Turtle Hand Pies Recipe
Introduction
These Turtle Hand Pies combine rich dark chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy pecans encased in flaky pie crust. Perfect for a sweet treat or party snack, they are easy to assemble and bake quickly in the air fryer for warm, melty indulgence.
Ingredients
- 1 package of two refrigerated pie crusts
- 4 oz. Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar (6 squares)
- 6 caramel squares
- About ½ cup chopped pecans
- Water for sealing crusts
- Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ⅛ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons corn syrup
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring pie crusts to room temperature for 30-60 minutes before preparing the pies.
- Step 2: Unroll the pie crusts on a floured countertop. Use a 4” fluted biscuit cutter to cut out 12 circles. Re-roll scraps as needed to make all 12 circles.
- Step 3: On each bottom crust circle, place one square of dark chocolate. Slice a caramel square in half and place both halves side by side on top of the chocolate. Add 1-2 teaspoons of chopped pecans over the filling.
- Step 4: Cut small slits for venting in a second crust circle. Brush its underside with water, then place it over the filled bottom crust. Press edges firmly to seal completely.
- Step 5: Fold the outer edges of the sealed pies to tighten the seal and create an attractive edge.
- Step 6: Arrange four hand pies in the air fryer basket, leaving space around each. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until golden and flaky.
- Step 7: While baking, whisk together powdered sugar, whole milk, and corn syrup to make the glaze.
- Step 8: Remove pies from the air fryer and place on a cooling rack. Immediately brush the warm pies with the glaze.
- Step 9: Allow the glaze to set and dry for about 15 minutes before serving.
Tips & Variations
- Cutting the caramel squares in half helps them melt evenly and prevents the pie crust from molding into an uneven shape.
- Use toasted pecans for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
- For a different twist, substitute dark chocolate with milk or white chocolate squares.
Storage
Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep well for 1-2 days. Reheat gently in the microwave, air fryer, or toaster oven to refresh the flaky crust and warm the filling.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I bake these hand pies in a regular oven?
Yes, you can bake them at 350°F on a baking sheet for about 12-15 minutes or until golden and flaky.
What if I don’t have Ghirardelli chocolate?
Any dark chocolate bar that breaks into squares will work well. Choose a high-quality chocolate for the best flavor.
PrintTurtle Hand Pies Recipe
These Turtle Hand Pies are delightful mini pastries filled with rich dark chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy pecans, all wrapped in flaky pie crust and finished with a sweet glaze. Perfect for an elegant dessert or a special treat, these hand pies combine the classic flavors of a turtle candy in an easy-to-make, air-fried handheld form.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 hand pies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Hand Pie Ingredients:
- 1 package of two refrigerated pie crusts
- 4 oz. Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar (6 squares)
- 6 caramel squares
- About ½ cup chopped pecans
- Water for sealing crusts
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ⅛ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons corn syrup
Instructions
- Prepare Pie Crust: Bring pie crusts to room temperature for 30-60 minutes before making pies. Unroll the pie crust onto a floured countertop. Using a 4-inch fluted biscuit cutter, cut out 12 circles from the two crusts. Gather scraps, re-roll, and cut additional circles as needed to have a total of 12.
- Assemble Filling: For each pie, place one chocolate square in the center of a crust circle. Slice a caramel square in half and arrange both halves side by side on top of the chocolate. Then, mound 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped pecans over the caramel and chocolate.
- Seal the Pies: Take a second crust circle, cut small venting slits into it, and brush the edges with water. Place this moistened crust over the filled bottom crust. Align the edges carefully and press firmly all around to seal the pies.
- Shape Edges: Fold up the outer edges of the sealed pies to create a tighter seal and an attractive crimped edge around each hand pie.
- Air Frying: Arrange up to four hand pies in the air fryer basket, leaving a couple of inches around each for air circulation. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until golden and flaky.
- Prepare Glaze: While the pies bake, whisk together powdered sugar, whole milk, and corn syrup until smooth and slightly glossy.
- Glaze and Cool: Remove the hot pies from the air fryer and place them on a cooling rack. Immediately brush the tops with the glaze. Allow the hand pies to set and glaze to dry for about 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature. Reheat gently in a microwave, air fryer, or toaster oven.
- Caramel Slicing: Cutting the caramel squares in half allows them to sit flatter in the pie and melt evenly, preventing the crust from molding awkwardly around the caramel.
Keywords: hand pies, turtle hand pies, chocolate caramel pecan pies, air fryer desserts, mini pies, chocolate hand pies, caramel hand pies, homemade hand pies
