Easy Blueberry Hand Pies
Get ready to fall in love with these easy blueberry hand pies, featuring a jammy blueberry filling wrapped in a perfectly crisp buttery crust. All made simple thanks to store-bought puff pastry! These hand pies filled with blueberries make me smile whenever we make them! My family loves blueberry pie, and the fact that this recipe turns it into a handheld experience is seriously the best! I keep these super easy with store-bought puff pastry, making them a little lighter and airier than if you swap it for traditional pie crust (which is an option, by the way). I love fresh blueberries in these pies, but I’ve shared tips for swapping them for frozen blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and strawberries below! For more pie inspired recipes, try our apple pie cupcakes, made with a base of cinnamon roll dough (I know!). Or, for another blueberry recipe, see this easy blueberry crumble! Key Ingredients Store-Bought Puff Pastry: Puff pastry is the secret to these easy individual hand pies. It is made with multiple layers of dough separated by butter. When you bake it, the butter puffs and lifts the layers of dough above it. That’s why puff pastry becomes so flaky. I used Pepperidge Farm in the photos, but use what you have available! You can also substitute it with homemade pie crust (no changes necessary). Blueberries: I love fresh blueberries (especially during the summer when they are in season). You can also use frozen berries in our recipe (tips for this are in the recipe). Or substitute for other berries or cherries. Sugar: I don’t like the filling to be too sweet, but I add a little sugar to help make that jammy texture. Granulated sugar or coconut sugar is perfect. If you have some, sprinkle coarse sugar over the dough before baking (or use more granulated sugar). Cornstarch: This thickens the filling nicely. For fresh fruit, use 2 tablespoons to 2 cups of fruit. If you have frozen, increase by 1/2 tablespoon. Lemon Juice, Salt, and Almond Extract: These make our filling taste incredible. I love the almond extract (and also call for it in my homemade blueberry pie), but you can leave it out if you don’t have any on hand. Egg Wash: I love these hand pies with a shiny, golden exterior, so I brush a little egg wash with an egg yolk and cream over them before baking. Store-Bought Puff Pastry: Puff pastry is the secret to these easy individual hand pies. It is made with multiple layers of dough separated by butter. When you bake it, the butter puffs and lifts the layers of dough above it. That’s why puff pastry becomes so flaky. I used Pepperidge Farm in the photos, but use what you have available! You can also substitute it with homemade pie crust (no changes necessary). Blueberries: I love fresh blueberries (especially during the summer when they are in season). You can also use frozen berries in our recipe (tips for this are in the recipe). Or substitute for other berries or cherries. Sugar: I don’t like the filling to be too sweet, but I add a little sugar to help make that jammy texture. Granulated sugar or coconut sugar is perfect. If you have some, sprinkle coarse sugar over the dough before baking (or use more granulated sugar). Cornstarch: This thickens the filling nicely. For fresh fruit, use 2 tablespoons to 2 cups of fruit. If you have frozen, increase by 1/2 tablespoon. Lemon Juice, Salt, and Almond Extract: These make our filling taste incredible. I love the almond extract (and also call for it in my homemade blueberry pie), but you can leave it out if you don’t have any on hand. Egg Wash: I love these hand pies with a shiny, golden exterior, so I brush a little egg wash with an egg yolk and cream over them before baking. Easy Blueberry Hand Pies PREP 30 mins COOK 20 mins TOTAL 50 mins PREP 30 mins COOK 20 mins TOTAL 50 mins These blueberry hand pies are perfect when you want pie but don’t have the time to make a whole pie! We use store-bought puff pastry dough for these, which makes them extra easy. Before making these, make sure that your puff pastry is thawed according to the package directions. I usually take them out of the freezer and place them into the fridge overnight. Makes 8 You Will Need 1 (17.3oz) package puff pastry sheets, thawed, 2 sheets puff pastry 2 cups fresh blueberries 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar 2 tablespoons (14g) cornstarch 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, optional 1 egg yolk 1 tablespoon cream Coarse sugar or extra granulated sugar for topping pies Directions 1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 2Prepare blueberry filling: Combine blueberries, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and the optional 1/8 teaspoon of almond extract in a saucepan over medium heat. 3Cook, stirring often, until the liquid at the bottom comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until it thickens. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature (to speed this up, stir it occasionally and place into the refrigerator). 4Make egg wash: Whisk an egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cream in a small bowl. Set aside. 5Prepare pie crusts: When the filling is mostly cooled down. Unfold one of the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut into four 6-inch squares. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet. Transfer pastry squares to the baking sheets. 6Assemble hand pies: Divide the filling between the pastry squares, placing it onto one-half of each pastry square. Spoon any liquid accumulated on the bottom of the bowl over blueberries. 7Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash, fold the half of pastry without filling over blueberries then use a fork to press edges and seal. Brush the tops with more egg wash and top them with a sprinkle of sugar. Cut two 1-inch slits into the top of each pie. 8Bake pies: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown and the filling is bubbling out of the slits on top. (Don’t worry. Plenty of filling is left inside.) Cool the hand pies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely. 1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 2Prepare blueberry filling: Combine blueberries, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and the optional 1/8 teaspoon of almond extract in a saucepan over medium heat. 3Cook, stirring often, until the liquid at the bottom comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until it thickens. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature (to speed this up, stir it occasionally and place into the refrigerator). 4Make egg wash: Whisk an egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cream in a small bowl. Set aside. 5Prepare pie crusts: When the filling is mostly cooled down. Unfold one of the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut into four 6-inch squares. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet. Transfer pastry squares to the baking sheets. 6Assemble hand pies: Divide the filling between the pastry squares, placing it onto one-half of each pastry square. Spoon any liquid accumulated on the bottom of the bowl over blueberries. 7Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash, fold the half of pastry without filling over blueberries then use a fork to press edges and seal. Brush the tops with more egg wash and top them with a sprinkle of sugar. Cut two 1-inch slits into the top of each pie. 8Bake pies: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown and the filling is bubbling out of the slits on top. (Don’t worry. Plenty of filling is left inside.) Cool the hand pies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely. Adam and Joanne's Tips Storing: Once cool, store the hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Using frozen blueberries: You can use frozen blueberries in this recipe. Add them frozen, but increase the cornstarch by 1/2 tablespoon (so use 2 ½ tablespoons total). Using cherries, strawberries, or blackberries: Use 2 cups of fresh blackberries, pitted and halved cherries, or chopped fresh strawberries. You may need to increase the sugar by 1 tablespoon for blackberries unless they are very ripe and sweet. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Storing: Once cool, store the hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Using frozen blueberries: You can use frozen blueberries in this recipe. Add them frozen, but increase the cornstarch by 1/2 tablespoon (so use 2 ½ tablespoons total). Using cherries, strawberries, or blackberries: Use 2 cups of fresh blackberries, pitted and halved cherries, or chopped fresh strawberries. You may need to increase the sugar by 1 tablespoon for blackberries unless they are very ripe and sweet. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 Hand Pie / Calories 396 / Total Fat 24g / Saturated Fat 6.2g / Cholesterol 24.1mg / Sodium 188.5mg / Carbohydrate 40.9g / Dietary Fiber 1.8g / Total Sugars 10.5g / Protein 5.1g AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us Previous Post: Perfect Ricotta Gnocchi Next Post: Homemade Berry Tart