Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies (Print Version)
Sweet, flaky, heart-shaped pastries with a delicious strawberry filling, ideal for holidays or a special treat. Easy to prepare.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pie Dough
01 - 2 sheets refrigerated pie crust, thawed
→ Strawberry Filling
02 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and finely diced
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Assembly
07 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
08 - 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional, for sprinkling)
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the finely diced strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly and set aside to macerate for 5 minutes.
03 - On a lightly floured work surface, carefully unroll the thawed pie dough sheets. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, approximately 3 to 4 inches wide, cut out a total of 16 heart shapes.
04 - Place 8 of the prepared heart shapes onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the strawberry filling onto the center of each dough heart, ensuring a clean border around the edges.
05 - Lightly brush the edges of the filled dough hearts with the beaten egg. Carefully place the remaining 8 heart shapes on top of the filled halves. Gently press the edges together to seal, then use the tines of a fork to crimp the seams securely.
06 - Create a small vent on the top of each hand pie by cutting a small slit or poking a hole, allowing steam to escape during baking. Brush the tops of the pies with additional egg wash and, if desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar.
07 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is visibly bubbly. Allow the hand pies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- These adorable little pockets of joy are surprisingly simple to whip up, even if you’re new to baking.
- They're packed with fresh, fruity flavor that feels both comforting and elegant, making them perfect for any occasion.
02 -
- Resist the urge to overfill your pies; too much filling will inevitably lead to messy leaks and a less structurally sound heart.
- A good, firm crimp with a fork is absolutely essential to ensure your pies stay perfectly sealed during baking, preventing any delicious strawberry escape routes.
03 -
- If your dough starts to get too soft while you're cutting out shapes, gather the scraps and gently press them together into a disk, then chill for 10 minutes before re-rolling to get more hearts.
- For extra flaky layers, ensure your pie dough is always kept as cold as possible until it's time to bake, especially before the final crimping and egg wash.