Baked apple hand pies recipe with crumb topping-These warm and sweet baked hand pies are sure to fill your craving! Gooey apple filling in the center, crunchy crumble on the outside, and creamy cinnamon glaze drizzled on top. It is what dreams are made of!
Am I the only one that loves any recipe with a crumb topping? Honestly, I love the crispy texture that it gives to a soft dessert. A warm and gooey filling, with a soft flakey pie crust, and then a crunchy crumble to tie it all together. Just lovely! Crumble toppings just make everything better! Trust me you need these baked apple hand pies recipe with crumb topping!
I thought to myself, what could make these hand pies even better? Ah, I got it! A delicious cinnamon glaze. Just like a crumb topping, I never met a glaze that I didn't like. If you agree then do not skip on the glaze. It is everything!
How does the crumb topping stick?
When I first thought up adding a crump topping to hand pies I wondered, will this work? Will it stick? Does it even make sense? Just in case your curious, Yes, Yes and YES! I have always brushed butter on the top of my pie crusts to get a beautiful golden brown color. Turns out the butter helps it stick and helps the crumb topping melt into the pie crust.
To put it frankly these baked apple hand pies recipe with crumb topping are magical! These are perfect for a dessert, snack, or even an appetizer! These are also perfect for holidays, chilly fall nights, and special occasions. The recipe also yields about 12 hand pies which is perfect for the whole family, or holiday party, to enjoy! Watch out though, they will not last long. Enjoy this timeless dessert that has been gussied up and updated with a twist!
Ingredient Notes
These ingredients are inspired by warm, fall flavors and the nostalgic apple pie!
Apple Pie Filling
- Granny Smith Apples-avoid using another kind of apple
- Brown Sugar-dark brown sugar preferred
- Butter-or vegan butter
- Water
- Cinnamon
- Apple Pie Spice
- Kosher Salt
- Whiskey/Bourbon-optional
- Cornstarch-or arrow root powder
- Vanilla Extract
Pie Dough
- All Purpose Flour-or all purpose gluten free flour
- Sugar
- Kosher Salt
- Cold Butter-or vegan butter
- Cold Vegetable Shortening
- Cold Water
Crumb Topping
- All Purpose Flour-or all purpose gluten free flour
- Brown Sugar
- Kosher Salt
- Butter-or vegan butter
Cinnamon Glaze
- Powdered Sugar
- Whole Milk (or milk of choice!)
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla Extract
See recipe card for quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
Below are step by step instructions to help guide you in making these delicious apple crumb hand pies!
Combine apples, brown sugar, butter, water, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and kosher salt into a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 7 minutes. Then add whiskey (optional) and simmer for another 3 minutes. Whisk in the cornstarch slurry to the mixture and continue to simmer until thickened.
Make your pie dough and wrap in plastic wrap to chill in the fridge for at least 10-15 minutes before using (the dough should be cold!). Then roll out your dough until you reach ¼ inch thickness.
Then take a bowl that is approximately 5 inches in diameter to cut out circles of the pie dough.
Add about a tablespoon of apple filling to the middle of the dough circle. Then fold the dough over into a half-moon shape. Press firmly around the edges and crimp with a fork.
Then melt 1 Tbsp. of butter and brush butter along the tops of the hand pies. Then cut a single 1 inch slit into the top for venting. Place the pies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Then cover each hand pie with as much crumb topping as you desire (the melted butter will help it stick!). Then place them in the oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown!
Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix until smooth, creamy, and easy to drizzle. You may need to add a little more milk to get the drizzle depending on how well you measure your powdered sugar.
Then drizzle with your glaze and enjoy!
Substitutions
This apple hand pie recipe can easily be made vegan! See the following substitutions:
- Butter-you can substitute vegan butter in this recipe to make it vegan friendly.
- Milk-you can also substitute with your milk of choice.
- Cornstarch-my favorite vegan substitute to cornstarch is arrow root powder.
Also, this recipe is naturally vegetarian and egg-free since butter is used to brush the tops of the hand pies to get that golden crust and to help the crumb topping stick.
For a gluten free variation, my favorite all-purpose gluten-free flour substitute for this recipe is King Arthur's gluten-free all purpose flour.
Variations of Baked Hand Pies
I love to make variations of these delicious apple crumb hand pies. Here are some additional flavor ideas:
- Cherry
- Blueberry
- Peach
- Blackberry
- Raspberry
- Custard
- Chocolate pudding (Here is a link to my delicious chocolate pudding hand pie recipe!
Equipment
The following equipment was used in this recipe:
- Food Processor to make the pie dough (my favorite way to make pie dough)
- Medium Saucepan to make the scrumptious apple pie filling
- Baking sheets to bake the hand pies
You can make the dough by hand, however, it is easier to use a food processor. The dough literally comes together in seconds!
Time Saver
While the homemade apple pie filling in this recipe is delicious, feel free to save yourself time by adding pre-made apple pie filling to your pie dough. Or you can also use pre-made pie dough from your local grocery store! If these short cuts save you time then that is totally okay! Then you can make the crumb topping and the glaze to drizzle on top!
