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    Home » Cuisine » Southern

    Published Sep 29, 2022 (Updated Oct 10, 2024) by Heather Bilyeu

    Baked Apple-Cinnamon Hand Pies (made with Pie Dough)

    5 from 1 review
    2 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links
    Jump to Recipe

    These oven-baked fresh apple hand pies are the perfect desserts for fall! With a flaky pie dough crust, and a sweet, cinnamon-spiced filling of granny smith apples, they’re impossible to resist! No finicky puff pastry here — the pie dough crust holds it's shape well.

    holding an apple hand pie with apple pies in the background

    My Love for Apple Desserts

    Y’all. I love pies. Especially in the fall. Pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, and my new fav - boozy bourbon bacon pecan pie. And what is more fall, more Southern and classic, more holiday-like than apple pie?!

    We are putting all the classic flavors of apple pie into a bite-size version that you can hold with your hands. Apple hand pies are everything you love about traditional apple pie but in a bite-size version. It all starts with a flaky homemade pie crust cut into large circles, stuffed with a simple diced cinnamon apple filling, folded over, and oven-baked 350 for 35-40 minutes until the crust is nice and golden brown. This is like a mini calzone - but with apple pie filling! Perfect for a hand-held dessert for all your holiday parties!

    Welcome to My Kitchen, Let's Bake!

    This apple pie hand pie all starts with a super simple apple filling of Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon.

    Cut apples, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a clear bowl.
    To start the filling you will need to peel and finely dice the apples. Since these are going to be basically mini pies, the apples need to be diced quite small. Otherwise, you won’t be able to fit big chunks of apple filling into the delicate pie crust circles.
    apple pie filling mixed up in a clear bowl.
    Add in your sugars and spices.
    Stir and let sit while you prep your pie crust.

    🍏Why use granny smith apples? 🍏 Any time my mom baked with apples growing up, she always used Granny Smith. It is because they hold up when baking. They do not become mush or disintegrate into whatever dish you're making but hold their shape, and taste, and their distinct tart flavor stands out and compliments any sweet dessert. I recommend using only Granny Smith apples in this recipe.

    Pie Crust Circle prep

    Before we begin - a word about homemade pie crust. I highly recommend making your own here. The extra effort and time is worth it IMO. BUT - if you are under time constraints OR just don’t want to make your own then the store-bought crust will be just fine. You will need to get the sheets and not the crust in the pie shell. That kind won’t work.

    making pie crust in a bowl on the counter.
    In a large bowl, add flour, salt, cold butter, and lard. Using a pastry cutter (*affiliate link), cut butter and lard into the flour until the mixture resembles small pea-sized shapes. Add in the ice water and mix just until it comes together
    rolling out pie crust on a kitchen counter.
    Sprinkle flour out onto the counter and spoon out dough on top. Roll out with a rolling pin until about ¼ - ⅛ inch thick. Cut out circles with a large cookie cutter*. You will want the circles to be about 4" in diameter -roll out the circles a little more if needed to get to that size.
    Pie crust circle on a counter top.
    You want your circles to be about 4” in diameter. Once my circles were cut, I rolled them out a little bit more making them slightly larger.
    Apple pie filling in the middle of a pie crust circle.
    Scoop about a tablespoon of the apple mixture into the middle of the pie crust circle
    Pie crust circle folded in half over apple pie filling.
    Fold over in half
    A fork crimping the edges of an unbaked apple hand pie.
    Using a fork, crimp the edges of the crest shape to seal
    Crimped edge apple hand pie before going into the oven.
    Place on a baking sheet and repeat until all the apple mixture is gone. Brush with an egg wash - sprinkle with sugar - bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes
    Apple Hand Pies on a wooden cutting board on a blue surface.

    That’s it! But do you want to know the best part about this recipe?! Although they do require a little bit more prep work at the beginning - apple hand pies freeze beautifully and can be made ahead of time! Just in time for all of that holiday party hosting and making prep even easier!

    apple hand pie on a blue plate with a glass of milk and forks in background
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    Recipe

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    apple hand pie on a blue plate with a glass of milk and forks in background

    Baked Apple-Cinnamon Hand Pies (made with Pie Dough)


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 80 minutes
    • Yield: 20-24
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    We are turning a fall classic into a mini version with these Apple Hand Pies! All the flavors you love packed into a bite-size pie you can happily hold!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Pie Crust

    • 1 pie crust recipe

    Apple Filling

    • 3-4 Granny Smith Apples - peeled and finely diced into small pieces
    • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
    • 2 Tablespoon Sugar + more for topping
    • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
    • Egg & White Sugar - for egg wash and sprinkling


    Instructions

    Apple Filling

    1. Peel and finely dice apples, making sure to dice as small as possible. Add to a bowl.
    2. Add in sugars, and cinnamon. Mix to combine.
    3. Let sit while prepping the pie crust.

    Pie Crust 

    1. Make according to the recipe directions.
    2. Roll out with a rolling pin until about ¼ - ⅛ inch thick. 
    3. Cut out circles with a large cookie cutter. You will want the circles to be about 4" in diameter -roll out the circles a little more if needed to get to that size.

    To Assemble

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Place a spoonful (about a tablespoon) of the apples into the center of the pie crust circle.
    3. Fold the circle over, creating a half-moon shape. 
    4. Using a fork, crimp the edges to seal them shut and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat until the apple mixture is all gone.
    5. Crack an egg in a bowl, add a splash of water, and whisk. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the apple hand pies and sprinkle the tops with a little white sugar.
    6. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the pastry has cooked all the way through to the bottom.
    7. Remove from the oven and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Store-bought pie crust can be used as well if preferred. Buy the sheets of pie crust - not the kind already in a pie plate.

    How to Make Ahead and Freeze

    1. Follow the recipe above and stop before brushing with egg wash and baking.
    2. Place all of the finished pies on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. Freeze for about 30 minutes until they are all frozen and solid.
    3. Remove off the baking sheet and place in a freezer-safe zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
    4. To bake, remove from the freezer and place on a baking sheet. Brush with the eggs wash and sugar and bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
    • Prep Time: 40 minutes
    • Cook Time: 40 minutes
    • Category: Pies
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 pie
    • Calories: 115
    • Sugar: 5 g
    • Sodium: 98 mg
    • Fat: 6.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 14 g
    • Fiber: 1.1 g
    • Protein: 1.2 g
    • Cholesterol: 10.7 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
    Disclosure. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust!  Heather Bilyeu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
    « Southern Homemade Pie Crust
    Oven-Baked Cast Iron Skillet Buttermilk Biscuits »

    Filed Under: Fall, Pie, Recipe Video, Southern, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Apples

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    Comments

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    1. Jeanette says

      September 08, 2021 at 3:30 am

      I love this recipe and idea. Being Hispanic I've made many an empanada, so why I didn't think about this sooner blows my mind ?. Although I really suck at pie crust. For some unfathomable reason I continue to torment myself by continuing to try. I hope that I will get it one day if I keep persistently trying ?. For now, I am going to make these pies at 11 pm because my craving for apple pie is that intense and no store around me has anything that can hold a candles light to the deliciousness of freshly made apple pie (even if my crust is less than perfect ?)

      Reply
      • Heather says

        September 08, 2021 at 11:21 pm

        Haha! I love hearing this! Thanks for reading. There is no shame in store-bought pie crust! But you totally got this and can do it! I believe in you! Now you're making me want some Apple Pie! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

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