Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies: Sweet, Sticky & Dangerously Delicious

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Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies sprinkled with flaky salt on a board

Bored of Basic Apple Pie?

Let’s face it: a full-size apple pie is comforting, but sometimes you want a personal, ooey-gooey treat you can hold in one hand. Enter Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies, the dessert-lovers’ dream. Imagine biting into a flaky pastry pocket brimming with spiced apples and salted caramel sauce. Add a sprinkle of flaky salt, and you’ve got a sweet-meets-salty explosion worthy of our Daring Desserts lineup.

(Hankering for more sweet defiance? You could also tackle our Chocolate Espresso Hazelnut Tart or those Salted Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars, but if you want single-serve bliss, hand pies are the way to go.)

A Sticky Anecdote: The Day I Burned Myself with Caramel

Caramel sauce once bested me. I tried multitasking, leaving a scalding sugar pot alone for “just a second,” and ended up with a minor burn and a major meltdown. But every sweet fiasco is a lesson in vigilance. Now, by giving caramel my undivided attention, I’m rewarded with that luscious sauce that pushes these Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies straight into dessert superstardom.

Why Your Taste Buds Will Thank You

  • Single-Serve Delight: No messy slicing required. Everyone gets their own pastry, and no one fights over who got the bigger piece.
  • Tangy-Sweet Filling: Spiced apples plus salted caramel sauce = unstoppable flavor synergy.
  • Flaky Pastry Goals: We’re talking golden, buttery dough that’s easy to pick up—like dessert hot pockets but way fancier.
  • Impress Factor: Serve these after dinner, and guests might nominate you for dessert MVP.

Food Science Nibbles: Apple & Caramel Synergy

Caramel is mostly sugar, which lowers water activity in the apples. Translation: your fruit stays moist without leaking all its juices, maintaining that perfect apple bite. The sea salt crystals punctuate sweetness, making each morsel pop. In the oven, butter in the dough releases steam, creating flaky layers that complement the saucy filling. Culinary harmony, my friend.

Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies
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Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

35

minutes
Cook time

25

minutes
Total time

1

hour 

These Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies feature flaky pastry (homemade or store-bought), tender spiced apples, and a gooey salted caramel sauce. Perfect for handheld desserts that wow.

Ingredients

  • Homemade Pastry Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)

  • 1 tbsp sugar

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter (cubed)

  • 4-6 tbsp ice-cold water

  • Store-Bought Shortcut

  • 2 sheets of pre-rolled pie crust (or puff pastry) from the refrigerated or frozen aisle, thawed according to package instructions. (Brands typically come in ~9-inch circles you can cut, or rectangular sheets you can trim into rounds.)

  • Apple Filling

  • 2 cups peeled, diced apples (2–3 medium apples)

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar

  • ½ tsp cinnamon (add nutmeg if you like)

  • 1 tsp lemon juice (adds tang, prevents browning)

  • Salted Caramel Sauce

  • ½ cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce

  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt (or ½ tsp fine sea salt)

Directions

  • Dough or Pre-Rolled Pastry Prep
    If making homemade dough: In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, and salt. Work cold butter into the dry mix until you have pea-sized lumps. Drizzle in ice water gradually, mixing gently until the dough clumps. Pat it into a disc, wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes. If using store-bought dough, thaw as directed. Typically, these come in circles or sheets; you’ll cut them into 4–5 inch rounds for your hand pies.
  • Apple Mixture
    While dough chills (or if you’re a store-bought champion, while it thaws), toss diced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Let them sit a moment so flavors mingle. Now’s also your window to make homemade caramel sauce—just watch that pot like a hawk.
  • Rolling & Cutting
    Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a floured surface, roll homemade dough to about ⅛-inch thickness. If using store-bought circles, you might only need to flatten them slightly. For rectangular store-bought pastry, roll gently to smooth, then use a round cutter (4–5 inches) to create circles. Aim for pairs (top & bottom) for each hand pie.
  • Filling the Magic
    Arrange half the circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon a tablespoon of apple mixture onto each circle. Drizzle salted caramel sauce over the apples. Top with another dough circle. Seal edges by pressing a fork around or doing a crimp if you’re feeling fancy. Slash a small vent on top so steam can escape.
  • Baking to Golden Bliss
    Brush each pie with beaten egg or milk if you want that glossy bakery finish. Bake for 20–25 minutes until pastry is golden and filling bubbles. Some caramel may ooze out—that’s half the fun. Let them cool slightly so your taste buds aren’t scorched by molten sugar.

Pro Tips & Messy Miracles

  • Store-Bought Dough Sizing: Some brands have 9-inch circles—cut into about 4–5 inch rounds. You might re-roll scraps or patch them together. It’s okay if they’re slightly uneven; that’s “rustic charm.”
  • Extra Salted Caramel Drizzle: Warm more sauce and drizzle it on after baking. If you’re a sweet-salty fanatic, top with a pinch more sea salt for that final flavor pop.
  • Potential Overflow: Caramel can bubble out. Don’t sweat it. That gooey spillage often becomes irresistible crunchy edges.

Allergy & Dietary Twists

  • Gluten-Free Pastry: Use a trusty GF flour blend for homemade dough, or hunt for GF store-bought sheets. Expect dough to be a bit more delicate.
  • Dairy-Free Caramel: Try coconut cream caramel or a vegan butter-based sauce. Textures vary, but sweet-salty harmony still rules.
  • Sugar Level: If you want less sweetness, dial back the sugar or skip extra caramel drizzle at the end.

(For a how-to on homemade caramel sauce, peek at this recipe from King Arthur Baking. Just focus, so you don’t replicate my meltdown fiasco.)

Leftover Hand Pies: Sweet Dreams

If you somehow don’t devour them all, store leftover Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies in an airtight container at room temp up to 2 days. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes to restore crispness. They also freeze decently—thaw overnight and warm up gently in the oven when your sweet tooth roars again.

Final Thoughts

You’ve now harnessed the sugar-and-spice powers of Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies. Whether devoured hot off the baking sheet or served with a scoop of ice cream, these personal pastries prove that apple pie can be portable, pun-intended, and utterly mesmerizing. Did you go hardcore with extra caramel drizzle? Tried pears instead of apples? Spill your story in the comments. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more rebellious sweets in Daring Desserts—because dessert isn’t just a treat; it’s an adventure.

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