If you love homemade desserts that look impressive without requiring complicated pastry skills, American Hand Pies are a wonderful recipe to try. These small, golden pastries combine a flaky crust with a warm apple filling, making them an easy choice for breakfast, afternoon tea, dessert or a casual family treat.
Meghan Markle has brought attention to this comforting style of baking through her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. Netflix’s official Tudum recipe for the apple hand pies shown in the series uses Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and puff pastry. The recipe produces six individual pies and relies on chilling the filling and pastry to help create a neat, crisp finish.
This homemade version keeps the process approachable while explaining the important baking techniques behind the recipe. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced home baker, the following guide walks you through the ingredients, preparation, baking process, storage advice and useful troubleshooting tips.
Key Takeaways
- These American Hand Pies are inspired by the apple hand pies featured in With Love, Meghan.
- The filling combines tart Granny Smith apples with brown sugar, cinnamon and fresh lemon juice.
- Store-bought puff pastry makes the recipe considerably easier and quicker.
- Cooling the apple filling before assembly helps prevent the pastry from becoming soft.
- Keeping the pastry cold makes cutting, folding and sealing the pies easier.
- A fork-crimped edge gives the pies a classic homemade appearance while helping keep the filling inside.
- The pies are baked at 400°F until puffed and golden, which takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes in the official recipe.
What Are American Hand Pies?
American Hand Pies are individual pastries made by enclosing a sweet or savory filling inside dough or pastry. Unlike a traditional large pie, each portion is small enough to hold in your hand, making these pastries particularly convenient for snacks, picnics, lunch boxes and casual desserts.
Hand pies can be made with many different fillings, including apples, cherries, blueberries, peaches and savory ingredients. The format is also flexible: they can be baked or, depending on the recipe, fried.
For Meghan Markle’s apple-inspired version, the filling is cooked before it is placed inside the pastry. This step softens the apples and reduces excess moisture, while cornstarch helps thicken the mixture. Netflix's published recipe then uses chilled puff pastry, egg wash and turbinado sugar before baking the pies until golden.
Meghan Markle’s Apple Hand Pies Recipe
This recipe follows the ingredient proportions and core preparation method published by Netflix Tudum for the apple hand pies featured in With Love, Meghan. The official recipe yields six pies.
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely diced
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- Optional: freshly grated ginger, according to taste
- Optional: a small pinch of cayenne pepper
For the Pastry
- 1 sheet of store-bought puff pastry, thawed but kept cold
- 1 large egg
- A splash of milk
- Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
The ingredient list above follows Netflix Tudum's published recipe. The optional ginger and cayenne are included in the original recipe as flavor additions rather than required ingredients.
Why Granny Smith Apples Work So Well
Granny Smith apples are a particularly useful choice for baked apple desserts because their tart flavor balances the sweetness of brown sugar. They also retain a pleasant texture after cooking rather than immediately turning into a completely smooth puree.
For the best texture, cut the apples into small, relatively even pieces. Smaller pieces cook more consistently and make it easier to spoon the filling into the pastry without creating large gaps.
How to Make Meghan Markle’s American Hand Pies
1. Prepare the Apple Filling
Start by melting the unsalted butter in a shallow saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice. If you enjoy a little extra warmth in the filling, add the optional ginger or a tiny pinch of cayenne.
Cook the mixture for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples should soften while much of the liquid reduces. You want a thick, spoonable filling rather than a watery mixture.
2. Thicken the Filling
Mix the cornstarch with one tablespoon of water in a small bowl to create a smooth slurry. Add this mixture to the cooked apples while stirring.
Continue cooking for about two minutes. The cornstarch should help the filling become thicker. Once it reaches a jammy consistency, remove the pan from the heat.
Do not rush the cooling stage. A hot filling can soften the pastry and make the pies harder to seal.
3. Cool the Apple Mixture
Allow the filling to cool to room temperature. Then cover it and refrigerate it for about 25 minutes.
This is one of the most useful techniques in the recipe. Cold filling is easier to control when assembling the pastry, while chilled pastry is less likely to become sticky or difficult to handle.
