Description
Quick, flaky, and gooey hand pies made with diced apples, cinnamon, and sugar in an air fryer. A perfect, portion-controlled dessert that cooks in minutes without heating up the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets frozen pie crusts, thawed
- 3 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Braeburn), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for filling)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
- Flaky sea salt (optional, for finishing)
Instructions
- Peel, core, and dice apples into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and vanilla. Cook for 5-7 minutes until tender and syrupy. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Unroll thawed pie crusts. Cut into 8-10 circles (about 4-5 inches wide) using a bowl or cookie cutter.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of cooled apple filling in the center of each circle. Leave a half-inch border.
- Brush edges with water or egg wash. Fold dough over to create a half-moon shape. Press edges firmly and crimp with a fork. Poke 2-3 holes in the top for steam.
- Whisk egg and water. Brush tops of pies with egg wash. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon, then sprinkle over the egg-washed tops.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray basket with non-stick spray.
- Place pies in the basket, ensuring space for air circulation. Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and flaky.
- Cool for 2-3 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
Notes
Ensure the apple filling is completely cool before assembling to prevent soggy crusts. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Flip pies halfway through cooking for even browning. If sugar browns too quickly, lower temperature to 325°F or cover loosely with foil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: air fryer dessert, apple hand pies, cinnamon sugar, easy dessert, fall recipes, quick snacks, gluten-free options