Description

This recipe creates irresistible Caramel Glazed Hand Pies, featuring crispy exteriors, tender spiced apple filling, and a dreamy caramel glaze. They are a fun, handheld twist on classic apple pie, perfect for families and easy baking.

Ingredients

Scale

4–5 medium Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples (about 450g), peeled, cored, and diced small
2 sheets store-bought or homemade pie crust
4 tbsp (56g) unsalted butter
0.5 cup (100g) brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbsp (8g) all-purpose flour
3–4 cups (700-950ml) vegetable or canola frying oil
1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) milk
2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) good quality caramel sauce

Instructions

Prep Apples: Peel, core, and dice your apples into small, uniform pieces (about 0.5 inch or 1.2 cm).
Cook Filling: In a 10-inch skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are fork-tender but not mushy (about 10-15 minutes). Stir in the flour and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the filling thickens slightly.
Assemble Hand Pies: Roll out pie crusts on a lightly floured surface. Use a 4-inch (10 cm) round cutter or knife to cut circles. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of apple filling onto one half of each circle. Fold the other half of the dough over the filling and crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
Fry Hand Pies: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat frying oil to 350F (175C). Carefully lower 2-3 hand pies into the hot oil, not overcrowding. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and puffed. Transfer fried pies to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Make Caramel Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and caramel sauce until smooth and pourable. Drizzle generously over the cooled fried apple pie hand pies.

Notes

Ensure apples are fully cooked and filling isn’t too wet to avoid a soggy bottom; add extra flour if needed. Crimp pie edges very firmly with a fork to prevent opening in oil. For a less greasy result, ensure frying oil is hot enough (350F/175C) and drain pies well on paper towels. For a (baked) option, air fry at 375F (190C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 53 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Frying
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 hand pie
Calories: 420 calories
Sugar: 55 g
Sodium: 280 mg
Fat: 25 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 60 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 15 mg

Keywords: easy dessert, fried apple pie, caramel glaze, hand pies, apple, sweet treat, homemade pie, fall dessert, quick meals, baking wins