4. Prepare the Puff Pastry
Lightly flour your work surface and gently roll the cold puff pastry until smooth and approximately 1/8 inch thick.
Use a round cutter measuring about 4 1/2 inches to cut six circles. Place the pastry rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet and keep them cold while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
If the pastry begins to feel soft, return it to the refrigerator for a few minutes. Working with cold pastry is especially important when using puff pastry because excessive warmth can make it difficult to cut and shape cleanly.
5. Fill and Fold the Pies
Place about one to two heaping teaspoons of the chilled apple filling in the center of each pastry circle. Avoid overfilling because excess filling can squeeze out when you fold the pastry.
Whisk the egg with a splash of milk to make an egg wash. Lightly brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash, then fold each circle over to create a half-moon shape.
Press the edges together and use a fork to crimp and seal the border. This creates the familiar decorative edge associated with homemade hand pies.
6. Add the Finishing Touches
Make two or three small slits in the top of each pie. These openings give steam a way to escape during baking.
Brush the tops with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. The egg wash encourages a glossy golden surface, while the coarse sugar provides a subtle crunch.
7. Bake Until Golden
Preheat your oven to 400°F (about 200°C). Bake the pies for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and beautifully golden.
Once baked, allow the pastries to cool for around 10 minutes before serving. The filling will be extremely hot immediately after baking, so this short resting period also makes them easier and safer to enjoy.
Netflix Tudum lists a yield of six pies and gives a baking time of approximately 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F.
Best Baking Tips for American Hand Pies
Keep the Pastry Cold
Cold pastry is easier to roll, cut and fold. If your kitchen is warm or the pastry starts sticking to the work surface, place it back in the refrigerator before continuing.
Do Not Overfill the Pastry
It can be tempting to add extra apple filling, but too much filling can prevent the edges from sealing properly. A smaller amount in the center usually produces a cleaner hand pie.
Cool the Filling Completely
This is one of the most important preparation steps. Warm filling can soften the pastry before it reaches the oven and may cause the filling to leak during baking.
Seal the Edges Properly
Press the edges firmly and crimp them with a fork. Check each pie before baking to make sure there are no obvious gaps.
Always Vent the Tops
Small slits allow steam to escape. Without adequate venting, pressure can build inside the pastry and cause the filling or pastry to break through weak spots.
Watch the Final Minutes
Ovens vary, so the clock should not be your only guide. Look for pastry that is puffed and evenly golden. If your pies are browning particularly quickly, check them before the end of the suggested baking window.
What Do Meghan Markle’s Hand Pies Taste Like?
The combination of tart apples, brown sugar and cinnamon creates a familiar apple-pie flavor in a much smaller format. Lemon juice adds brightness, while butter gives the filling a richer taste.
The puff pastry provides a light, flaky exterior rather than the heavier crust associated with some traditional double-crust pies. The turbinado sugar on top adds a delicate crunch that contrasts nicely with the soft apple center.
The optional ginger can make the filling taste warmer and more aromatic, while a tiny amount of cayenne can add subtle heat without turning the dessert into a spicy pastry.
Can You Make the Recipe Ahead?
Yes. One of the advantages of hand pies is that much of the preparation can be organized in advance. The apple filling can be cooked and cooled before you assemble the pastries.
If you are preparing the pies for guests, keeping the pastry and filling chilled until assembly can make the process easier. The key is to avoid allowing the assembled pastries to sit at room temperature for too long before baking.
Hand pies are also convenient for serving because each pastry is already individually portioned. That makes them suitable for brunch tables, afternoon gatherings, picnics and casual dessert spreads.
How to Store Leftover Hand Pies
Allow baked pies to cool before storing them. Keep them in an airtight container and follow standard food-safety practices for the ingredients used.
For the best pastry texture, reheating is generally preferable to eating a refrigerated pastry completely cold. A brief warm-up in the oven can help restore some of the crispness of the pastry.
Avoid sealing very hot pies inside a container because trapped steam can make the pastry lose its crisp texture.
