Description
These Easy Halloween Hand Pies are a fun and festive treat perfect for the spooky season. Using store-bought pie crust and a sweet berry jam filling, these hand-shaped pastries are simple to make and bake until golden brown. Decorated with sliced almonds as ‘nails’ and a glaze of jam, they are a delightful dessert for Halloween parties or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- All-purpose flour, for rolling out dough
- 1 (14.1-oz.) package store-bought pie crust (2 crusts total)
Filling and Topping
- 1/3 cup raspberry or strawberry jam, plus more for decorating
- 1 large egg, whisked with 1 Tablespoon water (egg wash)
- Sliced almonds (for decorating nails)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll Out Dough and Cut Shapes: Lightly flour your work surface and unroll the pie crusts. Using a sharp knife or a hand-shaped cookie cutter, trace and cut out hand shapes. Arrange half of the hand shapes on the prepared baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Re-roll scraps to cut out additional hands.
- Add Jam Filling: Spoon a small portion of raspberry or strawberry jam into the center of each hand shape on the baking sheets.
- Seal the Pies: Place another hand shape on top of each filled hand, pressing lightly to seal the edges. Use a fork to crimp the edges around the palm area, ensuring the jam is well sealed. Lightly press the edges of the fingers together without crimping since there is no filling there.
- Make Slits for Venting: With a paring knife, carefully make small slits on each finger near the knuckles to allow steam to escape while baking.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the entire surface of the hand pies with the egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through, depending on the size of your pies.
- Decorate: Once baked, remove the pies from the oven. Add a small dollop of jam to the tip of each finger and press sliced almonds into the jam to resemble fingernails.
- Serve or Store: Serve the hand pies immediately while warm, or allow them to cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature for later enjoyment.
Notes
- You can use either raspberry or strawberry jam, or any other berry jam of your choice.
- Ensure the edges of the pies are sealed properly to prevent the jam from leaking during baking.
- If you do not have a hand cookie cutter, you can create a template by tracing your hand on a piece of paper, cutting it out, and using it as a guide.
- The egg wash gives the pies a golden, shiny finish; do not skip this step for best results.
- Sliced almonds add a spooky touch as ‘fingernails’, but you can omit or substitute with other decorations as desired.
- Hand pies are best eaten fresh but can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
