APPLE HAND PIES, easy, lower-sugar, cheat's option, small households

Lovely for picnics or just a weekend treat...

Apple Hand Pies: so much easier and nicer to eat

Hand pies are often included in fried chicken & chips takeaways and are the perfect dessert for this week's Un-fried Southern Spiced Chicken and Potato Wedges.

They're ever so easy to make even if you decide to make your own pastry rather than 'cheating' with ready-made pastry.

67 prefers to use fresh fruit but if you're under pressure there's nothing stopping cook from using a tin of unsweetened pie filling.

This recipe is for small households but the recipe multiples easily.

Cost: £1.50 for make-it-yourself 

Makes: 3 x 5"x5" hand pies  

Ingreds:

shortcrust or puff pastry - 1 recipe or 1 box (use leftovers for Sweet Pastry Biscuits or Cheese Straws)

2 apples OR 1 tin low-sugar or unsweetened apple pie filling

ground almonds or breadcrumbs (to prevent soggy bottoms)

Method

1. Fresh fruit - peel, core & slice apples; add to a small saucepan over med heat with 1.5 tsp sugar, a large pinch of cinnamon and a grating or small pinch nutmeg; cover, cook gently until apples are collapsing and have released a little liquid.  Remove from pan; take a third of the apples and puree to applesauce; mix with apple pieces 
2. Preheat oven to 180c/350F
3. Cut pastry into three 5inx5in/12.75cmx12.5cm squares
4. Mentally divide each square into two halves; scatter bottom half with light layer of breadcrumbs or ground almonds to stop soggy bottom, leaving a 1/2in/1cm border; add 1/3 of the apples building upwards, not sideways, fold other half over; pushing apples away from edge; use tines of fork to firmly seal
5. Brush with egg; make 3 slits to allow steam to escape; if you like, scatter over a few grains of sugar
6. Bake 35-30 mins.  If browning too fast, cover with foil
7. Serve warm with cream or ice cream or at room temperature dusted with icing sugar

Comments:

'Just the right size for hand or plate.  Lovely pastry and a good amount of filling.' Retired writer

Tips:

Try this recipe with any other fruit: pears, cherries, blackberries, a mix of two fruits

Please leave a question in the box below 

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.