Apple Hand Pies (Air Fryer)
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My Apple Hand Pies are everything you love about dessert in one holdable, snackable treat! They have an irresistible, ooey gooey, tender, fruity center — but you need to bite down through that crisp, golden brown crust to get there. Spiced and fried to absolute perfection, my apple hand pie recipe is one for the books!
Apple Hand Pies
There’s nothing more classic than apple pie, but a good homemade recipe can take hours to make.
Instead, try a handheld version! Not only is it faster, but they are perfectly portable treats in individual serving sizes.
Did I mention that this is an air fryer apple pie recipe? Three cheers for fewer dishes, shorter bake time, and less mess!
If that’s as exciting for you as it is for me, then I have some other recipes I want you to try ASAP: s’mores pie, peach crisp, and even donuts!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Apples – I recommend peeling apples for any apple hand pie recipe.
The skin isn’t going to take on the buttery, cinnamony flavors as well as the flesh, and it will alter the texture. - Ground Cinnamon – A warmer, seasonal flavor can be achieved with the addition of some nutmeg and the tiniest bit of ginger — if that suits your fancy.
- Sugar – I use regular, white granulated sugar in apple hand pies. But you could use brown sugar, or a combination of the two.
- Prepared Pie Crust – Using refrigerated pie crust really saves time — the flavor’s all in the filling, after all!
But if you want to really go hard and use a homemade pie crust, go for it! - Caramel Sauce – There are tons of tasty jarred caramel sauces out there, but this is another ingredient you could make from scratch! In fact, my homemade caramel sauce is easier and yummier than running to the store for it!
Tips for Making Our Homemade Apple Hand Pie Recipe
- Best apples for apple hand pie desserts.
Granny Smith apples are great because you can find them any time of the year.
They’re a tad tart, so they stand out among the sugary cinnamon, and they really hold up after cooking.
Honeycrisp are sweet and firm — they really hold onto that crunch.
Finally, Golden Delicious are just the way they sound! They’re a honey gold color and totally tasty.
They’re more of a seasonal option, as you can’t find them all year, so use ‘em when you can!
- Easily make circles with tools around the kitchen.
If you have a round cookie cutter that’s around 4 inches in diameter, that would be perfect for my apple hand pie recipe!
But if you don’t, you can use a mug or a bowl with a diameter roughly that size.
Simply place it on the crust, carve around it with a sharp knife, and you’ll get just as good results.
- Our serving suggestions!
My stance is that there is nothing more mouthwatering than warm, gooey air fryer apple pie covered with caramel sauce with a good scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. And I’m standing by it!
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to enjoy an apple hand pie!
Not everyone likes having something cold with their hot dessert, so some whipped cream is great for those folks.
Other flavored ice creams are really fun too! Cake batter is a family favorite in my house, and some tangy cheesecake ice cream could be just the thing to cut the sweetness.
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Apple Pie
Store any leftover apple hand pies in an airtight container and refrigerate.
If you’re anticipating leftovers, don’t cover with the caramel sauce yet — it’ll make the crust soggy!
I recommend eating these within 3 days for the best flavor. Reheat it in the microwave — just 10 seconds will do the trick — and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Round biscuit/cookie cutter – It should be at least 3 ½ inches in diameter.
- Peeler – Makes removing the skins so much easier!
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
Apple Hand Pie FAQ
So a turnover is just what it sounds like — you turn the crust over on itself, folding the dough over the filling. It’s also usually made with puff pastry.
But apple hand pies are made with classic crust and formed differently. It’s a circle that’s been pressed down and closed on all sides.
Generally speaking, you always want to cook the apples to make sure the filling isn’t undercooked.
Especially since this is an air fryer recipe, we want to cook them first so they soften and absorb the sugary, cinnamony flavors.
You really need to take the time to seal them properly! Take your time and firmly press down with the fork to close the seams, and don’t be shy with your egg wash before popping them into the oven.
And don’t overfill! Otherwise they could burst or laden down the dough, making it soggy and unable to support the apples.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Air Fryer Dessert Recipes
Apple Hand Pies (Air Fryer)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium to large apples, cored, peeled, and chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons water, divided
- 1 15 ounce package prepared pie crust, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2-4 ounces TSRI homemade caramel sauce, or jarred caramel sauce
Instructions
- Core and peel apples, then cut into small cubes. In small saucepan on medium-low heat, saute butter until melted, then add apples, sugar, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon water and stir to coat. Cook until apples have softened slightly, stirring often (about 5 minutes). Apples will cook down a little and sauce will be similar to syrup. Remove from heat to cool.
- Carefully unfold pie crusts onto parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll out smooth and even. To make circles, place bowl upside down and trace around with sharp knife. Remove circles, then roll out extra dough to make additional circles. (Bowl used was 4 inches in diameter) You should be able to get 12 circles out total.
- Place about 1 tablespoon of apples into the center of each dough circle. Fold in half and press seam slightly with fingers. Using a fork, press to meld seams together. Prepare egg wash in small bowl by whisking egg and 1 teaspoon water. Slit dough with sharp knife. (optional) Brush both sides of each pie with egg wash.
- Spray or grease air fryer basket with butter. Place pies into basket leaving room in between. Cook on 350 degrees for 5 minutes, then flip and cook another 5 minutes. Pies should be golden brown. Remove from air fryer and serve with warm caramel sauce.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2023
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Can these be frozen?
Hi Callie,
You can absolutely freeze them before baking, just don’t brush them with the egg wash until you are ready to bake them. Hope this helps,
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
Just pulled these out of the air fryer and oh my gosh! They are amazing! I will be making these often, they are so easy and everyone loved them!
Absolutely delicious! I couldn’t believe how easy these were to make. thanks, donna and chad!
Hi Mia!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn