Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies

My grandmother’s apple pie was legendary in our small town – people would find excuses to visit when they knew she was baking. While I inherited her recipe book, recreating her perfectly flaky crust remained elusive until I discovered an unexpected ally: the air fryer.

These hand pies were born from necessity when my oven broke during a holiday gathering. The air fryer’s circulating heat creates a remarkably crisp exterior while maintaining a tender, juicy filling. While Grandma might have raised an eyebrow at this modern approach, I like to think she would approve of the results – portable pockets of spiced apple nostalgia that are ready in a fraction of the time.

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 5-7 tablespoons ice water
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

For the filling:

• 3 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and diced small
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Pinch of salt

For assembly:

• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• Cooking spray for air fryer

Instructions:

1. For the crust, combine flour and salt in a food processor
2. Add cold butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
3. Add vinegar and ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing until dough just comes together
4. Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
5. Meanwhile, combine diced apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, spices, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan
6. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until apples are slightly softened and sauce thickens
7. Remove from heat and cool completely
8. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness
9. Cut into 5-inch circles (a bowl can be used as template)
10. Place 2 tablespoons of cooled filling on one half of each circle
11. Brush edges with egg wash, fold over, and crimp with a fork to seal
12. Cut small vents in the top of each pie
13. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar
14. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C)
15. Lightly spray air fryer basket with cooking spray
16. Place pies in basket without overcrowding (work in batches)
17. Cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crisp
18. Allow to cool slightly before serving

Note: For the crispest results, avoid overfilling the pies and ensure they’re sealed well. If the dough becomes too warm while working with it, pop it back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up. These hand pies freeze beautifully before cooking – just add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time when preparing from frozen. For a quick variation, try using premade pie dough or puff pastry.