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The BEST Lemon Hand Pies Recipe

4.8 from 88 reviews

These delightful Lemon Hand Pies feature a flaky, buttery crust filled with tangy lemon pie filling, baked to golden perfection and dusted with powdered sugar. Perfect as a handheld treat for breakfast, dessert, or a refreshing snack, they offer a wonderful balance of sweet and tart flavors with a crisp, tender crust.

Ingredients

Scale

Pie Crust

  • 2 boxes (14.1 ounce each) refrigerated pie crust

Filling

  • 1 can (15 ounce) lemon pie filling (or homemade lemon curd)

Egg Wash & Topping

  • 1 egg white, beaten (save the yolk to brush the pie crust edges)
  • ½ cup powdered sugar, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Crust: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Remove the refrigerated pie crusts from their packaging and allow them to come to room temperature to make them easier to work with.
  2. Cut Circles: Unroll the pie crusts and use a 4-inch biscuit cutter to cut 6 circles from each crust. If you don’t get six from a single roll, re-roll the scraps gently to make additional circles.
  3. Fill and Seal: Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, drop lemon pie filling into the center of each crust circle. Lightly brush the edges of each circle with water or the saved egg yolk to help seal. Fold each circle in half, then pinch the edges together completely. Fold the pinched edges over and press down with the tines of a fork to create a decorative seal. Poke each hand pie once with a fork to prevent bursting during baking.
  4. Brush Egg White: Beat the egg white until frothy and brush it generously over the tops of each hand pie to give them a lovely golden finish when baked.
  5. Bake: Arrange the hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the pies are beautifully browned and crisp.
  6. Cool and Serve: Remove the hand pies from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar for a sweet finishing touch. These pies can be served immediately or refrigerated and enjoyed chilled.

Notes

  • You can substitute store-bought lemon pie filling with homemade lemon curd for a fresher taste.
  • Chilling the baked hand pies before serving enhances the flavors and texture but they’re delicious warm if you prefer.
  • If you have extra time, try making your own homemade pie crust instead of using refrigerated crusts for an even flakier pastry.
  • Store any leftover hand pies in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and flavor.

Keywords: lemon hand pies, lemon pie filling, handheld dessert, flaky pie crust, easy lemon pies, baked hand pies, lemon curd hand pies