Easy & Delicious Blueberry Hand Pies: Simple Recipe for a Quick Dessert

There’s something incredibly charming about a hand pie. These delightful miniature desserts offer all the flavor of a classic pie in a perfectly portioned, portable package. While traditional pie-making can often feel like a daunting task, this recipe for blueberry hand pies simplifies the process dramatically by leveraging the convenience of a refrigerated pie crust. It’s an incredibly fun and easy way to create a treat that’s ideal for a quick indulgence, a sweet snack, or a delightful addition to any gathering.

Imagine biting into a golden, flaky crust that yields to a warm, sweet, and slightly tart blueberry filling, all without the fuss of rolling out homemade dough or wrestling with a full-sized pie. These hand pies are not only delicious but also fantastic for managing dessert portions, ensuring everyone gets their own little slice of heaven. If you’re a fan of nostalgic treats, these might even remind you of those beloved Hostess goodies from years gone by. You might also love our cherry hand pies for another fantastic flavor variation.

The Charm of 4-Ingredient Blueberry Hand Pies

Finding recipes that require less than five ingredients can be a real game-changer, especially when you’re craving something sweet but short on time. A classic blueberry pie, while utterly delicious, often demands a significant time commitment, particularly if you prefer to make your dough from scratch. Life’s busy moments don’t always allow for such culinary endeavors, and that’s precisely where clever shortcuts come into play.

RELATED: If you enjoy easy, sweet treats, you might also like these recipes: Homemade Pop Tarts or Blackberry Scones.

This particular recipe stands out because it delivers incredible flavor with minimal effort, thanks to just four simple ingredients. The beauty of these hand pies is their versatility; while we’re focusing on blueberries here, you can easily adapt the recipe for any pie filling flavor you adore. With such a straightforward ingredient list, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong!

When we first made these hand pies, they were an absolute hit! Guests and family members raved about them, and no one would have ever guessed that they were made with less than five ingredients. It’s truly a fantastic recipe to keep in your culinary repertoire for those times when you need a quick yet impressive dessert. They’re wonderfully decadent for an indulgent breakfast, a delightful brunch item, or a perfectly sweet finish to any meal.

Essential Ingredients for Your Blueberry Hand Pies

The magic of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a handful of readily available ingredients to create these delightful treats. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

• ¾ cup blueberry pie filling: Opt for a good quality canned filling to save time, or make your own from fresh blueberries if you have extra time.
• Refrigerated pie crust: Most boxes contain two crusts, which is perfect for this recipe as you’ll need both. This is the ultimate shortcut that makes this recipe so quick and easy.
• 4 tablespoons powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this forms the base of our simple, sweet glaze.
• 1 tablespoon milk: Used to thin the powdered sugar into a smooth, drizzly glaze. Any type of milk (dairy or non-dairy) will work.

Helpful kitchen tools:

Having the right tools can make the baking process even smoother. While not all are strictly necessary, they certainly help achieve the best results:

• Insulated baking sheet: Helps prevent the bottom of your pies from burning and ensures even baking.
• Parchment paper: Essential for preventing sticking and making cleanup a breeze.
• Cooling rack: Allows air to circulate around the pies for even cooling and helps the glaze set properly.
• Waxed paper: Placed under the cooling rack, it catches any excess glaze, keeping your countertop clean.
• 3 ¾ inch drinking glass or a biscuit cutter: For cutting perfect circles from your pie dough. A drinking glass of the right size works wonderfully as a substitute.
• Pastry brush: Ideal for evenly applying the glaze over your cooled hand pies.

How to Make Blueberry Hand Pies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making these hand pies is a straightforward process, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Follow these simple steps for delicious results:

First, begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the oven heats up, line an insulated baking sheet with parchment paper. This preparation ensures even baking and easy release of your pies.

