Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies
These Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are a delightful handheld treat featuring a flaky buttery crust filled with spiced apple and drizzled with luscious salted caramel, perfect for fall or any cozy occasion.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup ice water
- 2 large apples peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup salted caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.
- Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Slowly pour in 1/4 cup of ice water, stirring gently with a fork. Add a little more water, one tablespoon at a time, if the dough is too dry and doesn’t come together.
- Once the dough starts to form, gather it into a ball, flatten it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- While the dough chills, peel and dice 2 large apples into small, even-sized pieces.
- In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir well to coat the apples evenly.
- Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness.
- Using a round cutter or a small bowl (about 4-5 inches in diameter), cut out circles from the dough. Gather scraps, re-roll, and cut until all dough is used.
- Place a tablespoon of the apple filling in the center of each dough circle. Add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce on top of the filling.
- Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press the edges firmly with a fork to seal the pies completely and prevent any filling from leaking out during baking.
- Place the hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops with the beaten egg to create a golden-brown finish once baked.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the hand pies for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Pastry Cutter
- Fork
- Plastic Wrap
- Rolling Pin
- Round Cutter
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Brush
- Oven
Notes
Keep everything cold for a flaky crust, don’t overfill the pies, seal edges well, use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, and allow pies to cool before eating. Variations include using different fruits, adding nuts, spices, or glazes, and making mini pies.