sweet and savory hand pies

Pies in each hand…isn’t that quintessentially summer? I was at Weaver’s Orchard today talking all about hand pies, the versatility of crusts, getting creative with seasonal sweet and savory filling and making ahead of time to freeze for later.

Let’s talk dough.

I like to play it easy so here are 3 go-to’s for hand-pie making, puff pastry, filo dough and a cream cheese crust.

The puff pastry was a challenge to work with in this weather.  I left it out … it was too soft… put it in the fridge it took so long to firm up.  I ended up not separating the two pieces of dough and just cut the puff pastry in half, rolling each piece out to a 12″ x 12″ sheet and cutting into 12 pieces.

Filo dough is my favorite for hand pies because you can easily make small triangle packages or larger pies and they are easy to freeze.  Freeze your little pies to bake only what you need.

This cream cheese crust recipe is a Martha Stewart Recipe that I stumbled on several years ago.  It is soooooo much easier to make than a pie crust.   SO much easier.   Butter, cream cheese, salt and flour.  It is a soft dough but make it a few times to master it.  Here is the link to the recipe.

• considering flavoring your crust with the addition of garden fresh herbs or finely grated cheese.
• seal the pockets with egg wash or finger tips dipped in water
• egg or milk wash the outside of the pocket and sprinkle with sugar before baking
• refrigerate the pockets for 30 minutes before baking
• bake at 375˚ for 30-35 minutes for puff pastry of 20-25 minutes for filo or pie dough

On to fillings

Fruits are in season so play with flavor combinations like

peaches • chèvre • ham

peaches • raspberries

cherries • lightly sweeten ricotta with powder sugar • possibly toss in some chocolate chips

cherries • chicken • balsamic

eggplant chutney • curry

fruit & jam combo • add cheese

blueberries • cream cheese • orange marmalade (this is what i used for the filo filling to today’s samples…just these 3 things. use 2 teaspoons of cream cheese and as many blueberries as you can fit then top with a teaspoon of orange marmalade and roll!)

strawberry • nutella

Filling recipes I used for the demo

basil peach and rose hand pies

I printed this recipe last year and there were no website names.  I am so tickled to have just found the recipe creator.  You MUST click through to her site.  You may need a drool rag.  Bake away! Here is it.

A link to 5 other hand pie recipes is here.

Make hand pies as large or as small as you like.  Remember they are great for making ahead and freezing before baking.  They are perfect to pop in the oven for a flavor of summer in the chill of winter or when friends appear at your door.