Scrumptious yet easy to assemble, hand pies are baked in their own containers, so they travel well to picnics, bake sales, and potluck dinners. You don’t need a fork to eat one, or even a plate. Each is dainty enough to hold in your hand, and guaranteed to disappear in a few bites. But beyond the appeal of their size and portability lie the delicious components—in this case, a tender crust and tangy filling made from sun-dried strawberries and chunky preserves. You can also use fresh berries, if you prefer: Pair one tablespoon diced small strawberry, and one tablespoon of the jam for each pie; omit step 2.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 20
Ingredients
Hand Pie Dough
Preparation
Step 1
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4 1/2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out 20 rounds, and transfer to parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Step 2
In a medium saucepan, combine sun-dried strawberries and the water. Scrape in vanilla seeds (reserve pod for another use). Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until most of the water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in zest, juice, and preserves. Let cool completely.
Step 3
Let dough stand at room temperature until pliable, 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon 1 tablespoon filling onto center of a dough round, and brush edges with water. Fold round in half; using a fork, press down on edges to seal. Repeat with remaining rounds. Refrigerate or freeze pies 30 minutes.
Step 4
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly beat egg white, and brush over dough. Sprinkle pies evenly with the sugar. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pies to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Hand Pie Dough
Step 5
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and zest.
Step 6
With an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg, and beat until just combined. Add cream cheese, buttermilk, and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add reserved flour mixture, and beat until smooth. Form dough into a ball, and cover with plastic wrap; flatten into a disk, and refrigerate 1 hour or up to overnight, or freeze up to 1 month (thaw in refrigerator before using).
