Desserts for Moi: Apple Hand Pie

Remember those McDonald's apple pies that were oh so tempting to get with your combo meal? I've only had them a few times, but I remember them being deliciously greasy and pretty small. I made a healthier, much lower fat version that is basically the size of my face. Now, to call this a "pie" isn't completely accurate due to there being so actual pie dough, but it's close enough. Remember that pizza dough from the calzone recipe? It's making another appearance.


Apple hand pie
Ingredients
- 1/4 ball pizza dough
- 1/2 tsp turbinado sugar
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Earth Balance

- 1 apple, peeled and cored
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
- 1/2 tsp corn starch
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- Tiny pinch of sea salt

Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Cut peeled and cored apple in thin slices (about 1/8" thick). Toss in bowl with lemon juice, sugar, corn starch and spices. Set aside while you roll out the dough.
- Roll out dough into a thin round. Sprinkle cinnamon on the top for a little extra spice.
- Spoon apple mixture on one half of the round. Wet the edges slightly and fold the other half over the apples and seal using a fork.
- Brush the top with melted Earth Balance (microwave for like 10 seconds) and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Poke holes on the top to let air escape and bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and your house smells like fresh baked apples.

Note: This can be made in advance and heated in a 350 oven for 5-10 minutes.




This was so, so good. Even though it lacked the flakiness of a standard pie crust, it worked really well and was a nice way to use up extra dough. The top was crispy and sweet and the apples cooked perfectly inside. I used a gala, which held up nicely; the filling tasted exactly like regular apple pie!


If you're looking for ways to use leftover pizza dough, try out some sweet recipes. Generally pizza dough is neutrally seasoned, so it works well for both sweet and savory dishes. So get in the kitchen and make yourself a hand pie the size of your face - you deserve it.