Description

Tender, flaky puff pastry pockets filled with warm, cinnamon-kissed apples and drizzled with homemade salted caramel. A quick, 15-minute prep dessert perfect for holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted (for brushing)
Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons butter (for sautéing)
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ cup heavy cream, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir until melted and bubbly, simmering for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat and carefully stir in heavy cream (it will bubble), then add vanilla and flaky sea salt. Whisk until smooth and set aside to cool and thicken.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add diced apples and sauté for 5-7 minutes until tender but holding shape.
Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Cook for 1 minute, then remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unroll puff pastry onto a floured surface and cut each sheet into 4 squares (8 total).
Place a heaping tablespoon of cooled apple filling in the center of each square.
Brush edges with water, fold over to form a triangle or square, and press edges firmly to seal. Crimp with a fork and cut a small slit in the top for steam.
Brush tops with melted butter and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then drizzle with salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with coarse sea salt before serving.

Notes

Keep pastry cold to ensure flakiness. Ensure apple filling is completely cool before assembling to prevent soggy bottoms. Caramel can be thinned in the microwave if too thick. Unbaked pies can be frozen and baked later, adding 2-3 minutes to bake time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 hand pie
Calories: 280
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 180
Fat: 16
Saturated Fat: 9
Carbohydrates: 32
Fiber: 2
Protein: 3

Keywords: fall dessert, apple hand pies, salted caramel, puff pastry, holiday baking, quick dessert, grandma recipe