These Apple Hand Pies with Puff Pastry are a delicious dessert that tastes like a classic apple pie, but in hand held form. With just a few simple ingredients like diced apples, apple pie spice, and a sheet of puff pastry, you can create a sweet and flaky treat.
Check out my Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling and my Strawberry Hand Pies for more fruit pies.
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These easy apple hand pies with puff pastry are a simple and delicious dessert bursting with apple flavor. The puff pastry is easy to work with and bakes up into a golden brown crust that pairs perfectly with the warm, cinnamon sugar spiced gooey apple pie filling.
These turnovers are perfect for a cozy night in or a sweet treat to share with friends and family. With this easy recipe, you can easily whip up a batch of homemade apple hand pies. The best part is there are no forks or plates required. Just grab one and enjoy!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This puff pastry apple pie recipe requires just a few basic ingredients that are easy to find in most kitchens. It recipe comes together quickly and easily, making it a great option for busy weeknights or last minute gatherings.
The warm, apple filling is wrapped in a flaky, golden brown puff pastry crust, making a delicious and comforting apple dessert. You can serve these apple hand pies as a dessert. These puff pastry apple hand pies are perfect for any occasion, from a casual get together to a holiday feast.
Different Types of Apples To Use
You can use your favorite kind of apples. Some of the best apples include Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Braeburn apples. The key is to choose firm and tart apples, as they will hold up better during baking and provide a nice contrast to the sweet, flaky puff pastry.
Ingredients You Need
- Fresh apples: The star of this recipe! Make sure to dice the apples into small pieces so that they bake evenly.
- Granulated sugar: Adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
- All-purpose flour: Flour: Used to thicken the apple filling and help bind it together.
- Apple pie spice: A blend of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice that give the apple filling its delicious flavor.
- Salt: A pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness of the apple filling.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds a tangy kick to the easy apple pie filling and helps balance the sweetness.
- Lemon juice: Another acidic ingredient that helps balance the sweetness of the filling and adds a bright, fresh flavor.
- Puff pastry sheets: Store-bought puff pastry, used as the pie dough, that bakes up into a delicious, golden brown color.
Step By Step Photos
Chop apples and set aside.
Mix the dry ingredients together.
Pour lemon juice over chopped apples.
Mix in dry ingredients. Coat apples.
Spoon the apple filling on puff pastry.
Fold pastry over to create triangles.
How To Make Apple Hand Pies From Scratch
Step 1. Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine diced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice. Mix well.
Step 2. Roll out the puff pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheet to about ⅛ inch thickness.
Step 3. Cut and fill: Cut the pastry into squares. Spoon the apple filling onto one half of each square, leaving space around the edges.
Step 4. Seal and egg wash: Fold the pastry over the filling to create triangles. Seal the edges with a fork. Cut small slits on the tops of each hand pie and with a pastry brush, brush with a little egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
Step 5. Bake: Place turnovers on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 °F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 6. Cool and serve: Allow the turnovers to cool for a few minutes before serving. They'll taste just like a warm apple pie.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Tips
- To be sure that the filling cooks evenly and is easy to wrap in the puff pastry, make sure to dice the apples into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Puff pastry dough is delicate and can tear easily, so be gentle when rolling it out. Avoid pressing down too hard with the rolling pin, as this can cause the layers of pastry to stick together and prevent them from rising properly.
- It can be tempting to pack as much filling as possible into each turnover, but this can cause the pastry to burst open during baking.
- Before baking, brush the tops of the turnovers with a beaten egg to give them a shiny, golden brown finish.
- Experiment with different spice blends to give the filling a unique flavor. Try cardamom, ginger, or cloves for a warm and spicy twist.
- Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds can add a nice crunch to the filling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Turnovers
Yes, you can use any sweetener of your choice, such as brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Just be sure to adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
Be sure to seal the edges of the turnovers well and avoid overfilling them. You can also chill the turnovers in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before baking to help them hold their shape.
Baked turnovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you need to store them longer, I recommended freezing them. Place the individually wrapped turnovers in a freezer-safe container or a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Absolutely! Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Pie Recipes You Might Enjoy
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Apple Hand Pies With Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 5 medium apples cored and chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 package puff pastry thawed
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to puff pastry directions. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the diced apples, sugar, all-purpose flour, apple pie spice, salt, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Mix well. Stir to coat the apples completely and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Unroll and cut the puff pastry with a pizza cutter into 4-inch squares.
- Spoon about 2-3 tablespoons of the apple mixture onto one half of each pastry square, leaving a little space around the edges. Fold the other half of the pastry over the filling, creating a triangle shape.
- Use a fork to crimp the edges of the pastry together and seal the turnovers shut. Make two small cuts in the top of the puff pastry.
- Place the turnovers on baking and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove the turnovers from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- To be sure that the filling cooks evenly and is easy to wrap in the puff pastry, make sure to dice the apples into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Puff pastry dough is delicate and can tear easily, so be gentle when rolling it out. Avoid pressing down too hard with the rolling pin, as this can cause the layers of pastry to stick together and prevent them from rising properly.
- It can be tempting to pack as much filling as possible into each turnover, but this can cause the pastry to burst open during baking.
- Before baking, brush the tops of the turnovers with a beaten egg to give them a shiny, golden brown finish.
- Experiment with different spice blends to give the filling a unique flavor. Try cardamom, ginger, or cloves for a warm and spicy twist.
- Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds can add a nice crunch to the filling.
- Storing: Baked turnovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you need to store them longer, I recommended freezing them. Place the individually wrapped turnovers in a freezer-safe container or a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
- Freezing: Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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