The enchanting season of autumn brings with it a symphony of warm colors, crisp air, and the irresistible aroma of spiced delights. As October draws to a close and Halloween beckons with its promise of spooky fun, there’s no better way to celebrate than with a homemade treat that captures the essence of the season. Today, I’m thrilled to share a delightful recipe for Spiced Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pies, which are not only incredibly easy and delicious but also double as the perfect festive bite for Halloween gatherings.
These charming individual pies embody everything we love about fall baking – the comforting sweetness of apples, the earthy warmth of pumpkin, and a hint of cinnamon spice, all encased in a tender, flaky pastry. They are miniature marvels, designed for effortless enjoyment, whether you’re cuddled up watching a scary movie or sharing them with friends and family. I first stumbled upon a similar idea last month and, after four successful batches that vanished almost instantly, I can confidently say these hand pies are wonderfully addictive!
Embracing the Halloween Spirit with Comforting Flavors
Growing up in Poland, Halloween wasn’t a widely celebrated holiday, which perhaps explains my current enthusiasm for it. While my days of elaborate costumes and wild parties might be behind me, my love for the cozy side of Halloween has only grown. Nowadays, you’ll find me opting for a relaxed evening in, complete with classic horror films and an abundance of comfort food. These spiced apple and pumpkin hand pies fit that bill perfectly, offering a taste of nostalgic warmth and seasonal cheer.
They are the epitome of comfort food: a delicious, buttery, and flaky crust generously filled with sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples and velvety pumpkin. A gentle sprinkle of sugar adds an extra layer of sweetness, creating a golden-brown finish. For an extra touch of indulgence, serve them warm with a dollop of vanilla-flavored whipped coconut cream, and you’ll experience a truly heavenly dessert. The combination of textures—the crisp pastry, the soft fruit filling—and the aromatic spices makes each bite an absolute delight.
A Journey of Pumpkin-Inspired Creation
The inspiration for this particular recipe sparked from a food magazine, where I saw a similar concept featuring blackberries. However, I made a personal commitment earlier this month: every recipe I posted in October (with the exception of my Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce) simply *had* to include pumpkin. So, I enthusiastically experimented, blending sweet apples with the rich, earthy notes of pumpkin puree and the comforting embrace of cinnamon. The result was this harmonious version that perfectly complements the apple and spice filling, creating a truly unique flavor profile that screams autumn.
My passion for cooking with pumpkin has made this October a truly memorable culinary adventure. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed incorporating this versatile squash into various dishes. For those who might have missed them, I previously crafted delightful Pumpkin Scones with Cheese and a wonderfully aromatic Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Bread for the #virtualpumpkinparty. And to be completely transparent, my love affair with pumpkin is far from over. So, prepare yourselves; there might just be more pumpkin-infused delights heading your way!
Crafting Your Own Spiced Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pies
Now, let’s dive back into these incredibly tasty spiced apple and pumpkin hand pies! They offer a fantastic opportunity for a fun and engaging baking session, especially with children. One of the best parts is the creative freedom they provide. You can easily make your own stencils and go wild with any shape imaginable. While I opted for the obvious pumpkin shape, feel free to explore apples, pears, leaves, or any other autumnal motif that sparks your imagination. Simply draw your desired shape on a piece of paper, cut it out, and use it as a guide for your pastry. Don’t discard any leftover pastry trimmings; they can be used to add charming details like decorative stalks or leaves to your hand pies. For a truly festive Halloween touch, you can even cut out “jack-o’-lantern” faces, just be gentle when carving into the delicate pastry.
To keep this recipe effortlessly simple and accessible, I highly recommend using ready-made, shop-bought shortcrust pastry. For those seeking a vegan option, brands like Jus-Roll offer excellent choices that work beautifully. Of course, if you prefer to make your own pastry from scratch, you can refer to my recipes in this post or this post for guidance. However, for a quick and easy approach, a good quality pre-made pastry is your best friend here.
When it comes to the star of the show – the spiced apple and pumpkin filling – a crucial tip is to avoid overfilling your pies. About one tablespoon should be sufficient per pie to ensure you can properly seal the edges without the filling oozing out during baking. Feel free to adjust this amount slightly to suit your taste, but a balanced approach is key. Another important detail for achieving perfectly shaped hand pies is to keep your apples in slightly larger chunks and to avoid overcooking them in the initial step. If apples are cooked for too long, they can turn into a mushy puree, resulting in flatter, less visually appealing pies. Retaining some chunky apple pieces ensures that your hand pies hold their form beautifully and offer a delightful textural contrast with every bite.
These delectable spiced apple and pumpkin hand pies are undeniably best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven, when the pastry is at its flakiest and the filling is wonderfully gooey. However, should you, by some culinary miracle, find yourself with leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container overnight. Gently reheating them the next day will bring back much of their fresh-baked charm. These pies are a testament to the joy of seasonal baking and a perfect addition to any fall celebration, especially Halloween. I hope you find as much joy in making and savoring them as I do!
I would love to hear how you spent your Halloween and what autumnal treats you indulged in. Please share your experiences in the comments below! Until next time, and have a wonderful week!
A.
📖 Recipe: Spiced Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pies
Spiced Apple and Pumpkin Hand Pies
Delicious hand pies with spiced apple and pumpkin filling. Fun and easy to make treat for Halloween!
Prep Time: 1 hr
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Servings: 6 pies
Calories: 594 kcal
Author: Anna
Ingredients
- 2 medium cooking apples (peeled, cored, and cut into small pieces)
- 50 g golden caster sugar
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 2 sheets shortcrust pastry (320 g)
- 4 tablespoons milk of choice (e.g., almond milk for vegan)
- 50 g icing sugar (for topping, optional)
- 1 tablespoon white caster sugar (for sprinkling before baking)
Instructions
- Place the diced apples and golden caster sugar in a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover with a lid and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the apples are soft but still hold their shape. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, then gently mix in the pumpkin puree and cinnamon.
- In a small separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup and cornflour until smooth. Stir this mixture into the apple and pumpkin filling until well combined. This will help thicken the filling.
- Unroll your pastry sheets. Using a 10 cm round cookie cutter (or a preferred stencil like a pumpkin shape), cut out 12 identical circles. Spoon approximately one tablespoon of the apple and pumpkin filling onto the center of half of your pastry circles, ensuring you leave about a 1 cm border around the edge. Brush the edges of these filled pastry circles with your milk of choice.
- Carefully place a plain pastry disk on top of each filled circle. Gently press down around the edges to seal the pies. For a decorative touch and to ensure a tight seal, use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges. For pumpkin-shaped pies, make small indentations in the top and bottom of the pies to resemble the curves of a pumpkin. Poke a small steam hole in the top of each pie with a skewer. Brush the tops of all the pies generously with milk. Transfer the pies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps the pastry maintain its shape.
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/400°F). Bake the chilled pies for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is beautifully golden brown and puffed. Immediately after baking, sprinkle with the white caster sugar for a sweet, sparkling finish. Allow the pies to cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, perhaps with a scoop of vegan ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a dollop of custard.
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams. I recommend that you use digital scales for more accurate results. I have provided a conversion to US customary in the recipe but please note that I haven’t tested using this method.
Notes
- I used a pumpkin stencil that was approximately 10cm wide. You can experiment with various cookie cutters or create your own stencils.
- Don’t discard any pastry off-cuts! You can use them to cut out additional decorations like small stalks or leaves to embellish your pies, or even create smaller, bite-sized pies.
Nutrition
Calories: 594 kcal per pie
