Irresistible Strawberry Heart Hand Pies Recipe for Sweet Moments

Crafting a delightful strawberry heart hand pies recipe brings sweet moments of joy right into your kitchen.

Soft pastry hugs luscious fruit filling with playful charm.

Romantic shapes make these treats perfect for special occasions or spontaneous afternoon surprises.

Delicate crimped edges seal in bright berry flavors that dance across your palate.

Homemade desserts like these connect us through simple, genuine ingredients and shared happiness.

Each miniature pie carries warmth and love, promising delectable memories with every single bite.

You’ll find these heart-shaped treasures irresistibly charming and surprisingly easy to create.

Strawberry Heart Hand Pies Highlights

• Craft Heart-Shaped Delights: Create adorable mini pies that capture attention with their unique romantic shape, perfect for Valentine's Day or special celebrations.
• Beginner Baker's Dream: Designed for novice bakers, this recipe offers simple steps and minimal techniques, making it accessible for anyone wanting to try homemade pastries.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Portable hand pies work wonderfully for picnics, school lunches, potlucks, or casual dessert gatherings, satisfying sweet cravings with minimal mess.
• Customize with Creativity: Experiment with different fruit jams, add sprinkles to the glaze, or switch up the cookie cutter shape to match any theme or personal preference.

Ingredients for Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

• Pie Crust: Homemade or store-bought pastry that forms the base and top of the hand pies.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used for dusting the work surface to prevent the dough from sticking.

• Strawberry Jam: Sweet and fruity filling that provides the core flavor for the hand pies.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze for topping the pies.
• Milk: Helps thin and blend the glaze to the right consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a rich, aromatic flavor to the glaze.
• Large Egg: Used to create an egg wash that gives the pies a golden, shiny exterior.
• Water: Combines with the egg to make the egg wash.

How to Prepare Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Set your oven to 400°F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Create Egg Magic

• One egg
• Water

Blend until smooth and set nearby.

Step 3: Prepare the Dough Canvas

Sprinkle flour on your work surface.

Roll out pie crusts until they’re thin and flexible.

Step 4: Shape Lovely Hearts

Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to transform dough into 24 cute pieces.

You’ll need 12 bottom and 12 top crusts.

Step 5: Create Steam Escape Routes

Gently poke tiny holes in top crusts using a fork.

These little vents help prevent pie explosions during baking.

Step 6: Build Delicious Layers

Place bottom crusts on work surface.

Dollop strawberry jam in center of each piece. Carefully cover with top crusts and press edges together.

Step 7: Add Golden Shine

Brush egg mixture over pie tops. This creates a beautiful golden glow when baked.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Transfer pies to prepared baking sheets. Slide into oven and bake for 20 minutes until they turn gorgeous golden brown.

Step 9: Cool Down

Move pies to wire rack. Let them chill completely before decorating.

Step 10: Whip Up Sweet Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Stir until silky smooth.

Step 11: Decorate with Deliciousness

Drizzle glaze over cooled pies.

Wait two hours for glaze to set before serving your beautiful treats.

Expert Tips for Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

• Ensure strawberry jam is high-quality and not too runny to prevent leakage during baking.
• Chill pie dough for 30 minutes before rolling to achieve flakier, more stable crusts.
• Use cold butter and handle dough minimally to maintain a tender, delicate texture.
• Create perfect heart shapes by pressing cookie cutter firmly and rocking gently on the dough surface.
• Swap strawberry jam with other fruit preserves like raspberry or blueberry for variety in flavors.

Variations of Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

• Berry Blast Variation: Replace strawberry jam with mixed berry preserves for a more complex fruity flavor profile.
• Chocolate Cherry Surprise: Swap strawberry jam with dark cherry preserves and add a teaspoon of chocolate chips inside each pie for rich decadence.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free pie crust and almond flour instead of traditional wheat flour to accommodate gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Vegan Adaptation: Create plant-based crust using coconut oil instead of butter, swap egg wash with plant milk, and use maple syrup-sweetened fruit filling for a completely dairy-free version.

