These charming Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are a delightful Halloween treat, combining festive design with delectable fillings. Each pie features a golden, flaky crust paired with your choice of bourbon-infused apple or roasted blackberry filling, delivering a warm and cozy flavor in every bite. Whether you’re making these with family or for a party, the process is a fun, hands-on experience. Kids and adults alike will love decorating the pies with their own jack-o-lantern faces, making this dessert as playful as it is delicious. Perfect for adding a spooky touch to any Halloween gathering!
Full Recipe:
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Ingredients:
- Pie Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 sticks (8oz) unsalted butter, diced and very cold
- 6-9 tablespoons ice water
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar for sprinkling
- Bourbon Apple Filling:
- 2 large honey crisp apples, peeled and diced small
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- Roasted Blackberry Filling:
- 18 oz fresh blackberries
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pie Dough:
-
Directions:
- Make the crust: In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter and mix on low until the texture is coarse with pea-sized butter pieces. Gradually add ice water, mixing until dough forms. Divide in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least one hour.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a pan, brown butter, add apples, then bourbon. Add vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Simmer until syrupy, about 5-7 minutes. Cool.
- Prepare the blackberry filling: Roast blackberries at 400°F for 30 minutes. Simmer roasted berries with sugar and vanilla until thick, about 10 minutes. Cool.
- Roll and cut dough: Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick, cut out pumpkin shapes. Chill cutouts, then carve jack-o-lantern faces on half.
- Assemble pies: Place filling on non-face pumpkins, brush edges with egg, top with face pumpkins, seal with a fork.
- Bake: Brush tops with egg, sprinkle with sugar, and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Cool before serving.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Kcal: 250 kcal | Servings: 12 hand pies
Delightfully Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies for Halloween Festivities
Halloween brings with it a flurry of fun, costumes, and sweet treats that capture the spooky essence of the season. One recipe that has gained popularity, especially among families and Halloween enthusiasts, is the Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pie. These charming little pies are a fun, hands-on treat, perfect for involving the whole family in the baking process. With warm fall flavors and a playful presentation, Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies bring together everything we love about Halloween—creativity, deliciousness, and a touch of the eerie.
Why Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies Are Perfect for Halloween
Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies have become a hit not just for their delicious taste but for their versatility as well. The jack-o-lantern faces are hand-carved on each pie, which means you can customize each one with different expressions, making them as friendly or spooky as you’d like. This customization adds a personalized touch to each pie and ensures every Halloween gathering has treats that are as festive as they are tasty. These hand pies offer more than just flavor—they bring the Halloween spirit right onto your dessert table, inviting everyone to join in the fun.
For families, Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are an ideal choice because they are both simple and engaging to make. Kids can help cut out pumpkin shapes and use small tools or knives to create unique jack-o-lantern faces. It’s a way to keep little hands busy, encourage creativity, and share a bit of laughter along the way. Plus, because these pies are individually portioned, they’re easy to serve at Halloween parties, whether they’re arranged on a spooky dessert table or handed out as grab-and-go treats.
Choosing the Right Filling
The versatility of Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies extends to the choice of filling. Traditionally, these hand pies work well with classic fall flavors like apple or blackberry, and this recipe offers two fantastic options: a bourbon apple filling and a roasted blackberry filling. Each filling complements the flaky pie crust in its own way, and they both offer rich, fruity flavors that are perfect for autumn.
Bourbon Apple Filling: Apples are synonymous with fall, and this bourbon apple filling brings out the best in them. The slight hint of bourbon adds warmth and depth, while brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla provide a cozy sweetness. This filling feels like a classic apple pie in handheld form and pairs perfectly with the flaky, buttery crust. It’s especially ideal for those looking for a comforting and familiar flavor that aligns with traditional autumn tastes.
Roasted Blackberry Filling: For those looking for something a bit more unique, the roasted blackberry filling offers a delightful contrast. Roasting the blackberries before adding sugar and vanilla intensifies their natural sweetness and adds a touch of sophistication. The blackberry filling has a deep, rich color, which contrasts beautifully with the golden crust of the pie. Its slight tartness balances the sweetness of the crust, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a sweet yet tangy treat.
Both fillings offer a delightful surprise with every bite, adding variety to the serving tray and ensuring there’s something for everyone. You can even experiment by adding a bit of spice, like ginger or nutmeg, to complement the fall flavors.
Tips for the Perfect Hand Pie Crust
The crust is the foundation of any great pie, and for hand pies, it’s crucial to get it just right. A good hand pie crust needs to be buttery and flaky while still sturdy enough to hold its shape and support the filling. Here are a few tips to ensure your Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies come out perfectly every time:
- Use Cold Butter: The key to a flaky crust is to use very cold butter. When the butter melts during baking, it creates steam pockets, leading to a light, airy texture. Dice the butter and keep it chilled until you’re ready to add it to the flour mixture.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overworking the dough can make it tough, as it activates the gluten in the flour. Mix the dough just until it comes together, then shape it into a disk and chill it before rolling.
