Description
Strawberry Heart Hand Pies are delightful, flaky pastries filled with juicy fresh strawberries, combining a buttery crust with a sweet, fruity filling. Perfect for quick baking, charming presentation, and customizable options, these hand pies make an ideal treat for special occasions or everyday enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ice cold water (adjust as needed)
Strawberry Filling
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Chill the butter and combine it with flour and sugar until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly add cold water to bring the dough together, being careful not to overwork it. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to ensure a flaky crust.
- Make the Strawberry Filling: In a saucepan, toss chopped fresh strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens and the strawberries release their juices, then set aside to cool completely.
- Roll and Cut the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out an even number of hearts for the pies. Gather scraps, re-roll, and repeat until the dough is used up.
- Assemble the Hand Pies: Place a spoonful of the cooled strawberry filling onto half of the heart cut-outs, leaving space around the edges. Lightly brush edges with egg wash, then place another heart on top. Press edges firmly with a fork to seal and brush the tops with more egg wash.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake the hand pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the pies to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Chill everything (butter and water) to achieve flaky layers in the crust.
- Do not overfill the pies to prevent leaking and loss of shape.
- Seal edges well using a fork to keep the filling inside.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
- Allow the filling to cool completely before assembling to avoid soggy dough.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg