Mini Strawberry Hand Pies

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These Mini Strawberry Hand Pies are small packets of joy & the perfect dessert for any occasion from a Sunday brunch to a late night dessert craving. They have flaky, buttery layers of pie crust packed with a homemade or store bought strawberry jam. You can even customise them with any other jam flavours of your choice. They are however best made using Unroll’s Shortcrust Pastry Sheets that make the process a lot easier and quicker. They stay good for days and can be easily frozen to preserve for longer durations.

Ingredients you’ll need

Unroll Shortcrust Pastry Sheet: You will need one sheet of homemade or store-bought shortcrust pastry to make these mini pies.
Fresh Strawberries: Fresh and ripe strawberries are best to make a juicy, jammy filling for these hand pies. You will need them sliced and cut into small pieces.
Granulated Sugar: You will need this to make the strawberry filling for these pies. Along with adding sweetness, sugar helps to give the jammy texture to it.
Lemon Juice: I always prefer using homemade lemon juice for its freshness & best natural flavour. However, you can even use store bought one instead if necessary.
Vanilla: You must use a high quality pure vanilla extract in your recipes. This helps to add a rich flavor to your baked goods. Pure vanilla extracts are typically dark brown in color. This enhances the flavor of all ingredients and you should never leave this out.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps to thicken the strawberry jam and bring it to the desired consistency.

FAQ

How to create a lattice design?

Latticed mini pies are strips of dough weaved on top of the filled pies, layered over and under one another to create a beautifully enclosed packet. The holes between the strips allow steam to escape and without them your lattice will separate from your shortcrust pastry base. When making mini pies without a lattice, make sure to cut a small cross on top to allow steam to escape from them and avoiding a disaster!

How to make homemade strawberry jam?

1. While the galette dough is chilling, cut the strawberries into small pieces.
2. Add the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla to a small heavy bottomed saucepan.
3. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until berries start to break down.
4. Turn the heat down to low, and let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Add in the cornstarch and salt and stir it continuously for about 1-2 minutes with a wooden spatula until thickened.
6. Transfer to a bowl and then place in the refrigerator until cool and ready to use.

Can I freeze these pies?

You can freeze these mini pies both before and after baking in airtight containers. I suggest freezing the dough and not latticed pies as they are easier to handle and store. Also, strawberry jam doesn’t always freeze very well. Place these pies in an airtight container. Add a date to them so you don’t forget later & store in the freezer for upto 3 months.

Other pies, tarts & galette recipes you’ll love:

One mini strawberry pie divided into 2 halves on a wire rack on a summer afternoon.

Some other tips to make this recipe:

Make sure your mini hand pies have an air vent to let steam out as they bake in the oven. If there are no vents, the crust can detach from the base and your pies will open up.
Prepare and cool your jam before you start making your pies. Make sure you don’t overcook it.
I highly recommend investing in an oven thermometer and a kitchen scale. Baking at accurate temperatures and weighing your ingredients correctly ensure that you can replicate the recipes perfectly and enjoy the best flavors.

Happy Baking!