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Apple Hand Pies

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

Did you know that this upcoming Monday, May 13 is National Apple Pie Day? While it may be “as American as apple pie“, I would argue that apple pie is a great Canadian dessert too.

Apples are one of the few fruits that grow and weather well in our Canadian climate. A favourite pie apple, the McIntosh apple, was discovered in 1811 in Dundela, Ontario by John McIntosh (you probably guessed that last name!) and quickly became the most cultivated apple in Ontario. These apples are thought to have descended from the Snow Apple, which originated in France and was planted in Quebec, around Lake Champlain, in 1730. The McIntosh is heavily used in apple breeding, as it is easy to grow and can withstand temperatures down to -34°C (ouch)!

England can lay claim to the first apple pie recipe printed in 1381.  Ingredients included “good apples, good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron and cofyn (a type of pastry crust)”.

To celebrate National Apple Pie Day, we’ve made it easy for you to give a hand to the mighty Canadian apple and make individual apple hand pies! Want to try more hand pies? Check out Santa’s Mini Snowflake Pies.

Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 10 – 12 minutes; Serves: 12

Apple Hand Pies

What you need:

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • 1 pie crust dough (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 McIntosh apple, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Amaretto (optional)
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch salt
  • icing sugar
  • Dulce de Leche (for drizzling) – optional (not shown)

What you do:

  • Preheat your oven to 450ºF
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Roll out (or unwrap) your pie crust dough
  • Using a circle cookie cutter (or an 86mm Mason Jar lid ring), cut into 12 circles (or whatever shape you are using) – you may have to re-roll the dough for the last few
  • Mix together the diced apples, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, cinnamon, Amaretto and salt

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • On your parchment baking sheet, place dough circles
  • Add 1 tsp of the apple mix to the centre of the circle
  • Wet the edge with water, fold in half
  • Gently press the edges together and then push down using the tines of a fork

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • (Want a slightly bigger pie? Don’t fold the circles over, double the filling and top with a second circle)
  • Bake for 10 – 12 minutes
  • Remove from oven, slide onto a platter

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Sprinkle with icing sugar

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Optional: Drizzle with Dulce de leche

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Enjoy!

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Happy National Apple Pie Day

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Hands up for National Apple Pie Day!

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Mini Apple Hand Pies!

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

  • Slightly larger mini pies

Apple Hand Pies TravelFoodCool

 

Apple Hand Pies
Yield: 6 - 8

Apple Hand Pies

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes

Celebrate National Apple Pie Day with these cute and easy mini apple hand pies!

Ingredients

  • 1 pie crust dough (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 McIntosh apple, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Amaretto (optional)
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch salt
  • icing sugar
  • Dulce de Leche (for drizzling) - optional (not shown)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 450ºF
  2. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper
  3. Roll out (or unwrap) your pie crust dough
  4. Using a circle cookie cutter (or an 86mm Mason Jar lid ring) cut into 12 circles (or whatever shape you are using) - you may have to reroll the dough for the last few
  5. Mix together the diced apples, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, cinnamon, Amaretto and salt
  6. On your parchment lined baking sheet place dough circles
  7. Add 1 tsp of the apple mix to the centre of the circle
  8. Wet the edge with water, fold in half
  9. Gently press the edges together and then push down using the tines of a fork
  10. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes
  11. Remove from oven, slide onto a platter
  12. Optional: Drizzle with Dulce de leche
  13. Sprinkle with icing sugar


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