Baked Homemade Apple Hand Pies with Maple Syrup
Golden and flaky, these homemade apple hand pies are packed with the sweet, warm flavors of apples simmered in maple syrup and cozy spices. A perfect fall treat, they combine the comforting taste of a classic apple dessert with the convenience of a handheld pastry, making them ideal for any cozy occasion.
If you love apple desserts, check out my other recipes, such as homemade apple pie and apple crisp, which are also packed with warm, comforting flavors.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: These apple hand pies are easy to make with simple ingredients and steps, especially if you use a store-bought crust.
- Portable: Perfect for on-the-go, these hand pies are a delicious, mess-free treat that’s easy to take wherever you’re headed.
- Classic Fall Flavors: Enjoy the taste of warm apples, maple syrup, and spices all wrapped in a buttery, flaky crust—a perfect bite-sized dessert for fall.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Apple Hand Pies
- Apples: Use sweet varieties of apples, such as Honeycrisp, for the filling, which offer a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Spices: I blend cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom to add warmth and depth to the apple filling.
- Maple Syrup: A splash of pure maple syrup enhances the apples’ natural sweetness and combines all the flavors.
- Flour: Used to thicken the apple filling slightly.
- Pie Crust: You can use my homemade pie crust (make the dough twice, once for the bottom crust and once for the top crust) or store-bought crust for a quicker option.
Kitchen Tools (affiliate links): stoneware baking pan
How to Make Apple Hand Pies
You can find the complete instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step 1: Prepare the apples
Peel and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a heavy-bottomed pan, such as a Dutch oven. Add the maple syrup, flour, and spices to the apples, then stir everything together to combine.
Step 2: cook the filling
Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples should soften, and the syrup will thicken slightly. Once done, remove the pan from the heat and let the filling cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Prepare the Pie Crust
If you’re using homemade pie crust, make the dough. Then, roll it out on a floured surface to 1/8–1/4-inch thick and cut it into 4-inch circles, using a round cutter (I used a lid) as a guide. If you’re using store-bought crust, roll it out and cut it into 4-inch circles.
Step 4: assemble the hand pies
Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the apple filling into the center of each dough circle. Then, brush a small amount of water around the edge of the bottom crust to help seal the edges when you add the top crust.
Step 5: add the top crust
Before placing the second circle of dough on top of the apple filling, use a knife to cut three small slits into the center of the top crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Then, place the top crust over the apple filling. Press the edges together and use a fork to crimp them tightly.
Step 6: chill the pies
Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes to help the crust hold its shape during baking.
Step 7: Preheat the oven
While the hand pies chill, preheat your oven to 425°F.
Step 8: brush with maple syrup
While the oven is preheating, bring 1/4 cup of maple syrup to a boil on the stovetop. Once it’s boiling, please remove it from the heat.
Step 9: bake the apple hand pies
Remove the chilled pies from the refrigerator and brush them with the maple syrup. Then, immediately place them in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
Step 10: Serve
Serve the hand pies warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. They’re perfect alone or paired with a cup of tea or coffee!
Recipe Tips
- Chill Time: Don’t skip the 30-minute chilling step. It helps the crust hold its shape and bake up flaky.
- Make Them Smaller: Cut the dough into 3-inch circles instead of 4-inch.
- Customize the Spice: Adjust the spices to your taste.
- Homemade or Store-Bought Crust: You can use homemade pie crust or store-bought crust for a quicker option.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overworking can result in a tough crust. Keep it light and quick to maintain that perfect, flaky texture.
- Let Them Cool: Let the hand pies cool before serving. This will allow the filling to set.
Baked Homemade Apple Hand Pies
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- Pie Crust – homemade or store bought
Apple Hand Pie Filling
- 5 medium apples peeled, cored, diced
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
Maple Glaze
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a heavy-bottomed pan, such as a Dutch oven. Add the maple syrup, flour, and spices to the apples, then stir everything together to combine.
- Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples should soften, and the syrup will thicken slightly. Once done, remove the pan from the heat and let the filling cool to room temperature.
- If you’re using homemade pie crust, make the dough. Then, roll it out on a floured surface to 1/8–1/4-inch thick and cut it into 4-inch circles, using a round cutter (I used a lid) as a guide. If you’re using store-bought crust, roll it out and cut it into 4-inch circles.
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the apple filling into the center of each dough circle. Then, brush a small amount of water around the edge of the bottom crust to help seal the edges when you add the top crust.
- Before placing the second circle of dough on top of the apple filling, use a knife to cut three small slits into the center of the top crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Then, place the top crust over the apple filling. Press the edges together and use a fork to crimp them tightly.
- Refrigerate the assembled hand pies for 30 minutes to help the crust hold its shape during baking.
- While the hand pies chill, preheat your oven to 425°F.
- While the oven is preheating, bring 1/4 cup of maple syrup to a boil on the stovetop. Once it’s boiling, please remove it from the heat.
- Remove the chilled pies from the refrigerator and brush them with the maple syrup. Then, immediately place them in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
- Serve the hand pies warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. They’re perfect alone or paired with a cup of tea or coffee!
Notes
- Chill Time: Don’t skip the 30-minute chilling step. It helps the crust hold its shape and bake up flaky.
- Make Them Smaller: Cut the dough into 3-inch circles instead of 4-inch.
- Customize the Spice: Adjust the spices to your taste.
- Homemade or Store-Bought Crust: You can use homemade pie crust or store-bought crust for a quicker option.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overworking it can result in a tough crust. Keep it light and quick to maintain that perfect, flaky texture.
- Let Them Cool: Let the hand pies cool before serving. This will allow the filling to set.
About Sarah
Wife. Mother. From-Scratch Cook. Homemaker.
I’m Sarah, the creator of Rocky Hedge Farm, where I share my love for simple living, homemade meals, and creating a cozy home. As a wife and mother, I’m passionate about slowing down, cooking from scratch, and finding joy in the everyday moments of life. From DIY projects and family-friendly recipes, I hope to inspire others to embrace a life rooted in simplicity and warmth.
