Apple Hand Pies (McDonald’s Copycat)
Copycat McDonald’s Apple Hand Pies are even better than the fast food version. These baked hand pies with fresh apples have a yummy cinnamon and sugar flavor with rave reviews.
I love pie! Some people are partial to cakes and cookies, but for me, it’s all about the pie. I especially enjoy one that needs to plate and no fork. Just hand me the apple pie and let me be on my way. Haha!
Apple Hand Pies
Today I’m sharing my apple hand pie recipe and step-by-step instructions. You can use our No-Roll Pie Dough recipe with this, but we went shortcut way on this and use Puff Pastry.
If you have ever ate at McDonald’s, chances are you may have had an apple pie or two. Me? I’ve had many. But now have figured out how to make them right in my own kitchen and I couldn’t be more excited. Even if McDonald’s isn’t your thing, these baked apple hand pies definitely will be.
Ingredients You Will Need
Here is everything you will need to make a batch of fresh, homemade, mini apple pies.
- Apples. Peeled and diced into small pieces. (Here is a quick guide on how to do this quickly.)
- Puff Pastry Sheets. Thawed out.
- White Sugar & Brown Sugar.
- Spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg.
- A Small Lemon. We need a little bit of the juice.
- Cornstarch.
- Egg. For an egg wash on the pastry before baking.
- Water.
How To Make Apple Hand Pies
- Apple Pie Filling. The hand pie baking time isn’t long enough to soften the apples, so cooking them on the stove is the best option. In a saucepan, heat the apples with the sugars, spices and lemon juice. When it’s hot, add the cornstarch and water. Cook and stir for about 5-7 minutes until it thickens up.
- Make the pie. Roll out the puff pastry and cut them into 8 even rectangle pieces, for a total of 16 pieces. Spoon the apple pie into the center leaving room around the edges. Brush egg wash over the edges, then cover the apples with another rectangle piece of pastry. Press the pieces together with the a fork. If you are using our No-Roll Pie Dough recipe, follow the same directions.
- Make the topping. Stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the pastries.
- Cook. Bake the pies for about 16-18 minutes in a 400 degree oven until they are golden brown.
Tips for the Best Hand Held Apple Pies:
Apples – Cut the apples into small pieces. That way you can fit more of the filling into each hand pie.
Alternative Fillings – Blueberry pie filling, Strawberry, Cherry, Nutella, Jam, etc…
Make Fun Shapes – We love creating fun shapes with hand pies or even make them into pops like our cute Heart Pie Pops. Create shapes using cookies cutters like hearts, leaves, or other fun cookie cutter shapes.
Caramel – Serve these with caramel drizzled on top for an extra special treat.
More Recipes To Try
McDonald’s Copycat Shamrock Shake
Apple Hand Pies
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 puff pastry sheets thawed
- 4 large apples peeled and diced into small bites
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp Juice from half of a small lemon
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch combined with 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 egg whisked with a spoonful of water (for wash before baking)
Topping Ingredients:
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Directions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
- Stir in the ¼ cup of water, stirring as it heats. Allow the mixture to become hot, then add in the cornstarch and water.
- Continue stirring the apple mixture for about 5-7 minutes. The apple mixture will begin to thicken, and once it does, remove the pan from heat and set it aside to let it cool.
- Prepare the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the topping of the pies.
- Set that bowl aside until the pies are prepared for the oven.
- Roll out each pastry puff sheet into a square, about 12x12. Cut each square into 8 even rectangle pieces, for a total of 16 pieces from both sheets.
- Place four of the rectangle pieces on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
- Spoon some of the apple pie filling onto the center of each piece, leaving about ¼ inch space on the edges.
- Gently brush the edges with some of the egg wash, then cover the apples with another rectangle piece.
- Pull the dough so that it reaches each corner and the rectangles line up. Press the pieces together with the end of a fork. Repeat with all four pieces.
- Lightly brush the top of each pie with the egg wash.
- Slice four small slits across the top of each piece, and then sprinkle a spoonful of the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture on top of each pie.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 16-18 minutes, until the pastry begins to turn golden brown.
- Repeat and assemble the other four pies, or place on a second baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, and bake at the same time.
- This recipe makes 8 copycat apple pies.
