Description
Delightful blueberry lemon hand pies featuring a flaky homemade crust encasing a juicy, tangy filling of fresh blueberries, lemon juice, and zest. These portable treats are perfect for gatherings, snacks, or desserts, baked to golden perfection with a sparkling sugar topping for extra crunch and sweetness.
Ingredients
Pie Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 6-8 tablespoons ice water
Filling
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen, thawed)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Assembly
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
- Additional granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Make the Pie Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and work it into the flour using a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces. Slowly add ice water one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough just comes together without overworking. Divide into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill.
- Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, mix the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir gently to coat the berries evenly. Set aside for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the filling to thicken slightly.
- Roll Out the Dough: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll out one chilled dough disc to about 1/8 inch thick. Use a 4-5 inch round cutter to cut out circles, approximately 6-8 per disc depending on size.
- Assemble the Hand Pies: Place a heaping tablespoon of blueberry filling in the center of each dough circle, leaving a border. Lightly wet the edges with water, fold the dough over to form half-moons, and press edges firmly with a fork to seal. Prepare an egg wash by whisking together the egg and water, brush it onto each pie, and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake the Pies: Arrange the hand pies on the lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown and filling bubbles through edges. If edges brown too quickly, tent with foil and continue baking until done.
- Cool and Serve: Let the pies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature as a delightful snack or dessert.
Notes
- Using frozen blueberries is fine, just thaw and drain excess liquid before mixing.
- Do not overwork the dough to keep it flaky.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for a tender crust and easier handling.
- You can double the recipe to make more hand pies.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.