Pumpkin Hand Pies


Originally I was going to write a post about a meal we had a few days ago, but everything quickly changed when I saw these pumpkin hand pies in a Woman’s Day magazine. What is a hand pie you ask?....... Hand pies are individual small pies that you can hold in your hand and not use a fork. Pretty cool, right? Next thing I knew I was running around looking for the perfect sized pumpkin cookie cutter. I love it when I am excited about a recipe.

I am not a big baker but I am becoming more and more comfortable with pies and breads. As I read through the recipe; white vinegar was one of the ingredients with no explanation why. After checking a few sites on google I found that vinegar helps tenderize pie dough because it inhibits gluten development, leading to a crust that is flakier and easier to work with.

Everything came together as recipe indicated, except I had tons of filling left over. Not sure why. The crust was light and crispy and the filling was full of flavor and had a slight tang from the cream cheese. Next time I will make apple hand pies in the shape of apples.

This recipe has been slightly adapted from Woman's Day Magazine

Ingredients:

3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ tsp plus ¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups unsalted butter (3 sticks)
3 tablespoons white vinegar
3 tablespoons ice-cold water
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
¼ cup packed brown sugar
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground all-spice
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounce cream cheese, (cut into pieces)
2 large egg yolks (beaten)
1 beaten egg (for brushing)

To prepare:

In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pulse in the butter until the the mixture resembles coarse crumbles. Add vinegar and cold water, pulsing until the dough is crumbly. Shape the dough into 3 1- inch disks, wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least an hour, or up to two days.


Now for the filling……..In a medium sized heavy sauce pan combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally (what you are doing here is cooking out the moisture) 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat add vanilla and cream cheese until completely mixed , then add egg yolks. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.


Preheat oven to 375° degrees.

Using one disk at a time (you want to keep the rest chilled until you need them). On a lightly floured surface roll each disk into 1/8 inch thick. Cut out twenty-eight inch pumpkin shapes transferring them to the refrigerator as you work. Cut 3 vertical cuts on half of the cut-outs. (look at top photo)(this will be the top piece). Place the 7 bottoms on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or siltpat. Add 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin mixture in the middle of each one leaving a ½ inch border around the edges. Next lightly brush the border with the beaten egg. Place the top gently on top matching the stems. (some tops you might have to turn over). Press the edges with a fork to seal and brush the tops with the egg wash.

Bake until golden brown 23 to 27 minutes. Makes approx. 12 to 14 pies.

Comments

  1. Oh! These Pumpkin Hand Pies look so delicious and pretty!

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  2. cute cute cute cute CUTE!!!! love love love love LOVE!!! <3 <3

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  3. Cheri:

    These look adorable and fun. What a great idea. I love the idea of the mini-pies. Well done. (And I look forward to your apple pies, too. )

    D

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    Replies
    1. Thanks D, these were fun to make. have a great week-end!

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  4. Well I think I just found my next little treat to make! I love hand pies, and these are so perfect for the season!!

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  5. I've never had a pumpkin hand pie so this would be a great recipe to try. They're cute and delicious too, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Those are really lovely shapes. I'd have to do them freehand as there's no chance of finding pumpkin shaped cutters over here. Actually, at last pumpkins are getting more popular. But not pumpkin pie. Just as well I know how to make them. :) And I've yet to try vinegar in pastry.

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    1. Johnny, I was so pleased with how flaky the crust turned out, will try that again. Thanks!

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  7. What lovely pies. I didn't know that about white vinegar! xx

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  8. These are gorgeous! I bet they are so tasty. Who would't love these on their Thanksgiving buffet :) I am such a pie enthusiast and now I need to make these :)

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    1. Thanks Tricia, thats a big compliment coming from you.

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  9. Love those pies, they are just beautifuyl and pumpkin pie is one of my favorites and hand pies are just so convenient.

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  10. I love these pumpkin hand pies. They are so cut. They would be great for Thanksgiving dessert.

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  11. I learnt two new things here today. I always thought hand pies were called that because they are made by hand (haha). And I never knew that about the vinegar either. Hope you can find a way to use up the leftover filling :)

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    1. Tandy, have not thought of a use yet. Have a great week-end!

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  12. What a cute idea for the upcoming holidays.

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  13. What a lovely recipe ..u r just a baking queen dear..

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  14. What cute little pies. I just love the spices in this as well, I am wanting to put cinnamon and ginger in everything at the moment.

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  15. Awwww, how adorable these hand pies look. So delicious. Loved these! :)

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  16. Oh my goodness, Cheri, you are a talented baker! These are so lovely!! And they sound super delicious, too :)

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    1. Thanks Robyn, really I am not that talented, this was a well written recipe. Hehe!

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  17. These hand pies look out of this world, Cheri. I wish I could have one now.

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  19. Dear Cheri, hand pies are absolutely fabulous but I have never had a pumpkin hand pie before - the recipe sounds utterly delicious and so seasonal and your pies look amazing!

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    1. Thanks Andrea, had a great time in the kitchen with this one.

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  20. Looks beautiful I can imagine the taste:-) yum yum

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  21. These lovely cutie pumpkin pies set me drooling :)

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  22. These are such darlings. They shall go to the ball.
    Amalia
    xo

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  23. Your hand pies are absolutely adorable! And thanks for the info about vinegar - I've used it in one pastry recipe, but never knew the reason why.

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    1. Thanks Beth, yes vinegar does seem like such a strange ingredient to add when baking pies, apple cider vinegar is supposed to be good too.

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  24. Good to know that vinegar is the secret to flaky pastry crusts, Cheri. Your pumpkin hand pies are the perfect dessert for autumn...And yours look like they could be sold in a pie shop! =)

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  25. Love these, Cheri! They almost look like crowns! Royal pumpki handpies? I can think of tons of uses for the leftover filling! ~ David

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    1. Hi David, your right they kind of do look like crowns, how funny!

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  26. How fun and adorable are these! You did a great job, Cheri!

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  27. These hand pies are SO cute, Cheri! What a great treat for this time of year!

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  28. Cheri, those are so adorable! I love little hand pies and your crust looks flaky and perfect.

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  29. I love pumpkin hand pies, and yours have to be some of the prettiest I've ever seen!

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  30. LOVE these little pumpkin shaped pies. Hope I find time over the next few weeks to make them. thanks for sharing.

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  31. How cute are these little guys! Great hand pies and easily portable. Love that!

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  32. These are so cute! I wish I could grab one off the screen for breakfast. Love the idea for apple hand pies too.

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  33. These are so adorable, Cheri! I just love pie crust, and with all the pumpkin spices in the middle and cream cheese, yum! I love it when I am excited about a recipe, too, and I sure see why you were excited about these!

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  34. I am not baker but these are so cute, saving recipe for when I muster enough courage to give it a try.

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  35. these are indeed very cute. they have started to call them hand pies here in OZ too. i think we just used to call them pies:=).

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  36. These are so cute! Perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

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  37. These are so cute! Perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

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