Hand Held Apple Pies

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Simple handheld pies filled with spiced apples and made with puff pastry for an easy assembly and even easier eating!

apple hand pies on a wire cooling rack

I have a confession on top of a confession: this post was originally published in 2015, and I had prefaced the whole thing by saying that I wasn’t all that into pies.

That I’d rather eat a brownie, or a cookie, or ICE CREAM, but that pies just didn’t really do it for me.

HOWEVER, I have totally come around on pie, thanks to years of my classic pumpkin pie gracing my Thanksgiving dessert plate and discovering that chocolate chip pecan pie was a thing this past holiday baking season.

apple hand pies on a platter

Previously, pies didn’t quite do it for me, but the more I bake, the more I branch out with what I make, and the more I see what my readers enjoy on my blog, the more I tend to inch a little more toward the “I like pie” side of the dessert spectrum.

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This Apple Hand Pie Recipe is all dolled up, just for you

So, my FAF friends, this republished/revamped/rephotographed/all dolled up hand pie recipe is here for your apple pie enjoyment, in the form of a portable, simple, handheld dessert made with pre-made puff pastry and a whole slew of perfectly chosen spices.

apple hand pies on a wire cooling rack

As I mentioned, this apple hand pies recipe was born on my blog back in 2015. At that time, I made a large batch of them to celebrate the retirement of the (now late) CEO of the company I worked for prior to taking the blog on full time.

His favorite dessert was apple pie, and rather than making pies for 50+ people, I decided that a sort of mini apple pie would be an easier way to get the apple pie job done for a large crowd.

I also wanted something that was easy to store if there were leftovers.

apple hand pies on a platter

And guess what? I wasn’t expecting to go ga-ga over these apple hand pies, but I totally did. And so did my large group of taste testers!

What you’ll need for Apple Hand Pies

For the apple pie filling, you will need:

  • apples
  • unsalted butter
  • brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • ground nutmeg
  • ground cloves

For the hand pie crust, you will need:

  • frozen puff pastry
  • egg
  • granulated sugar
  • ground cinnamon

What kind of apples are best for apple pie?

While you can use any apples you prefer for apple pie, Granny Smiths are the usual go-to apples for baking. They are tart, so lend well to added sugar and spices, and they are firm, so they keep their shape and don’t get mushy during baking.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE HAND PIES

Step 1: Chop and flavor the apples for Apple Hand Pies

Whenever I make these mini apple hand pies, I typically choose 1 large Granny Smith apple and another smaller red apple, like Gala.

We sweeten with brown sugar and season with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. I love cloves, but not everyone does. Reduce or omit if the taste is too strong for you (or if you’re serving to kids– cloves tend to be a little over-powering for them).

Step 2: Use puff pastry for quick and easy Hand Held Apple Pies

Made with pre-made frozen (thawed) puff pastry, these mini-pies are similar to turnovers and also remind me of Toaster Strudels. Surely you were a fan of Toaster Strudels growing up? Oh yeah. Memories.

The puff pastry makes for super flaky apple hand pies. I love me some homemade pie crust, but nothing flakes quite like puff pastry!

apple hand pie sliced open to see the inside

AND, since we’re working with pre-made puff pastry, the hard work is basically done for you.

After you prepare your apple chunks, you’ll prepare your pastry shell. Each box of puff pastry contains 2 sheets, which will give you 12 pies (24 rectangles total). Use a pizza cutter to cut your dough into 12 rectangles.

slicing puff pastry with a pizza cutter

You’ve just created your hand pie bottoms. Wasn’t that easier than rolling out a big pie crust?

And don’t worry if you forgot to thaw your puff pastry overnight in the fridge: frozen puff pastry will thaw at room temperature in about 45 minutes. Just be sure to refrigerate to firm them back up if you notice they’re took hard to work with.

STEP 3: Next, fill each pie with about 2 Tablespoons of your spiced apple filling, leaving a bit of a margin around the edge for crimping.

spooning apples onto puff pastry to make apple hand pies

STEP 4: Cut the other sheet of puff pastry into 12 more rectangles, pop those babies on top of the filled bottoms, and crimp the edges with a fork.

crimping apple hand pies shut with a fork

You’ll likely have some apple chunks fall out or get crimped into the sides of the pie. This is totally ok. And totally encouraged.

STEP 5: Cut a couple slices into the tops of each pie, brush with an egg wash, and sprinkle with more cinnamon + sugar.

STEP 6: Bake. Enjoy.

aerial photo of apple hand pies on a platter

Easy, right?

How long to bake hand pies

These apple hand pies will take about 20 minutes to bake in the oven.

Apple Hand Pies Recipe storage

Remember how I said I wanted something that could be easily stored if there were leftovers? So simple– just refrigerate, then either microwave as needed or toss in a toaster oven for a few minutes before enjoying. If you want to freeze them, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

apple hand pie sliced open to see the inside

Buttery, flaky, perfectly spiced, and full of natural, sweet/tart apple flavor… These pies are definitely something that should go on your rotating baking list. I promise, they’re much easier than you probably originally thought at first glance.

Plus… No fork necessary! That’s my kind of dessert!

Puff Pastry Hand Pies FAQs

What is another name for hand pies?

Sometimes you will see a hand pie referred to as a turnover, a pasty, or an empanada, depending on your location.

What is the difference between a hand pie and a turnover?