- Chill the Dough Before Rolling and After Cutting Shapes: Allowing the dough to rest and chill at various stages ensures it stays firm, making it easier to handle. Once the pumpkin shapes are cut, chilling them again helps maintain the shape and prevents spreading during baking.
- Use an Egg Wash: An egg wash not only gives the pies a beautiful golden-brown finish but also acts as a glue for sealing the edges of the pies. It’s essential for ensuring the filling stays put inside and doesn’t leak out.
Creating the Iconic Jack-O-Lantern Faces
The jack-o-lantern faces are what make these pies truly special, and this is where you can get creative! Using a small paring knife or cookie cutters with Halloween shapes, carve out eyes, a nose, and a mouth on each pie. You can experiment with different expressions—happy, surprised, spooky, or even goofy. This part of the process is especially fun if you’re making the pies with kids, as they can each create their own unique jack-o-lantern designs.
Once you’ve created the faces, the assembly process involves layering a pumpkin cutout with a jack-o-lantern face on top of one without a face, filling in the middle with your choice of apple or blackberry filling. The layering creates a visually appealing pie with a peek-a-boo effect that’s both charming and festive.
Serving Ideas and Presentation
Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are visually stunning on their own, but a few presentation touches can take them to the next level. For a Halloween gathering, try arranging the pies on a platter lined with fall leaves or spooky Halloween decorations. Serving them with small ramekins of caramel sauce or whipped cream for dipping can also elevate the experience, giving guests a fun way to enjoy their hand pies.
These pies are versatile in their appeal—they work equally well as a quick afternoon treat, a Halloween dessert centerpiece, or a delicious item to add to a dessert table at a festive gathering. They can be served warm or at room temperature, making them an easy option for parties or gatherings where you might not have access to an oven.
Why Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies Are a Must-Try Halloween Treat
Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are more than just a delicious dessert; they’re a way to celebrate the season and get into the Halloween spirit. The playful jack-o-lantern faces add an element of fun, while the rich flavors of the filling and flaky crust offer a taste of comfort and nostalgia. Halloween can be an exciting time to try new recipes and engage in creative projects, and these hand pies strike the perfect balance between culinary creativity and festive flair.
Whether you’re making these pies for a Halloween party, a family gathering, or simply to enjoy a festive baking project, they’re sure to impress. Not only are they a hit with kids, but they’re also loved by adults who appreciate the nostalgic flavors and artistic presentation. With options for both apple and blackberry fillings, you can cater to a range of tastes and add variety to your Halloween treats.
Conclusion:
Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are a fantastic way to celebrate Halloween with a homemade treat that’s as tasty as it is fun to make. They combine the warmth and flavor of a classic pie with the whimsy of Halloween, creating a dessert that’s both nostalgic and novel. The flexibility to customize fillings, the opportunity for hands-on creativity with the jack-o-lantern faces, and the ease of serving make these hand pies a standout choice for any Halloween occasion.
So this Halloween, embrace the spirit of the season by baking up a batch of these adorable, festive hand pies. They’re a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to leave a lasting impression on friends, family, and guests alike, making them a must-have addition to your Halloween baking repertoire.
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Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Description
These charming Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies are a delightful Halloween treat, combining festive design with delectable fillings. Each pie features a golden, flaky crust paired with your choice of bourbon-infused apple or roasted blackberry filling, delivering a warm and cozy flavor in every bite. Whether you’re making these with family or for a party, the process is a fun, hands-on experience. Kids and adults alike will love decorating the pies with their own jack-o-lantern faces, making this dessert as playful as it is delicious. Perfect for adding a spooky touch to any Halloween gathering!
Ingredients
- Pie Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 sticks (8oz) unsalted butter, diced and very cold
- 6–9 tablespoons ice water
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar for sprinkling
- Bourbon Apple Filling:
- 2 large honey crisp apples, peeled and diced small
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons bourbon whiskey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- Roasted Blackberry Filling:
- 18 oz fresh blackberries
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the crust: In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter and mix on low until the texture is coarse with pea-sized butter pieces. Gradually add ice water, mixing until dough forms. Divide in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least one hour.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a pan, brown butter, add apples, then bourbon. Add vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Simmer until syrupy, about 5-7 minutes. Cool.
- Prepare the blackberry filling: Roast blackberries at 400°F for 30 minutes. Simmer roasted berries with sugar and vanilla until thick, about 10 minutes. Cool.
- Roll and cut dough: Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick, cut out pumpkin shapes. Chill cutouts, then carve jack-o-lantern faces on half.
- Assemble pies: Place filling on non-face pumpkins, brush edges with egg, top with face pumpkins, seal with a fork.
- Bake: Brush tops with egg, sprinkle with sugar, and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Cool before serving.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
