Just when you think apple pie couldn’t get any better, I bring youApple Hand Pies!They have the same taste you know and love, but in a mini handheld baked dessert.

close up picture of apple hand pies on a cooling rack

Apple hand pies are so fun for picnics or parties.You can literally hold them in your hand so no forks or plates are needed either. Apple hand pies make the perfect grab and go dessert and kids especially enjoy this mini version.

There is a time and place for making afull on apple piebut hand pies are ridiculously cute and take way less effort to make. Apple hand pies are made from the same ingredients that you would use if you were baking a traditional apple pie. You still get the same great pie crust and delicious chopped apple filling, plus a drizzle of icing.

top view of apple hand pies on a cooling rack with apples on the side

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Great for Gatherings: These hand pies are ideal for parties, picnics, and gatherings. Their size make them easy to serve and enjoy without the mess of cutting a traditional pie.
Seasonal Delight: Apple hand pies are a wonderful way to enjoy the flavors of fall, especially when apples are in season.
Perfect Balance of Texture: The flaky, buttery crust combined with the tender, sweet, cinnamon-y apple filling is the perfect contrast in textures.

Ingredients

9- inch pie crusts:store bought or adouble batch of this homemade pie crust recipe
Apples: such as Fuji, Granny Smith, or Gala
Flour
Sugar
Cinnamon
Butter
Egg
Powdered Sugar
Heavy Cream

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

left hand picture: pie dough rolled out with 7 mounds of apple filling on it. right hand picture with the top pie dough placed over the top and the 7 hand pies cut.

How to Make Apple Hand Pies

Step #1.Peel, core, and dice the apples in 1/4″ cubes. Add to a medium bowl. Add the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted better to the bowl and stir well.

Step #3.Roll out the other half of the pie crust dough into 9″ rounds. Place each round over the rounds dotted with filling and press around the mounds to seal. Cut them out with a cookie cutter.

Step #2.Roll half of the pie crust dough into two 9″ rounds, if needed. Place heaping tablespoons of filling onto the dough, leaving about a 2″ space around each. (About 7). Repeat with the other round. Brush around each mound with beaten egg.

Step #4.Place the sealed pies onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg. Bake. While cooling, mix the icing ingredients and drizzle over the pies.

Recipe FAQs

How do I serve apple hand pies?

Apple hand pies can be served warm, at room temperature, or even make them ahead of time to serve at a later date. These pies freeze well too. We eat them like a cookie and they are just so fun.

What is the best apple to use for apple pies?

For apple hand pies you can use your favorite apples or a combination of a couple different ones. The most popular apples to use are Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith. If you have homegrown apples though, use those! No need to go find something different.

Why do you make slits in the top crust of a fruits pie?

The slits in the crust not only make the pie look decorative but they serve as a vent to release steam. By cutting a slit into the pie it helps the crust from getting soggy as well. You use the same practice when you make apple hand pies and they look so cute too!

Do you leave skin on apples for apple pie?

No! The skin doesn’t soften like the flesh of the apple does. When you are making an apple pie you want to wash, peel, and core the apples.

Expert Tips

A 3.5 inch cutter (a standard biscuit cutter) is perfect for cutting out these hand pies– anything smaller means you can’t fit very much filling and anything bigger wouldn’t really be a hand pie.
Cutting the apples into a small dice means you can fit more filling into the hand pies.Just leave enough space for crimping the top and bottom crust together.
When you’re working with pie dough, keep it coldso that it flakes up when you bake it. If the dough starts to get too warm while you’re working, put it in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes and then start working with it again.