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Strawberry Hand Pies

Strawberry pie is a summer favorite. This hand pie version is portable, and perfect for picnics or camp lunches. A note about making them ahead. They'll last up to 3 days, though I think they're best eaten within in 24 hours. If you want to prep a bunch in advance, prepare the pies completely, but do not bake them. Instead, you can set them on a parchment-lined tray in the freezer until they're set. Store the frozen, unbaked pies in a container for up 2 months. When ready to bake, take them straight from the freezer, and bake as directed.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • For the filling:
  • 1 pint 227 grams strawberries, stems removed & berries chopped
  • 1/2 Granny Smith apple grated
  • freshly grated zest of 1 lemon
  • freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon squeeze the half into an ice cube tray
  • 1/2 cup 100 grams granulated natural cane sugar
  • 2 tablespoons 22 grams all-purpose, plus more for rolling out dough
  • Pinch of salt
  • For piecrust:
  • 1 3/4 cups 260 grams all-purpose
  • 1 teaspoon 6 grams granulated natural cane sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon 3 grams fine sea salt
  • 1 sticks 8 tablespoons / 112 grams cold butter, cut into 24 pieces
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons 7.5 ml white vinegar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons 30 m ice cold water
  • 1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cold water
  • Coarse granulated natural cane sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven the to 425ºF (220ºC) with the rack adjusted to the upper center position. Line a rimmed sheet pan with a sheet of parchment paper long enough to extend over the sides (this helps prevent the juices from flowing onto the pan, making for quick and easy clean up).
  • Add the filling ingredients to a medium bowl. Stir until well mixed; set aside.
  • Prepare the pie crust: add the flour, sugar, and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to blend. Add the butter. Pulse a few times until it forms a sandy-looking mixture with some pebble-sized pieces.
  • Add the vinegar, egg, and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) very cold water. Pulse just until it forms a solid ball (may take up to 1 minute).
  • Divide the dough into 8 equal sized pieces. Gently roll them into balls. Place on a lightly floured surface. Flatten the balls slightly into a circle using the palm of your hand. Dust the tops with a bit of flour, then using a rolling pin, shape into 6-inch (15-cm) circles. Don't fret if they're not perfectly round—making pie should be fun, not stressful.
  • Spoon an even amount of filling onto one half of each pastry circle, making sure to leave a 1/2-inch (1-cm) border.
  • Fold the unfilled half of dough over the filling. Press the edges down to seal the pies closed into half moon shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking baking sheet. Use the tips of a fork to crimp the edges closed. Brush the tops with a bit of the egg wash. Sprinkle tops with sugar, if using. Use a fork to prick a few holes in the top so the pies don't explode while baking (the tip of knife works fine, too).
  • Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350ºF (180ºC). Bake for about 20 minutes more, until the pies are golden, and juices begin to bubble slightly. Let pies cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Once cooled completely, pies may be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.