These charming apple hand pies are the epitome of fall desserts, featuring a delightful combination of crisp apples and warm cinnamon wrapped in flaky puff pastry. Shaped like little pumpkins, these hand pies are not only irresistibly cute but also deliciously simple, with just six ingredients.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
These hand pies are easy to make and fun to decorate, perfect for getting into the festive spirit of autumn. With their adorable pumpkin shapes and tasty apple filling, they are sure to be a hit at any gathering, offering a perfect blend of flavor and whimsy.
Perfect Occasion
Ideal for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, or any autumn-themed event. These hand pies can also be a wonderful activity for kids, letting them help with cutting out shapes and filling them. Serve them as a delightful dessert or a special treat during a fall picnic.
Decoration Tips
For a festive touch, use a small leaf-shaped cookie cutter to make decorations out of the leftover pastry, attaching them to the top of your pies before baking. A light brushing of melted vegan butter and a sprinkle of cane sugar before baking will give them a beautiful golden finish and a sweet crunch.
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 2 apples of choice (e.g., Honeycrisp and Granny Smith), diced (peeling is optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- Melted vegan butter or plant milk, for brushing
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Before taking the puff pastry out of the fridge, prepare the filling by combining the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and arrowroot starch in a bowl. Set aside.
- Remove the puff pastry from its wrapper and roll it out slightly. Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 8 shapes.
- Place half of the pumpkin shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon a few teaspoons of the apple filling onto each shape.
- Top each with another pumpkin pastry shape. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal and use a knife to make three small slashes on the top of each pie to create a pumpkin design.
- Brush the tops with melted vegan butter or plant milk and sprinkle with additional cane sugar.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes:
- If you have leftover puff pastry, you can reroll it and repeat the process to make more pies.
- Any leftover apple filling can be served atop vegan ice cream or enjoyed with the hand pies.
Enjoy these cute and tasty Fall-Inspired Apple Hand Pies, perfect for celebrating the season with a sweet, festive treat!