apple Hand Pie Recipe Healthier?

Most hand pies have dough full of butter and apple filling full of brown sugar. Then, many people add even more sugar to that by serving them with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Perhaps a tasty dish, but the amount of sugar could give you a cavity on site!

This recipe uses a whole grain crust recipe with no added sugar or butter and uses natural sweetener in the filling.

What Is A Hand Pie Called?

Hand pies are also known as turnovers, pastries, or in some cases, even empanadas.

What Apples Are Best For Apple Hand Pies?

Whatever apples you enjoy in a regular apple pie, you’ll enjoy them here too. Consider if you prefer a sweet apple or a tart apple. That is your main concern. But in general, any apple will do just fine in this recipe. If you prefer tartness, then granny smith apples are typically the best choice. For sweet, honey crisp or pink ladies are always a great choice.

How Do You Fold A Hand Pie?

If you use a mold, see the tips below. If you do this by hand, you’ll want to first divide your dough into 6 equal parts. Then roll them out, one at a time into circles. Place filling in the middle of it, and then fold it in half. Pinch the edges with your fingers or a fork to close off any openings. Then bake, cook and enjoy.

Hand Pie Form Tips & Tricks

1. Use an oil sprayer and spritz the form before each cut as well as before filling your hand pies. This will give you a much easier release so your hand pies don’t fall apart because you have to pry them out.
2. If your hand pie gets stuck despite using oil, simply slide a knife under one little patch of your hand pie. Typically, loosening just a small portion of the hand pie will get the recipe to release as well.
3. Line your dough up along the bottom (near the springs) when you close your hand pies over the filling. If you don’t, the bottoms are much more likely to not close properly.
4. Scrape any excess dough off before opening your form (after filling it and closing the mold).

Crust Options

While most hand pies are often made with pastry dough, that generally isn’t considered the healthiest option. So with that in mind, here are a couple of options.

1. Whole wheat pie crust
2. Oat flour pie crust (gluten-free)

Recipe Variations

If you wish, here are a few extra additions you can add if you wish.

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

You can also sprinkle on a bit of cinnamon after brushing on the egg wash. But if you do, you may want to add a bit of granular sweetener so that it caramelizes instead of burning on the surface of your hand pies.

About The Ingredients

Apple – Pick your favorite based on whether you enjoy sweet or tart apples.

Ground cinnamon – Just cinnamon with not added sugar.

Honey – You can also use maple syrup. But if you do, be aware that the overall sweetness of the hand pie will not be as strong.

Arrowroot powder – You can also use tapioca starch or cornstarch work too.

Lemon juice – Fresh or bottled without added sugar.

How To Make Apple Hand Pies

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Add all the hand pie filling ingredients to a mixing bowl.

Stir well to combine the mixture.

Roll out the hand pie dough.

Spray the mold with oil from an oil sprayer.

Cut the dough with the hand pie cutter.

Remove any excess dough in the slits or vent holes using a toothpick or other small tool.

Place the dough in the mold, use a cookie cutter or simply layout a small circle of dough.

Add the apple pie filling.

Press the mold closed to seal the hand pie.

Release the hand pie from the mold.

Place the hand pies on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 F. for 50-60 minutes or until they are golden brown and the fruit juices bubble.

Note: You do have the option to use an egg wash. Whisk an egg and brush it over the hand pies right before putting them in the oven. This will give them that nice golden finish most people enjoy.

Allow the hand pies to cool to warm or room temperature and enjoy.

Do Apple Hand Pies Need To Be Refrigerated

For this particular recipe, I do recommend it. While they will be okay for about a day out of a fridge, I don’t recommend leaving them out overnight.

How To Store Apple Hand Pies

Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or sandwich bags and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How To Freeze Apple Hand Pies

You’ll want to double wrap these. I recommend wrapping them in plastic wrap and then placing them in a zipper-top, plastic bag. Then store in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Recipe Supplies

More Healthy Dessert Recipes

• Easy From-Scratch Chocolate Pie
• Blueberry Pie
• Chocolate Chip Crazy Cake

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