Gluten Free Brown Butter Apple Hand Pies

Many years ago, a southern neighbor taught me to make fried apple pies. I wanted something similar but not fried. I combined several recipes I found on the web along with a gluten-free pie crust recipe I found. Although there are several steps, these hand pies are simple. Kids will enjoy helping with the assembly. Terrific warmed in the microwave with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt on the side!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 372 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon water
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar (Optional)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar (Optional)
• 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 2 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
• ¼ cup cold water, or more as needed
• 4 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
• 1 teaspoon white sugar, or as needed (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Pulse 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, xanthan gum, and salt together in a food processor; add 3/4 cup butter, 2 eggs, and cold water. Blend until evenly mixed and crumbly but holds together when pinched; add more cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed. Form dough into a ball, place in a bowl, and chill for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Mix apples, 1/4 cup white sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Step 4

Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat until foamy; continue cooking and stirring until butter is brown with a nutty aroma, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour browned butter over apple mixture; stir to coat.

Step 5

Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness; cut into 4-inch circles. Whisk 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water together in a bowl; brush egg wash over each circle of dough. Spoon about 2 tablespoons apple filling on 1 half of each circle; fold the other half over the filling. Crimp the edges of each pie together using a fork. Place pies on a baking sheet; brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon white sugar.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until pies are lightly browned, about 30 minutes.