Storage
Hand pie storage is super simple! Your hand pies will stay good for:
- 2 days at room temperature
- 4 days in the fridge in an air tight container
- 3 months in the freezer (I wrap them in parchment and then place into freezer safe bags)
Top tip
To ensure an incredible pie crust, be sure to keep all of your ingredients super cold! Cold butter, cold shortening, and cold water. When adding the water to the food processor, I use ice water and just filter out the ice. This ensures that my water stays ice cold! Cold ingredients ensures that your dough will be super flaky by keeping tiny pieces of butter evenly chilled and incorporated throughout your dough. Also, be sure to use short, quick pulses of your food processor to decrease the amount of heat from the food processor blade from transferring to your dough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
A hand pie is pie crust stuffed with a filling and baked. While a turnover is puff pastry stuffed with a filling and baked. Both are stuffed, sealed, and baked until golden and flakey.
The crust used in a hand pie is a simple pie crust! The pie crust can be homemade, or store bought.
A hand pie is pie crust that is stuffed with a sweet or savory pie filling. Then the pie crust is sealed around the filling, baked, and then is consumable by holding the pie in your hand. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!
Please tag me on Instagram and Pinterest with your delicious, timeless creations! As always, thank you for your support!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Homemade Baked Apple Hand Pies Recipe with Crumb Topping
Equipment
- 1 Food processor For making pie dough
- 1 Medium saucepan
- 1 Baking sheet
Ingredients
Apple Pie Filling
- 3 Granny Smith apples Granny Smith apples are preferred for baking
- 1 Cup Brown sugar (dark brown sugar preferred)
- ¼ Cup Unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
- ½ Cup Water
- ½ Tablespoon Cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon Apple pie spice
- ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 Tablespoon Whiskey or Bourbon (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water to make a slurry (you can also use arrow root powder for a vegan option)
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract
Pie Dough
- 2 Cups All purpose flour (or gluten free all purpose flour)
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ Cup Unsalted butter (Cut into cubes; If using vegan butter, keep it extremely cold in the freezer until use)
- ½ Cup Cold vegetable shortening
- ½-3/4 Cup Ice cold water
Crumb Topping
- 1 ½ Cup All purpose flour
- ½ Cup Brown sugar
- ¼ Teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ Cup Unsalted butter (melted)
Cinnamon Glaze
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 3 Tablespoon Whole milk (or milk of choice)
- ¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
Apple Pie Filling
- Dice your granny smith apples and add to your medium saucepan (I did not peel my apples because I like the texture but feel free to peel if you like). Add brown sugar, butter, water, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt to the saucepan.
- Turn saucepan to medium heat and let mixture come to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce to a simmer and leave the mixture to simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Then add the bourbon or whiskey (optional) and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. (note: If you are not adding alcohol then continue cooking for another 5 minutes (10-12 total).
- Then create a slurry with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water.
- Whisk into the apple mixture and bring to a slight boil.
- Once at a boil, decrease the heat to a simmer for another 2-3 minutes until thickened, then turn off the heat and add the vanilla.
- Put the apple mixture in a bowl, wait until room temperature, and set in the fridge to chill.
Pie Dough
- Add your flour, salt, and sugar into your food processor. Pulse until combined.
- Add cold butter and shortening (cut them into cubes for better distribution).
- Pulse with short bursts until the mixture appears to be in pea-sized pieces of dough.
- Then slowly add your ice water while pulsing until the dough fully comes together in a ball inside the food processer (add the water slowly and stop adding water once the dough ball starts to form to prevent your dough from being wet).
- Take the dough out of the food processor, bring together into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap to chill in the fridge for at least 10-15 minutes before using (the dough should be cold!).
Crumb Topping
- Mix together the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl.Melt your butter, wait for it to cool slightly, and then add to the dry mixture.
- Mix together well.
- Crumble the mixture with your fingers. Set aside.
Cinnamon Glaze
- Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Mix until smooth, creamy, and easy to drizzle (You may need to add a little more milk to get the drizzle depending on how well you measure your powdered sugar).
- Set aside.
Hand Pie Assembly
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Roll out your dough until you reach ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin.
- Then take a bowl that is approximately 5 inches in diameter to cut out circles of the pie dough.
- Then add about a tablespoon of apple filling to the middle of the dough circle.
- Then fold the dough over into a half-moon shape. Press firmly around the edges and crimp with a fork. Then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Then melt 1 Tbsp. of butter and brush butter along the tops of the hand pies.
- Then cut a single 1 inch slit into the top for venting.
- Then cover each hand pie with as much crumb topping as you desire (the melted butter will help it stick!).
- Then place them in the oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown!
- Then take them out of the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Then drizzle with your glaze and enjoy!
Cheryl
It's like a baked apple pie made easy! I like that I can carry it around and eat on the go
Bill
Best apple pie I've ever had, amazing.