In the Kitchen: Apple Hand Pies

You’ll find sweet, warm comfort in each bite of these fried Apple hand pies, featuring Bella Viva Orchards’ Dried Tart Apple Rings or Organic Dried Tart Apple Rings. We think the Apple skins add interest to these pies, but feel free to experiment with our other varieties. It’s your kitchen, after all. You’ll come out an all-star winner with your family and friends when you assemble a batch of these tasty treats!

Yields: 4 hand pies

Prep time: 50 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 cups Bella Viva Orchards Organic Dried Tart Apple Rings
½ cup Bella Viva Orchards Raisins, any variety (optional)
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 large egg, beaten
½ cup whole milk
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

For frying:

1 quart neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable), see note below

Special equipment:

Pastry blender or two knives
6-7” round biscuit cutter
Deep-fryer or heavy pot
Deep-frying thermometer
Slotted spoon or wire “spider”

Instructions:

Place Apple slices and Raisins, if using, in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and barely bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes to rehydrate the fruit, stirring occasionally. When fruit is soft, drain until cool enough to handle. Chop cooled fruit coarsely and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in cold cubed butter with a pastry blender or two knives until butter is in very small pieces and well distributed. Combine egg and milk and add to flour mixture, blending until a soft dough forms. On a floured surface, roll dough out thinly. Using cutter, make four circles.

In a small bowl, combine nutmeg, cinnamon and granulated sugar.

Place about ¼ heaping cup dried apples in the center of each circle, being careful to keep filling away from pastry edges. Distribute any remaining fruit mixture evenly among pies. Sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon of the spice and sugar mixture. With your fingertips, wet the outer edges of the dough with a little milk or water. Fold in half and seal the edges with the tines of a fork.

In a deep fryer or heavy pot heat oil to about 370 degrees F. Gently lower pies into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Remove with wire “spider” or slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels.

We like ‘em served warm or room temperature with vanilla ice cream just as they are!

Notes: *Some in-house hand pie lovers tell us the key to keeping this recipe healthier is to use fresh oil each time you cook up a batch. *If you’d like to try another variety of Bella Viva Orchards Apples, rehydrate and adjust the sugar accordingly. *Don’t toss the scraps. Fry ‘em up and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar for a frugal bonus. *These cute little pies are sure to disappear fast but they will keep a couple of days after baking.

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