Easy Variations to Try
Once you are comfortable with the basic method, the filling can be adapted to suit different seasons and preferences.
- Apple and ginger: Increase the fresh ginger for a warmer, more aromatic filling.
- Apple and pecan: Add finely chopped toasted pecans for extra texture.
- Apple and cranberry: A small amount of dried cranberry can provide a tart contrast.
- Peach: Replace the apple filling with a properly thickened peach mixture.
- Cherry: A cherry filling creates a colorful alternative with a classic American dessert profile.
Other hand-pie recipes demonstrate just how versatile the format can be, with both sweet and savory fillings appearing in traditional and modern versions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using hot filling: This can make the pastry soft and difficult to seal.
- Overfilling: Too much filling can cause leaks.
- Skipping the vents: Steam needs an escape route.
- Working with warm pastry: Chilled puff pastry is much easier to handle.
- Skipping the egg wash: The wash helps create the attractive golden finish.
- Cutting immediately after baking: The filling needs a few minutes to settle and cool.
Nutrition Information
The official Netflix Tudum recipe does not provide a nutrition panel for these apple hand pies. Therefore, the following figures should be treated as a rough estimate rather than laboratory-tested nutritional information. Actual values can vary significantly depending on the puff pastry brand, apple size, sugar amount and serving size.
| Nutrient | Estimated Amount Per Pie |
|---|---|
| Calories | Approximately 300–380 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | Approximately 40–50 g |
| Protein | Approximately 4–6 g |
| Fat | Approximately 14–20 g |
| Saturated Fat | Approximately 7–10 g |
| Fiber | Approximately 2–4 g |
| Sugars | Approximately 20–30 g |
Nutrition values are estimates for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or dietary advice.
Why This Recipe Is Worth Trying
The appeal of American Hand Pies is that they deliver the familiar comfort of a classic fruit pie without requiring a full-size pie dish. Each pastry is easy to portion, easy to serve and simple enough for a relaxed baking project.
Meghan Markle's version is especially approachable because the published recipe uses store-bought puff pastry rather than requiring a homemade pastry dough. That shortcut reduces preparation time while still giving the finished dessert a flaky, bakery-style appearance.
The method also teaches several useful baking principles: controlling moisture in fruit fillings, chilling pastry, sealing filled dough, venting steam and using egg wash for browning. These techniques can be applied to many other pastry recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of apples are used in Meghan Markle’s recipe?
The published recipe uses four Granny Smith apples. They are peeled, cored and diced before being cooked with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt.
How many pies does the recipe make?
The official recipe makes six individual apple hand pies using 4 1/2-inch pastry circles.
Can I use homemade pie dough instead of puff pastry?
Yes. A traditional pie dough can be used for a different texture, although the finished pastry will not have exactly the same light, layered character as puff pastry.
Can I leave out the cayenne pepper?
Yes. Cayenne is listed as an optional ingredient in the published recipe. If you prefer a completely classic apple-pie flavor, simply omit it.
Why does the apple filling need cornstarch?
Cornstarch helps thicken the liquid released by the apples during cooking. This creates a more manageable filling and can help reduce excessive moisture inside the pastry.
Why should the pastry stay cold?
Cold pastry is easier to handle and shape. With puff pastry, keeping the dough chilled also helps maintain its structure before it enters the hot oven.
Final Thoughts
These American Hand Pies offer a simple way to bring a polished homemade dessert to the table without making a traditional full-size pie. The combination of spiced apples, flaky puff pastry and crunchy turbinado sugar makes them both attractive and comforting.
The recipe is also a good example of how a few practical techniques can make home baking more successful. Cook the filling until it thickens, cool it completely, keep the pastry chilled, avoid overfilling, seal the edges firmly and give the pies enough time to brown in the oven.
For fans of With Love, Meghan, the recipe provides a chance to recreate the apple hand pies inspired by the series. For everyone else, it is simply an easy, portable apple pastry that can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
Recipe source: Netflix Tudum's published recipe for the apple hand pies featured in With Love, Meghan.
