Description
Southern Fried Apple Hand Pies deliver classic comfort in a crispy golden pastry pocket filled with sweet cinnamon-spiced apple goodness. Warm pies straight from the skillet offer pure homestyle deliciousness you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
- 1 quart (0.95 liters) oil for frying
- ½ cup chilled shortening
- ½ cup cold water
- ¼ cup white sugar (or to taste)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon (or to taste)
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut chilled shortening into the dry ingredients using pastry blades until the mixture resembles coarse, uneven crumbs.
- Dough Forming: Add cold water and fold gently with a fork until the dough forms a cohesive ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to rest and firm up.
- Apple Filling Creation: Combine diced apples, sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Simmer covered over low heat, stirring intermittently until apples break down completely into a thick, rustic compote. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Dough Rolling and Cutting: Flour a work surface and roll the chilled dough to a thin 1/8-inch thickness. Cut eight 4-inch circular shapes using a round cutter.
- Pie Assembly and Sealing: Spoon cooled apple filling onto the center of each dough round. Moisten edges with water, fold into half-moon shapes, and crimp edges firmly with a fork to seal completely.
- Frying Process: Heat oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 375 degrees F. Carefully lower hand pies into hot oil in small batches, frying until golden and crispy, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Rotate midway to ensure even browning.
- Finishing: Drain fried pies on paper towels to remove excess oil. Allow to cool slightly before serving, ensuring a crisp exterior and warm, gooey filling.
Notes
- Master Dough Technique: Achieve flaky texture by using ice-cold shortening and minimal handling to prevent gluten development.
- Apple Filling Consistency: Cook apples slowly to create a thick, spreadable compote without excess liquid that could compromise pie sealing.
- Precise Oil Temperature: Maintain exact 375°F for perfect golden-brown crust without burning or undercooking the delicate pastry.
- Sealing Strategy: Press fork edges firmly and evenly to create a tight seal that prevents filling leakage during high-heat frying.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes (per batch)
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg