The best Apple Hand Pies
These are the best apple hand pies ever! I love a good pie, but sometimes you want a pie without all of the fuss of a scratch made pie. I usually have a package of puff pastry in my freezer, for one thing or another. Sometimes I have something in mind, sometimes I don’t. When I am craving a slice of apple pie but don’t want to go to the trouble of making pastry from scratch I usually turn to this no-fail easy apple hand pie recipe.
My family enjoys pies, almost any kind and when fruit is fresh and in season, I love to make pies from scratch. But sometimes, especially in the winter months, fresh fruit just isn’t as abundant. You can always find apples at the grocery store, no matter what the season, so apple pies can be easily made year round. If you have an abundance of fruit that isn’t apples this recipe can still be used. Just make a filling with your fruit, then follow the recipe for the pies.
With the abundance and availability of apples and a package of store bought puff pastry, you can have these little gems in your hands in under an hour. Just take the pastry out of the freezer and remove it from the outer package and let it sit on your counter while you make the filling and preheat your oven. By the time the filling is cool and ready to use, the pastry will be thawed enough to roll out and your oven will be preheated (400 degrees F).
If you want to try another of my favorite pie recipes and you don’t mind “from scratch” then try my fall favorite pumpkin pie
What you need for the best Apple Hand Pies:
- Apples (a good cooking apple, such as Granny Smith, Gala or Braeburn
- Puff pastry (store bought in the freezer section) 1 box
- butter
- Cinnamon
- sugar
- egg (for egg wash)
- water
- cornstarch
- decorators sugar (optional-but it looks so pretty)
Check the recipe card below for the exact quantities and method.
Apple Hand pies
Ingredients
- 3-4 lg cooking apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled and diced into 1/2" pieces
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp water
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp water (for the slurry)
- 1 package puff pastry
- decorators sugar (optional)
- 1 egg
- water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400℉. (or whatever your puff pastry package suggests)
- Peel, core and dice the apples into 1 cm cubes (roughly)
- In the pot, melt the 2 Tbsp butter, melted then add the 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- Once melted and combined, add in the apples that have been diced or sliced (if you prefer), and the ¼ cup granulated sugar and 2 Tbsp water
- Cover and cook over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes until the apples have softened a bit (you don't want them too mushy)
- In a small bowl combine the 1 Tbsp cornstarch and the 1 Tbsp water (for the slurry) to make a slurry then add to the apple mixture and cook until the sauce is thickened and the apples are tender but not mushy. Let cool
- While the mixture is cooling, roll out your puff pastry on a floured surface
- If you have 2 sheets, roll out one sheet to 1/8" thickness and cut it into 4 equal squares, set aside and repeat with the second sheet. You should end up with 8 squares that are each about 6" square
- line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- lay 4 squares of puff pastry on the baking sheet, spacing them apart by at least 2-3"
- Once the filling has cooled, place about 1/2 cup of filling on the center of each square
- using an egg wash (1 egg with 1/2 Tbsp water, beaten), going one square at a time, brush the entire edge of the bottom pastry (about 1/2" in) with the egg wash then place another square of pastry on top, centered over the bottom piece. Lightly press down the edges to seal the pastry removing any air bubbles as you go, then go over the edge with a fork, lightly pressing to ensure it has sealed. Repeat with remaining 3 pastries.
- Lightly brush the top of each pastry pocket with egg wash, then sprinkle on some decorating surgar (or regular granulated surgar) to finish the pies off.
- Bake in preheated oven at 400℉ for 25 minutes or until golden brown
- Remove from oven, let sit at least five minutes. Filling will be HOT! Enjoy