Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies (Printable Version)
Flaky hand pies filled with strawberry jam, shaped into hearts. Perfect for romantic occasions or festive celebrations.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/3 cup ice water
→ Filling
06 - 3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam
07 - 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, finely diced
→ Assembly
08 - 1 large egg
09 - 1 tablespoon water
10 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar for sprinkling
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in using a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
02 - Gradually add ice water while stirring just until dough begins to come together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead gently, and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
03 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
04 - In a small bowl, mix strawberry jam with diced fresh strawberries until evenly combined.
05 - On a floured surface, roll out chilled dough to approximately 1/8 inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter measuring 3 to 4 inches, cut out 16 hearts total.
06 - Place 8 dough hearts on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of strawberry filling onto the center of each heart, maintaining a half-inch border.
07 - Brush the edges of filled hearts with beaten egg mixed with water. Top each with a remaining heart and press edges firmly to seal. Crimp perimeter with a fork to create decorative pattern.
08 - Brush the top surface of each pie with egg wash and sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.
09 - Using a sharp knife, cut a small slit in the top center of each pie to allow steam to escape during baking.
10 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- These hand pies use cold butter that creates those magical flaky layers that shatter delicately when you take that first bite.
- The combination of store-bought jam with fresh strawberries gives you that perfect balance of convenience and homemade flavor without hours of cooking down fruit.
02 -
- If your kitchen is warm, place your cutting board and rolling pin in the freezer for 15 minutes before rolling out the dough to keep everything cold.
- The small steam vent in the top isnt just decorative, its essential for preventing the filling from building up steam and bursting through the seams.
03 -
- If your dough tears when youre assembling the pies, dont panic just patch it with a small piece of dough from the scraps and press gently to seal.
- For the shiniest, most golden crust, brush with egg wash twice once before adding the sugar and again lightly over the sugar.