1. Prepare the Crust Circles: Unroll your refrigerated pie dough sheets. Using a 3 ¾-inch drinking glass or a biscuit cutter, cut out circles from the dough. A paring knife can be used to trace around the glass for clean cuts.
2. Add the Filling: Take one dough circle and spoon approximately 1 ½ tablespoons of blueberry pie filling into its center. Be careful not to overfill, leaving a small border around the edge.
3. Seal the Pies: Place a second crust circle directly over the filled one. Using the tines of a fork, firmly crimp the edges of both crusts together all around the perimeter. This creates a decorative seal and prevents the filling from leaking out during baking.
4. Vent and Repeat: Cut two small slits into the top of each pie. These vents allow steam to escape, preventing the pies from puffing up excessively and ensuring a crispier crust. Repeat these steps for all remaining pies. If necessary, use a separate baking sheet to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to uneven baking.

5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking sheet with the hand pies into the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the crusts are beautifully light golden brown and appear flaky. Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent over-browning.
6. Cooling Time: Once baked, carefully remove the hand pies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about five minutes to allow them to firm up slightly. After this initial cooling, transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy.
7. Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar with half of the milk. Stir well until smooth. Gradually add the remaining milk, dribbling in small amounts at a time, and continue mixing until the glaze reaches a thick yet drizzling consistency. You want it to be thick enough to cling to the pies but still flow smoothly.
8. Glaze and Serve: Place a sheet of waxed paper directly underneath your cooling rack to catch any drips. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the prepared glaze over the tops of the completely cooled hand pies. Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes until it hardens slightly. Once the glaze is set, your delicious blueberry hand pies are ready to be served and enjoyed!

Baking Tips for Perfect Hand Pies

Achieving perfectly baked hand pies is easier than you think, especially with a few helpful pointers:

• Cutter Size Matters: If you’re using a biscuit cutter, its size might vary. Aim for a cutter as close to 3 ¾ inches as possible to get the same yield as this recipe. Using a 3 ¾-inch drinking glass for cutting, we typically get 18 circles, which makes 9 individual hand pies. Each refrigerated pie crust usually yields about 7 circles. Don’t waste the scraps! Gently re-roll them to get additional circles until all dough is used.
• Two-Ingredient Option: For an even simpler treat, you can completely skip the glaze! The pies are still wonderfully delicious on their own, offering a delightful two-ingredient dessert experience.
• Preventing Soggy Bottoms: Ensure your oven is fully preheated. Also, transferring the pies to a cooling rack after the initial five minutes on the baking sheet is crucial for preventing condensation and keeping the crust crisp.
• Even Browning: If your oven tends to cook unevenly, rotate your baking sheet halfway through the baking time. An insulated baking sheet can also help prevent the bottoms from getting too dark.

Explore More Hand Pie Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and deliciousness of mini hand pies, there’s a whole world of flavors to explore! They make for fantastic portion-controlled desserts or fun snacks. Here are a few more hand pie recipes you might enjoy trying:

• Peach Hand Pies: Sweet and juicy, perfect for summer.
• Apple Hand Pies: A comforting classic, ideal for fall.
• Pumpkin Hand Pies: A festive treat for the holiday season.
• Lemon Blueberry Hand Pies: A zesty twist on our current favorite.
• Valentine Cherry Hand Pies: Heart-shaped and delightful for special occasions.

More Recipes with Less Than 5 Ingredients

The beauty of this blueberry hand pie recipe is its minimalist ingredient list, making it ideal for busy schedules or when you want something delicious without a pantry full of items. If you appreciate the simplicity and speed of recipes with fewer than five ingredients, you’ll be thrilled to discover more such options. These quick recipes are perfect for last-minute meal decisions, unexpected guests, or simply when you want to whip up something tasty without a lot of fuss. I truly hope you enjoy them, and please let me know if you give them a try!

Here are a few more fantastic recipes that require fewer than five ingredients:

• 3-Ingredient Cherry Cupcakes: Surprisingly easy and satisfyingly sweet.
• 3-Ingredient Quick Pasta Salad: A perfect side dish for any meal.
• 3-Ingredient French Vanilla Peach Cobbler: A warm and comforting dessert in minutes.
• McDonalds Cherry Pie Copycat: Recreate a fast-food favorite at home.

This post originally appeared here on Sep 14, 2014.