No need to go to McDonald’s for an apple pie when you can make these Air Fryer Caramel Apple Hand Pies with homemade glaze right at home! 
Do you love apple and caramel together? If so, these Air Fryer Caramel Apple Hand Pies are the perfect Fall dessert. Made with apple pie filling, a flaky crust, caramel bits, and homemade glaze for an added treat, you’ll never have to go through the drive through again!
Made in the air fryer, these apple pies can be made any time of the year! Whip them up for a special afterschool snack for the kiddos, a quick breakfast option, or an evening dessert. No matter when you make them, they are sure to give everyone a smile!
The Air Fryer is full of possibilities when it comes to cooking and baking! If you love this recipe make sure to try out our Air Fryer Apple Blueberry Crumble, Air Fryer Corn Bread Recipe, or these cute Air Fryer Apple Pie Taquitos.
WHY WE LOVE THIS AIR FRYER CARAMEL APPLE PIE RECIPE
I’ve always been a fan of apple pies of all kinds, but I truly love these air fryer apple hand pies. Here’s why we love these air fryer apple pies:
- They are portable- Warm apples are sealed in a flaky pocket that can easily be taken on the go.
- Simple ingredients- For both the homemade glaze and the apple pies, you only need 6 simple ingredients and some water.
- Quick and easy- Made in your air fryer, these apple pies are quick and easy to whip up making them a perfect go to snack or quick breakfast option.
INGREDIENTS/SHOPPING LIST
- Refrigerated pie crust- Get double crust
- Caramel bits
- Can of apple pie filling
- Powdered sugar
- Whole milk
- Light corn syrup
- Water
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
- Caramel bits- Caramel bits are small pieces of caramel that make it easy to add to the pies. You can leave the caramel bits out if you like. Or, you can use a jar of caramel sauce, but be sure to use only a small amount so it doesn’t run out of the sides of the pie.
- Egg Wash-Hand pies can be washed with an egg wash (one egg + 1 teaspoon of water) before baking for a bit of sheen if you don’t want to add the glaze.
- The filling- You can use homemade apple pie filling instead of a can. Additionally, you can swap out the apples for different pie filling like blueberry or cherry.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Air fryer
- 4-inch fluted (or round) biscuit cutter
- Pastry brush
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES
Before you begin this recipe, make sure that the pie crusts have been set out on the counter for about 30-minutes. You want them to be at room temperature, so that they are pliable. With a bit of prep work and 10-minutes in the air fryer, you’ll have 6 delicious golden brown apple pies!
- First, preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Pro tip: Preheating the air fryer isn’t necessary. The pies may take 1-2 minutes longer to bake if the air fryer isn’t preheated.
- Next, unroll the pie crust onto a lightly floured surface.
- Use a 4-inch fluted (or round) biscuit cutter to cut small rounds from the crust. You should be able to get 5 circles from each crust.
- Gather the scraps together, and roll them out again. Then, cut a total of 7 more crust circles for a total of 12 circles.
- Add a spoonful of caramel bits and a large tablespoon of apple pie filling to the center of half of the crusts (bottom crusts).
- Next, cut 3 slits in the center of each of the top crusts.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the inside of each top crust with water to help it seal.
- Place a top crust over the bottom crust, stretching it over the filling and aligning the edges of the crusts. Press each edge firmly to seal the pies.
- Fold the edges of each pie going all the way around the perimeter.
- Place 4 hand pies into your air fryer basket. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray.
- Air fry the pies for 10-minutes or until they are golden brown.
- While the pies are cooking, make the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup together.
- Finally, place the cooked hand pies onto a cooling rack and brush them with the glaze while they are still warm.
- Let the glaze set until dry to the touch.
- Enjoy!
TIPS
- Do not overfill the pies. If the filling squishes out the edges while you’re trying to seal them, the seal will not hold well during baking.
- Seal the pie crusts. Make sure to securely crimp the pie crust edges together, so the filling doesn’t leak.
- Preheating the air fryer isn’t necessary. The pies may take 1-2 minutes longer to bake if the air fryer isn’t preheated.
- Cut vents in the tops of the pies. You want the steam from cooking to escape, otherwise the excess liquid turns the top crust soggy while causing the filling to get soupy.
STORAGE TIPS
- Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container on the counter.
- Hand pies can be rewarmed in the microwave, toaster oven, or for just a few minutes in the air fryer.
- Or, freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2-months.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you cook frozen apple pies in the air fryer?
Yes, you can! If you have frozen your premade pies, you’ll want to cook them at 350℉ for 15-minutes in your air fryer. Then, increase the temperature to 380℉ and cook for an additional 5-minutes before removing and cooling.
Can I bake hand pies in the oven?
Yes, you can bake these caramel apple hand pies in your oven if you would like. Follow the instructions above, but instead of putting them in the air fryer, bake them in the oven at 400℉ for about 20-minutes or until golden brown.
Can I use fresh apples?
Sure! However, you don’t need to cook them. Just keep them in cold water until you are ready to assemble the pies. Then, coat the apples with sugar, or cinnamon sugar, and place them onto the crust.
OTHER PIE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY
- 1 pkg. refrigerated pie crust double crust
- 1 cup caramel “bits”
- 1 21 oz. can apple pie filling
- Water for brushing crusts
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ⅛ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons light corn syrup
- Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
-
Set out pie crusts about 30 minutes in advance to bring them to room temperature so they will be more pliable for working with.
-
Unroll a crust onto a lightly floured surface. Use a 4-inch fluted (or round) biscuit cutter to cut small rounds from the crust.
-
You should be able to cut 5 circles from each crust, then gather together the scraps, and roll out again. Cut a total of 12 crust circles.
-
Place a spoonful of the caramel bits and then a large tablespoon of the apple pie filling in the center of half of the crusts (6 bottom crusts).
-
Cut three slits in the center of each top crust.
-
To help seal the pie crust halves together, brush the inside of the crusts with water using a pastry brush.
-
Place a top crust over the bottom crust, stretching the top crust over the filling to align the edges of the crusts. Press firmly around the edges to seal the pies.
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Fold up the edges of each hand pie going all the way around the perimeter.
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Place 4 hand pies (or as many as will fit) into the basket of the air fryer. Spray the tops of the hand pies with non-stick cooking spray.
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Cook at 350° for 10 minutes or until the hand pies are golden brown.
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While the pies are cooking, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup until combined into a smooth glaze.
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Place the warm hand pies onto a cooling rack and brush with the glaze while they are still warm. ● Allow the glaze to set until dry to the touch.
Storage:
Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container on the counter. Hand pies can be rewarmed in the microwave, toaster oven, or for just a few minutes in the air fryer.
Notes:
Preheating the air fryer isn’t necessary; the pies may take 1-2 minutes longer to bake if the air fryer isn’t preheated.
Hand pies can be washed with an egg wash (one egg + 1 teaspoon of water) before baking for a bit of sheen if you don’t want to add the glaze.
Do not overfill the pies. If the filling squishes out the edges while you’re trying to seal them, the seal will not hold well during baking.
Hand pies can be made without the caramel filling also. Caramel bits are small pieces of unwrapped caramel that make it easy to add to the hand pies and they also melt more easily. You can also add some caramel sauce or softened caramels to the hand pies. If you use a caramel sauce, be sure to only use a small amount; you don’t want it to run out the sides of the hand pie.
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