Apple Walnut Hand Pies

Description

These mini apple pies are filled with fresh apples and dried cranberries, making them a perfect holiday dessert. Cooking them in an air fryer makes the pastry crisp and flakey.

Ingredients

Filling

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 large Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• 2/3 cup chopped California walnuts
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons dried cranberries
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Crust

• 1 box refrigerated pie dough
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped California walnuts
• Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

1. To prepare filling, melt butter in a large nonstick skillet. Add apples and cook for 10 minutes or until soft. Add walnuts, brown sugar, cranberries and cinnamon and cook for a few minutes more. Set aside to cool.
2. Unroll each pie dough on a very lightly floured board and sprinkle with walnuts. Gather into a ball and knead several times to incorporate walnuts into dough.
3. Roll into an 11-inch circle and cut into circles about 4 1/2-inches in diameter. Re-roll scraps and repeat to make 10 circles. Using your fingertips, coat the outside of each circle with water.
4. Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of apple mixture into the center of each pastry circle . Bring up 2 edges and pinch the edges to seal in the filling. Crimp firmly with a fork and coat with cooking spray.
5. Preheat an air fryer set to 350°F for 3 minutes. Cook for 10 minutes or until pies are a light golden brown.
6. Replace apples with 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced ripe pears and prepare as directed above, melting the butter before adding to the pears.