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Salt & Wind Travel

Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies

The holidays are the one time of year we think it’s permitted, nay essential, that you eat pie at each and every chance. We prefer hand pies like this Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies recipe so we can have them on the go, as a snack, or just our very own individual portion just because.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Pear Cranberry Hand Pies are a perfect blend of sweet pears and tart cranberries wrapped in a flaky, golden crust. These hand pies strike a delightful balance between the rich, fruity filling and the crisp, buttery pastry. They’re ideal for autumn gatherings, offering a portable, individual treat that’s as delicious as it is convenient.

Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

For the filling, you’ll need 1 1/2 cups cranberries, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, 1/2 cup apple juice, and a mixture of flour, butter, salt, and cinnamon to thicken and enrich the flavor.

The pear component includes 1 pound of medium ripe pears, 1 cup finely chopped pecans, and a bit of lemon juice and flour to meld the flavors. The crust requires 1 pound of pie dough and 1/4 cup of chilled heavy cream for brushing.

How to Make This Recipe

Begin by cooking the cranberry mixture with sugar, maple syrup, juice, and spices until boiling, then let it cool. Prepare the pears and combine them with the cranberry mixture, adding pecans for a nutty crunch.

Roll out your pie dough, cut into discs, and spoon the filling onto half of them, topping with another disc to form the pies. Seal the edges with a fork, brush with heavy cream, sprinkle with sugar, and bake until golden brown.

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What to Serve This Recipe With

These hand pies are best served warm, accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream to complement their tartness. They pair wonderfully with a steaming mug of cider or a glass of dessert wine for a festive dessert option. Whether enjoyed as part of a holiday spread or as a cozy treat on a chilly evening, these Pear Cranberry Hand Pies bring a burst of autumn flavor to any occasion.

More Pie Recipes To Try

Looking for even more pie recipes to try? Here are a few more traditional pies:

Go stock up on all your cooking essentials then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies Recipe

Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies Recipe

The holidays are the one time of year we think it's permitted, nay essential, that you eat pie at each and every chance. We prefer hand pies like this Spiced Pear Cranberry Hand Pies Recipe so we can have them on the go, as a snack, or just our very own individual portion just because.
4.8 from 10 votes
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Hand Pies
Calories 292 kcal

Ingredients
  

For The Cranberry Filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups cranberries
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons for garnish
  • 1/2 cup Pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup apple juice
  • 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour divided
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For The Pears:

  • 1 pound medium ripe pears (about 2) cored and finely chopped
  • 1 cup pecans finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

For The Hand Pies:

  • 1 pound pie dough
  • 1/4 cup chilled heavy cream

For Serving:

  • Heavy Cream or Ice Cream for serving

Instructions
 

  • Cook The Cranberry Filling: Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Combine cranberries, 2/3 cup of the sugar, the maple syrup, the apple or pear juice, 3 tablespoons of the flour, 1 tablespoon of the butter, salt, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan and stir to combine.
    Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
  • Prepare The Pears: Meanwhile, peel, core, and cut pears into a small dice. Remove from heat, stir in the pears, pecans, the lemon juice, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour and set aside to cool slightly, at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the pie dough.
  • Cut Out The Hand Pies: Unwrap the dough and using a lightly floured rolling pin on a lightly floured cutting board, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thick circle. With a 3-inch biscuit cutter, stamping as many discs as possible from the pie dough. Gather the scraps and reroll the dough and stamp until you have 32 discs total. (Keep unused dough in the refrigerator until ready to use.)
  • Assemble The Hand Pies: When the filling is cool, cut the remaining butter into 16 small pieces then arrange 16 of the rolled-out discs between the two prepared baking sheets. Top each disc with 2 1/2 heaping tablespoons of the cranberry mixture and a dab of the butter, being sure to leave a 1/2-inch border around the edge.
    Place the remaining discs on top of the cranberry mixture and press them together at the border. Using a small fork, crimp the edges of the two discs together to securely close each hand pie. 
    TIP: Hand pies can be assembled through this step then wrapped up and frozen for up to one month before baking.
  • Bake The Hand Pies: Use a pastry brush to brush the hand pies with cream then garnish the hand pies with the remaining sugar. Cut an “X” shaped vent in the top of each hand pies. Place pies in the freezer until the oven is heated, at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350°F and arrange two racks in the upper and lower third. 
  • Place both baking sheets of pies in the oven and bake, swapping the baking sheets halfway through cooking time, until pies are risen and golden brown on the bottom and the fruit mixture starts bubbling through the vent, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool briefly on cooling racks (at least 5 minutes) then serve with whipped cream or ice cream. 
    TIP: Hand pies can be baked for up to two days and stored at room temperature before serving.

PERSONAL NOTES

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 292kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 264mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy fruit dessert, hand pies
Tried this recipe?Mention @saltandwind or tag #swsociety!

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