Brown butter and brandy are tossed with crisp apples for a sophisticated fall treat in these Brown Butter Brandy Apple Hand Pies!
My favorite kind of dessert is one that I can enjoy for breakfast the next day.
Take for instance, these apple hand pies. Now if you have ever taken a gander at my Instagram page you may noticed the recurring theme on my feed this month so far has been apples, and it's getting out of control.
Last year it was all about pumpkin spice...this year it's all about apples.
In fact, as I am writing, I feel another apple inspired recipe coming on and if it weren't nearly midnight, I would for sure head into the kitchen and whip up another batch of these delicious hand pies, or some other recipe that involved apples...and caramel. I'm craving caramel now too. So, look out for that recipe coming next. I digress though- which I have a tendency to do.
Back to these hand pies.
Have you ever had a craving for brown butter and brandy? You will now.
I love how these hand pies photographed (all credit goes to the fruit). Now, I'm never one to pat myself on the back, but the dark moody, tones against the vibrant red apples are so beautiful. It's so enchanting and instantly reminds me of Snow White. I'm not sure why exactly my pies remind me of poisoned apples - that's not a good thing at all...but you get my drift. 😉
Also note, I've recently gotten into Once Upon A Time again after taking a long hiatus, and now I'm planning ahead for the weekend fully intending to catch up on missed seasons.
Again, I digress...
This happens to be my first time baking with brown butter. I've heard so much about it, but when things get overly trendy, I have a tendency to avoid it. I'm such a food rebel.
However, I was watching the Food Network and caught a brown butter recipe which served as the inspiration behind this recipe.
With a bushel of apples left on hand, I decided to cloak them in brown butter and a splash of brandy. Then I wrapped the filling in squares of French pastry dough; I sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar and baked until the fruit was oozing from the puffed crust which had turned a beautiful golden hue. Finally, I completed my pies with a simple icing.
Utter perfection graced our palette.
You will love these, and I certainly hope you give them a try this season.
Brown Butter Brandy Apple Hand Pies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Autumn Spice Mix
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon brandy, cognac or calvados
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar
- 1 beaten egg, diluted with a tablespoon of water
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together apples, spice mix, and brandy. Let sit and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter until it bubbles to a golden color, about 7-8 minutes. DO NOT BURN! Pour over the brandied apples and toss.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a well floured surface roll out puff pastry. Using a pizza wheel, cut 8 even squares.
- Brush the edges of each square with the egg wash. Add a heaping tablespoon of the brown butter brandied apples on one half of the pastry square. Fold the other half of tough over and pinch the edges with a fork. Brush each hand pie with the egg wash and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar. With a sharp knife, poke two holes on the top of each pie and place in the oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the fruit filing oozes and the crust is golden.
- Let the hand pies cool slightly before transferring them to a wire rack.
- In the meantime, whisk together icing sugar and cream. Drizzle over each of the hand pies and allow enough time for the icing to set before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
If You Enjoyed Today’s Recipe…
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And those are my Brown Butter Brandy Apple Hand Pies. If you enjoyed this recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!
Happy Baking!
1
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
These look absolutely irresistible- Brown butter seriously is magic.
Thanks Tammy!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
This is your first time baking with brown butter??? Well - your creation is mind blowing! Love the pastry and the filling and you are right - I now crave brown butter and brandy 🙂
Laurence says
Brandy and brown butter are such great components of a dessert. Putting them in those apple hand pies is a great idea. I must try this recipe as soon as possible!
Comedy Plus says
I'll have mine without the booze. Booze and dessert just doesn't go together for me. Other than that I'm game.
Have a fabulous day Tammy. ♥♥♥
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
So now I'm CRAVING one of these delightful glazed apple hand pie, Tammy. Perfect for lunch boxes, midnight snacks, picnics, you name it. Brown butter and brandy, huh? I'm in! Gorgeous apple photos!
Kathi @ Laughing Spatula says
You had me at brown butter and kept me hanging on with the ease of puff pastry sheets! Looks fabulous!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I wish I could reach in and grab one! They look awesome, Tammy.
Manila Spoon says
I want to eat this warm with a dollop of ice cream on top! That would be heaven in a bowl for me - looks so delicious and very doable, too!
Big Daddy Dave says
Tammy, Beautiful little hand held pies! Great recipe... Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Hi Tammy,
Wow! These little pies are fabulous! Love your presentation, it is true the red apples with the black background is eye popping. What is not to like about this recipe. I love your ingredients, but never made anything with brown butter..So I think it is about time I try. I love the way these look and that you can eat them with your hands...no fork or plate is necessary. Love the apples as you know so this one is right up my alley...thanks for sharing yummy..can't wait to try these...Have a great week...
Dottie 🙂
Marcie says
Brown butter, brandy, and apples sound like heaven to me! These hand pies look so gooey and delicious, Catherine! Wish I one. 🙂
gloria says
I love apples dear and these hand pies look delicious 🙂
Hugs !
Liz says
These mini pies look phenomenal, Catherine! Beautifully done!!!
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
Apple hand pie is another of my favorite apple desserts. I just can't get enough of apples right now!
Teresa says
I want them now!!!
Claudia | Gourmet Project says
Apple love! can't wait to try them!!!
Sarah says
Wow! These look delicious! I will definitely have to try these soon!!
Tara | Smells Like Home says
These hand pies are utter fall perfection! Welcome to the brown butter dark side - there's no turning back now! 🙂
Julia (@Imagelicious) says
These hand pies look amazing - flaky pastry, soft and sweet apples! The combination is classic, yet elegant and unique with brandy!
Emily says
I can tell just by this ingredient lists that these are the best hand pies ever!! Puff pastry, cream, apples... YUM!
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
These little pies oozing with apples, brown butter, and brandy sound and look amazing! Such a great combination of flavors!
Sarah @ Sarah's Bake Studio says
These look amazing! I also haven't tried making or eating brown butter recipes. I am very curious though. I would have never thought to combine brown butter and brandy but I love it! I know a lot of people who would love these and I also have a bushel of apples waiting to be baked into something awesome! I think this recipe may be it! I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing. Pinned!
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets says
I love how you show every step, this recipe is totally doable, I am saving this one to my apple desserts recipe board!
Tasha @thatssoyummy says
I think I could eat all of these before they cooled down 🙂
Elaina Newton (@TheRisingSpoon) says
I love Once Upon a Time! It's one of my sort-of-secret indulgences. I thought the Frozen season was the best yet. But moving on to more important things...your hand pies look absolutely fabulous! Apple desserts are my favorite!
Jess says
Holy cow do these ever sound delicious!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Kim~madeinaday says
These sound fabulous! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on Twitter ! Have a great week!
Kim
Lindsey says
Your pictures are gorgeous! And these look delicious, too!
Manila Spoon says
I love this adult version of apple pies - perfect for any fall or winter entertaining! Yummy!
April J Harris says
These look gorgeous, Catherine! What beautiful, delicious pies. Thank you for sharing them with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop.
swathi says
Tammy, this is delicious, I can finish few at a stretch, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Betty says
Looks yummy...Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance says
I'm just Popping by from the What to do Weekends Party to let you know I'm featuring your wonderful Hand Pies over on my blog! I love this kind of recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. 🙂
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegnace
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen