Autumn Spiced Apple and Pear Hand Pies

Close your eyes when you take a bite of these and you can almost hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet. These taste and smell like autumn, my favorite season. I like to add a drizzle of dark chocolate at the end; it makes them extra special!

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 125 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 recipe pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (Optional)
• 1 large Pink Lady apple - peeled, cored and diced
• 1 large Bartlett pear - peeled, cored and diced
• 2 tablespoons coarse granulated sugar, or as needed (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Stir apple, pear, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt together in a bowl. Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl.

Step 3

Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface; cut into circles with a 3- to 4-inch round cookie cutter. Spoon a small amount of apple mixture onto center of each pastry circle; fold circles in half and press firmly to seal edges. Crimp with a fork, if desired. Place pies on prepared baking sheet.

Step 4

Cut 3 small slits in top of each hand pie with a sharp knife. Brush surface of pies with egg mixture; sprinkle with decorating sugar.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 25 minutes; allow pies to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

Step 6

Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle melted chocolate over pies.