Fried Apple Hand Pies
Fried apple hand pies are a delicious and comforting treat filled with sweet apples and warm spices, perfect for dessert or a snack anytime.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour Plus 1 cup for rolling out dough.
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 large egg
- 0.5 cups shortening
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Filling
- 4 apples (Gala or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and diced)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 0.25 teaspoon salt Pinch of salt.
- 0.5 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 0.25 cups sugar
For Frying and Serving
- 3 cups vegetable oil For frying.
- 2.5 cups powdered sugar For dusting.
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
For the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups of flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and ground cinnamon.
- Cut in shortening until crumbly.
- Add evaporated milk and egg; mix until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
For the Filling
- In a saucepan, combine diced apples, cornstarch, water, sugar, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
- Cook over medium heat until apples are soft, about 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool.
Make the Pies
- Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick.
- Cut into circles using a large cookie cutter.
- Place a spoonful of the apple filling on one half of each circle.
- Fold the dough over to enclose the filling and crimp edges to seal.
- In a deep skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Fry pies until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Store any leftover fried apple hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in a warm oven to restore crispiness. For long-term storage, freeze the pies in a single layer and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven from frozen until warmed through. Use a mix of apples for different flavors and textures; some sweet and some tart apples work great together.