Cozy Autumn Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies Recipe for Sweet Bites
Crisp autumn days call for warm, golden hand pies bursting with chai spice apple goodness that dance across your taste buds.
Sweet orchard apples mingle with aromatic chai spices, creating a pocket-sized dessert that promises comfort in every bite.
These handheld treats blend traditional baking techniques with unexpected flavor profiles that surprise and delight.
Buttery, flaky pastry wraps around tender spiced apple filling, making each pie a compact bundle of pure deliciousness.
The warming blend of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary snack or dessert.
Compact and portable, these hand pies offer a perfect balance of sweet and spicy that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Grab your apron and get ready to bake a batch of these irresistible chai-spiced apple hand pies that’ll become your new autumn obsession.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 210 kcal
Servings: 9
Ingredients List for Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
For The Dough:For The Filling:For The Finishing Touches:Equipment to Craft Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
How to Make Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
Create a silky, crumbly pastry base using flour, a touch of sweetness, and cold butter. Blend ingredients until they form a magical, soft mixture that promises delightful texture.
Wrap your precious dough in a protective cocoon and let it rest in the refrigerator. This pause allows the ingredients to mingle and develop rich flavors.
Transform fresh apples into a warm, aromatic filling. Gently cook the fruit with exotic spices that dance together, creating a fragrant blend that whispers comfort and adventure.
Roll out delicate dough circles and cradle the spiced apple mixture. Fold and seal each little pocket, creating adorable hand-held treasures that promise pure joy.
Slide your beautiful creations into a warm oven. Watch as they turn golden brown, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that beckons everyone near.
Drizzle a silky glaze over the cooled pies, adding a final layer of sweetness that makes these treats absolutely irresistible.
Helpful Tips for Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
Plating and Serving Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
Keeping Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies Fresh
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Cozy Chai Spice Apple Hand Pies
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 9 1x
Description
Delightful chai spice apple hand pies combine warm spices with flaky pastry for a comforting dessert. Compact and portable, these miniature treats bring Middle Eastern and Indian flavor influences to classic American pie-making. Bakers can easily enjoy their portable charm.
Ingredients
- 4 large apples (or 5 small apples), peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
- ½ cup (120 ml) plant-based butter, cold & cubed
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) coconut sugar (or white/raw cane sugar)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) coconut sugar (or white/raw cane sugar)
- ¾ tsp (3.75 ml) ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp (3.75 ml) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp (0.625 ml) ground cloves
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice
- 2–5 tbsps (30–75 ml) ice cold water
- 1 egg, beaten
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) powdered sugar
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) ground cardamom
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Pulse flour, coconut sugar, and salt in a food processor. Incorporate cold butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then gradually add ice-cold water until dough coheres. Form into a flattened disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Apple Filling Creation: Combine diced apples with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. Add vanilla extract, coconut sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer over medium-low heat until apples soften and caramelize, approximately 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.
- Pie Assembly: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll chilled dough to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into 3-inch circles. Place a spoonful of cooled apple filling in the center of each circle, fold into half-moon shapes, and seal edges with a fork.
- Baking Process: Brush hand pies with egg wash and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes until pastry turns golden brown and crisp.
- Finishing Touch: Whisk powdered sugar with milk or cream to create a smooth glaze. Once pies cool to room temperature, drizzle glaze over the tops and allow to set briefly before serving.
Notes
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate pastry dough for at least 30 minutes to ensure flaky, tender texture and prevent shrinking during baking.
- Control Apple Moisture: Cook apple filling slowly to reduce excess liquid, preventing soggy hand pies and ensuring concentrated flavor development.
- Seal Edges Carefully: Press fork edges firmly to create a tight seal, preventing filling from leaking during baking and maintaining a clean, professional appearance.
- Glaze at Perfect Temperature: Allow hand pies to cool completely before adding glaze, ensuring it sets smoothly and doesn’t become runny or absorbed into the pastry.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Indian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Mia Reynolds
Food Writer & Home Cooking Specialist
Expertise
Easy Home Baking, Recipe Writing and Storytelling, Local and Seasonal Ingredients, Baking for Beginners
Education
New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Montpelier, Vermont
Community College of Vermont, Winooski, Vermont
Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.
Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.