While very similar, hand pies and turnovers are actually different. Turnovers are typically made by folding a single piece of dough while hand pies are usually squares or circles that are pressed closed on all sides, like a Pop Tart.

Why are my hand pies always soggy on the bottom?

As hand pies sit in the oven, the juices from the filling tend to sink to the bottom, making the bottom of the pies soggy. To help prevent this, don’t spoon on any excess liquid when adding the filling.

How do I make sure puff pastry cooks underneath?

You can prick holes in the bottom crusts to insure even cooking, but I find this an unnecessary step. Be sure you’re placing your hand pies in the middle of the oven for even baking.

The Best Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Simple handheld pies filled with spiced apples and made with puff pastry for an easy assembly and even easier eating!
Prep Time30 minutes
Bake Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Recipe Author Lynn April
Servings: 12 hand pies

Ingredients

FILLING

  • 2 cups (240g) chopped apples1
  • 1 Tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter melted
  • ¼ cup (50g) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • teaspoon ground cloves2

CRUST

  • 1 box (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry thawed
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon (15mL) water
  • 1 and ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

FILLING

  • Place the chopped apples in a large bowl. Drizzle melted butter over apples and stir to coat.
  • In a small bowl, toss together the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. Sprinkle mixture over buttered apples and stir until apples are evenly coated3 with the spices. Set aside.

CRUST

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (204ºC). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out one pastry sheet. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the sheet evenly into 12 rectangles. These will be the bottoms of your pies. Place 6 pie bottoms on one baking sheet and 6 on the other.
  • Spoon 1 to 2 Tablespoons of apple mixture onto each of the 12 bottom rectangles. You may have a little bit of filling leftover, but can certainly use it all up by overfilling the crusts.
  • Roll out the second she of puff pastry. Cut into 12 rectangles. Place the top rectangles over the filled bottoms, slightly stretching the top layer if necessary (puff pastry is very sturdy and forgiving). Crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
  • Cut two small slits in the top of each hand pie, then brush with egg wash and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Place baking sheets side-by-side in the oven. If they can't fit, bake one at a time, allowing the other to chill in the refrigerator. Bake pies for 20 minutes, or until the tops are desired golden brown color. Rotate the baking sheets once during bake time. Remove pies from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet until safe to handle and serve. Leftover hand pies can be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, up to 5 days. Reheat in microwave or in a 300°F (149ºC) oven for 10-15 minutes.
  • Make ahead: you can prepare the hand pies up to 12 hours in advance. After cutting slits into the tops of the pies, cover tightly and store in the refrigerator. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture before baking.

Notes

  1. Apples: you’ll want to peel and core your apples before chopping. I like to use 1 Granny Smith apple + another smaller red apple, like Gala.
  2. Cloves: this is a very strong spice. If you don’t like cloves, simply omit.
  3. Seasoning the filling: I strongly recommend tasting the filling before spooning onto your puff pastry. Adjust spices to your liking.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Check out some more of my favorite recipes containing apples!

Apple Scones

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Baked Apple Oatmeal

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Apple Cinnamon Streusel Bread

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Homemade Apple Butter

Homemade Apple Butter: This deliciously sweet apple butter is spiced with the perfect fall flavors. It's so easy to make your own at home!

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27 Comments

  1. I’m not a huge pie person either! When it comes to winter desserts is much rather have a crumble! I do love the idea of hand pies though! These would be perfect for Autumn picnics or even summer ones! Delicious!

  2. YUM! I’m not surprised in the least that there was not a single one of these left!!! I’m not much of a pie girl myself — I’m obsessed with the filling but unless the crust is just PERFECT, I’m happy to pass it up. But these? Oh my goodness the flaky crust looks to DIE for. I would definitely not be able to be trusted around those hand-sized beauties. Nice work, Lynn (photos are SO gorgeous, too!)

  3. I just LOVE apple pie, and this seems like the perfect way to have an apple pie… Without all the hard work involved!
    I will definitely be trying these out 🙂

    1. Hi, Mrs. Clark! Yes, just one apple. I made a triple batch and used 3 apples. You’re looking for about 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of finely diced apples.

  4. I’m obviously a little late to this pie party, but I came across this recipe from Sally’s post about pies today (Sally’s Baking Addiction) and these look so yummy and simple! I’ll need to make these way before fall begins. This is my first time visiting your blog, but you definitely have a new follower 🙂

    1. I’m so glad you stopped by, Christina! You’ve got to try the hand pies– SO much fun to make and serve!

  5. So, I’m wondering….do the apples fully cook in just 20 minutes? I like a softer apple, not crunchy, and it seems like 20 minutes wouldn’t be long enough to fully cook them. These look wonderful though– I love puff pastry as a crust!

    1. Hi Lisa– sorry, I’m just now seeing this comment! If you’d like the apples to be softer, I think it would be perfectly fine to leave them in the oven longer. I might suggest covering the pies with foil to prevent them from browning too much or burning, depending on how much longer you bake them. Let me know how it works out if you try it!

  6. 5 stars
    I love the idea of these for 4th of July so I don’t have to make a bunch of apple pie I can just make these and everyone can have there own !!!!!!!!

  7. 5 stars
    These were such a hit at my Friendsgiving! I served with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce and they were so good. Easy to follow recipe and I’m sure I’ll be making again!