Pairing Ideas for Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

• Complement the sweet strawberry hand pies with a chilled, light rosé champagne that echoes the fruity notes and cuts through the dessert's richness.
• Serve a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the warm hand pies, creating a delightful temperature and flavor contrast that enhances the strawberry's brightness.
• Brew a delicate chamomile tea to balance the sweetness of the pies, offering a subtle floral undertone that refreshes the palate between bites.
• Whip up a quick strawberry-yogurt smoothie to serve as a cool, complementary drink that intensifies the fruit flavor and provides a nutritious accompaniment.

Storage Guidelines for Strawberry Heart Hand Pies

• Refrigerate: Store cooled hand pies in an airtight container, layering with parchment paper between each pie. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and taste.
• Freeze: Wrap individual pies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bag. Freeze up to 2 months. Label with date for easy tracking.
• Reheating Refrigerated Pies: Warm in preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. Place directly on baking sheet to maintain crispy crust and restore original texture.
• Thawing Frozen Pies: Transfer frozen pies to refrigerator overnight. Reheat in oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until warmed through and crisp edges return.

FAQs

• How do I prevent the jam from leaking during baking?

The key is to not overfill the pies. Use exactly one tablespoon of jam and leave a small border around the edges. Crimp the edges tightly with a fork to create a seal that prevents leakage.

• Can I use different types of jam?

Absolutely! While strawberry jam works perfectly, you can experiment with raspberry, blueberry, or apricot jam. Just ensure the jam is thick and not too runny to maintain the pie’s structure.

• How do I get a perfect heart shape when cutting the dough?

Use a sharp heart-shaped cookie cutter and press down firmly and cleanly. If the dough sticks, lightly dust the cutter with flour before each cut. Press straight down without twisting to ensure clean edges.

• Why do I need to prick the top crust?

Strawberry Heart Hand Pies Recipe

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4.5 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Handcrafted strawberry heart hand pies embody sweet romance and rustic charm from Southern kitchens. Delicate pastry pockets filled with fresh strawberries offer a delightful treat you will cherish with each tender bite.

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Ingredients

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• 2 premade 9-inch pie crusts (or homemade pie dough)
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) strawberry jam
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) water
• 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) milk
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 400°F and positioning parchment-lined baking sheets for optimal pie placement.
2. Create an egg wash by whisking egg and water until thoroughly blended, reserving for later application.
3. Dust work surface with flour and carefully roll pie crusts to maintain consistent thickness, aiming for approximately 13-inch diameter.
4. Utilize a heart-shaped cookie cutter to extract 24 precise dough pieces, strategically maximizing dough usage by re-rolling remaining scraps.
5. Perforate top crusts with fork tines to facilitate steam release during baking, preventing potential structural compromise.
6. Position bottom dough pieces and center a tablespoon of strawberry jam, then delicately overlay perforated top crusts, meticulously sealing edges with fork crimping.
7. Enhance visual appeal by gently brushing assembled pies with prepared egg wash, ensuring even golden coverage.
8. Carefully transfer pies onto prepared baking sheets, maintaining spacing between each piece, and bake for approximately 20 minutes until achieving rich golden-brown coloration.
9. Extract pies from oven and transition to wire cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction before glazing.
10. Construct vanilla glaze by blending powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until achieving smooth, pourable consistency.
11. Embellish cooled pies with delicate glaze drizzle, permitting two-hour setting period for optimal presentation and texture.

Notes

• Make extra dough for perfect heart shapes, preventing waste and ensuring consistent sizing.
• Chill the cut-out dough pieces for 15 minutes before filling to maintain crisp edges and prevent spreading during baking.
• Use room temperature jam for easier spreading and more even distribution inside the hand pies.
• Consider freezing assembled uncooked pies for quick future baking, storing them between parchment layers to prevent sticking.
• Experiment with alternative fruit preserves like raspberry or mixed berry for flavor variations.
• Sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking to add delightful texture and extra sweetness.
• Use gluten-free pie crust to make recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Reduce baking time by 2-3 minutes if using smaller cookie cutters to prevent over-browning.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 230 kcal
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg