Apple Hand Pies from Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast

Apple Hand Pies from Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast

Once again we rely on our favorite source Sally’s Baking Addiction to get our recipe started with her Apple Hand Pies.  If you want to start from scratch, make enough pie dough for two crusts.  It’s also fine to cheat and use a store bought pie crust from the refrigerator section too.  Tweaks to the original recipe are less nutmeg and the addition of toffee chips.

Apple (Toffee) Hand Pies

Ingredients

Pie Crust (enough for a double crust pie)
2 medium apples, peeled and diced into small bite-size pieces (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/3 c granulated sugar
2 T unsalted butter
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t allspice
1/8 t nutmeg
2 T toffee bits (optional)
egg wash:  1 large egg beaten with 1 T milk
Cinnamon sugar (optional)

1.  Make the filling by combining diced apples, sugar, butter, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a simmer while stirring occasionally.  Allow to simmer for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.  Add 2 T toffee bits.

2.  Preheat the oven to 375.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Roll out one pie crust and use a 3″ round cookie cutter to cut out circles; you should get about 9 and place them on baking sheet.  Save the extra scraps of dough.  Place approximately 1 tablespoon of apple mixture in the center of each crust.  Roll out the other pie crust, cutting circles again and placing them on top of the apple filling.  Now combine the two piles of scrap dough and reroll to get 6 more circles, for 3 more hand pies.  Fill similarly so you have a dozen little pies.  You may have extra apple filling which is good on yogurt or ice cream.

3.  Press your fingers all around the edges to seal the crusts together, then crimp with a fork.  Lightly brush the tops with the egg wash.  Use the sharp tip of a paring knife to cut 5 or 6 small slits in the top crusts so steam can escape.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if desired.

4.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the pies are golden brown on top and around the edges.  Remove from the oven and let cool then enjoy!

Diane & Dan Rogers, Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast