Easy Sweet Recipes With Air Fryer For Pies: What are They, How to Make, And Sweet Filling Ideas

If you've never heard of hand pies, then you're in for a surprise. They are individual-sized pieces made with flaky pastry that are filled with either sweet or savoury fillings. They are called hand pies because they're small enough to be held in one hand, and polished off in big gulp. You can use store-bought or homemade pastry that is cut into small circles or squares, place the filling in the centre and then seal them shut by either crimping them. Usually, these hand pies are baked until they are golden brown and flaky, but we're going to share some air fryer recipes for sweet hand pies that are just as delicious.

Here is a basic recipe for the hand pie pastry dough:

Ingredients:

• 360 gm flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 225 lard or butter (cold and cubed)
• 90 ml ice cold water 

Instructions:

1. Mix the salt and flour in a large bowl, then slowly incorporate the cubes of butter or lard into this until you get a crumbly mixture.
2. Then slowly drizzle in the ice-cold water and knead the dough until you form a dough.
3. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it well. Flatten the dough into an inch-thick disc, make sure there are no cracks.
4. Wrap the disc in cling film and refrigerate for about half an hour to 40 minutes.

Apple Hand Pie

Ingredients:

• 4 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 tsp lemon juice
• 470 ml water
• 30 gm cornstarch
• 150 gm granulated sugar
• 55 gm brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the egg wash:

• 1 egg
• 2-3 tbsp water
• 3 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Toss the thinly sliced apples in lemon juice and set them aside for a bit.
2. Create a cornstarch slurry with all of the water and cornstarch.
3. Add it to a saucepan with both the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Bring this mixture to a simmer, be careful not to let it boil.
4. Then put all the apples into this mixture and let this mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes or until the apples are soft.
5. Remove from heat and let it cool.
6. Then take the pie crust and create around six discs that are 5 inches in diameter.
7. Add about 2 to 3 slices from the apple filling into each disc and then crimp the pies shut.
8. Brush every hand pie with a mixture of a whole egg and water. Sprinkle all of them with some brown sugar.
9. Make three slits on each pie with a knife to let the air out.
10. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for about 5 minutes. Then place two pies at a time and air fry at this temperature for about 10 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Repeat this process with all of the pies.

Blueberry Hand Pie Filling

Ingredients:

• 300 gm fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp water
• 65 g granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Add the blueberries and sugar in a saucepan and let them come to a simmer.
2. Create a slurry with cornstarch and then pour it over the blueberries. Let this mixture thicken and lose some of its moisture.
3. Once you get a thick, jam-like consistency, your blueberry filling is done. Finish off with a tablespoon of lemon juice.
4. Follow the instructions as the apple hand pie to create blueberry filled hand pies.