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Southern Fried Apple Hand Pies filled with cinnamon apple filling in flaky crust.

Southern Fried Apple Hand Pies

These cozy and sweet Southern Fried Apple Hand Pies offer a classic dessert experience with a crunchy exterior and warm, cinnamon-infused apple filling, perfect for snacks or gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 pieces
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 200

Ingredients
  

Apple Filling
  • 3-4 medium apples, peeled and diced Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady preferred.
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar Adjust to taste.
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar Optional but adds flavor.
  • 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon For flavoring the filling.
  • 1 pinch salt Enhances sweetness.
  • 2 tablespoons butter For cooking the apple mixture.
  • 1 tablespoon flour For thickening the filling.
  • 1 splash vanilla Optional for extra flavor.
Dough and Frying
  • 1 package pie dough or biscuit dough Store-bought is fine for convenience.
  • as needed cups oil for frying Vegetable or peanut oil works well.
  • as needed tablespoons powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar For finishing the pies.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add diced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
  2. Sprinkle flour over the softened apples and stir well. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the filling thickens. Adjust with water if it appears too dry or too soupy. Remove from heat and cool the filling.
Assembly
  1. Roll out the dough and cut into circles or rectangles, as preferred.
  2. Place a spoonful of the apple filling on half of each dough piece, leaving a border. Brush the edges lightly with water, then fold over and press the edges with a fork to seal.
Cooking
  1. Heat oil in a deep pan to about 350°F. If you don't have a thermometer, test with a small piece of dough; it should bubble and float.
  2. Fry the pies in small batches for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
Finishing
  1. Drain the fried pies on a cooling rack or paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar or roll in cinnamon sugar while still warm before serving.

Notes

These hand pies can be frozen either before or after frying. When frozen, fry directly from frozen or reheat baked pies at 350°F.