Cherry Hand Pies

You bet! First, assemble the pies. Then, working in batches so you do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer, air fry the hand pies for 6-8 minutes at 360°F.

How to Store Cherry Hand Pies

These hand pies can be stored at room temperature, covered, for 2-3 days. If you are planning to freeze the cherry hand pies, I recommend freezing them before being baked. See above about making the hand pies ahead of time.

Ingredients

▢1 homemade pie crust recipe*, or 2 boxes store-bought▢2 ⅓ cups (595 g) cherry pie filling, homemade or 1 can (21 ounces )store-bought pie filling▢canola or vegetable oil, for frying

Glaze

▢6 cups (750 g) confectioners' sugar▢7-9 tablespoons whole milk, or more or less to reach desired consistency, room temperature▢½ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

Cherry Hand Pies

Roll out the pie crust to ⅛ inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the crust into 4-5-inch rounds. (You should get 26-28 pie crust rounds if using homemade, it may be less if using store-bought.)

Add 1 heaping tablespoon of cherry pie filling to each round. (If you made your own cherry pie filling, let it cool before adding to the crust.)

Fold each mini pie crust into a half-moon shape. Use water to wet the edges to help seal each crust. Crimp with a fork.

Glaze

Mix confectioners' sugar, almond extract*, and 7 tablespoons milk in a bowl until smooth and creamy. If the glaze is too thick, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the glaze reaches your desired consistency. Set aside.

Frying

In a medium pot over medium heat, add 2-3 inches of oil. Heat the oil until it reaches a temperature of 375°F.

Place 2-3 hand pies into the pan. Fry until golden brown (3-4 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel-lined cooling rack. (Before adding each batch of hand pies, make sure the temperature of the oil is at 375°F; it may cool down after each batch.)

While the hand pies are still warm, coat with the glaze. You can coat the pies by drizzling the glaze over each pie or dipping each pie into the bowl of glaze using a large fork. Serve warm or cold.

Notes

*1/2 teaspoon of almond extract goes a long way. You could add more after taste testing. 

Homemade Pie Crust recipe. This recipe is the exact amount needed for this cherry hand pie recipe. 

If using store-bought pie crusts, you need to buy 2 boxes as they are thinner and smaller.