These Strawberry Heart Hand Pies are filled with strawberry jam, flaky pie crust, and topped with vanilla glaze. A sweet little treat!
You ever have one of those days when you just need a win? That was me last year, two days before Valentine’s. My daughter came home with an announcement—she needed a “special homemade treat” for her school’s party. No pressure, right?
I panicked. I mean, I’m not exactly the Martha Stewart of the neighborhood. But then I remembered this super simple recipe for Strawberry Heart Hand Pies. They’re cute, easy, and honestly, the perfect distraction from my stress spiral.
We made them together that night, flour flying everywhere. The hearts weren’t perfect (some looked more like blobs or maybe potatoes?), but they tasted amazing. The next day, her classmates thought I was a rock star. And you know what? Now, we make these every Valentine’s, even when no one’s asking for them.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry heart Hand Pies Recipe?
Let me just say it—these hand pies are pure happy food. Here’s why:
- Adorable Factor Off the Charts: They’re heart-shaped! Enough said.
- No-Fuss Recipe: Use store-bought pie crust if you’re short on time (or patience). Nobody’s judging here.
- Kid-Approved Project: Little hands love to help crimp those edges. It might get messy… it will get messy… but that’s half the fun.
- Great for Gifting: Wrap a few up and boom—instant homemade gift that people will actually want to eat.
Ingredient Notes:
Okay, let’s talk ingredients. I keep it simple because… well, life’s complicated enough.
- Pie Crust: Store-bought works just fine here, but if you have a tried-and-true homemade pie crust recipe, go wild.
- Strawberry Jam: Use your favorite jar. We went with classic strawberry, but you can totally swap it out. (Raspberry lovers, I see you.)
- Egg Wash: One egg and a splash of water. This is the magic trick for that golden, glossy finish.
- Vanilla Glaze: Powdered sugar, milk, vanilla. It’s sweet, simple, and ties it all together like a big warm hug.
How To Make Strawberry heart Hand Pies?
So here’s the deal. These aren’t fussy, and they’re fun. Think of it like crafting… but you get snacks when you’re done.
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Fire that thing up to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment. Easy cleanup, yay!
Step 2: Make Your Egg Wash
One egg + a splash of water. Whisk it like you mean it. Set aside.
Step 3: Roll It Out
Flour everywhere (including your shirt and face). Roll out those crusts on a floured surface. Homemade or store-bought—no judgment. Roll ‘em to about 13 inches wide.
Step 4: Cut Out the Love
Grab a heart-shaped cookie cutter (I use a 3.5-inch one). Cut out 24 hearts. Yes, you can reroll the scraps and cut more. Waste not, want not.
Step 5: Vent Those Tops
Poke little holes in 12 of the hearts with a fork. This helps steam escape so they don’t explode in the oven. Trust me on this one.
Step 6: Fill ‘Em Up
Spoon about a tablespoon of strawberry jam onto the other 12 hearts. Not too much or they’ll leak. Been there. It’s messy.
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Step 7: Seal the Deal
Lay the vented hearts over the jam ones. Use a fork to press those edges together. It doesn’t have to be perfect—mine never are—and they’re still delicious.
Step 8: Brush ‘Em Pretty
Egg wash time! Brush it over the tops so they bake up nice and shiny.
Step 9: Bake Time
Carefully move them onto the parchment-lined sheets. Bake for about 20 minutes, until they’re golden and irresistible.
Step 10: Cool and Glaze
Let them cool on a rack. Then drizzle your glaze over the top however you like. (I go Jackson Pollock-style. You do you.)
Storage Options:
These hand pies will keep for about 2 days at room temp, but good luck making them last that long. If you do have extras, pop them in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and you can warm them up in the microwave for that just-baked feel.
Variations and Substitutions:
Want to mix it up? I’ve got you:
- Different Jams: Raspberry, blueberry, or even Nutella if you’re feeling wild.
- Shaped for Any Season: Use stars, circles, or pumpkins for Halloween. It’s all good.
- Vegan Version: Swap the egg wash for almond milk and make sure your pie crust is vegan-friendly.
- Extra Sweet Tooth?: Toss some mini chocolate chips in with the jam. No regrets.
What to Serve with Strawberry heart Hand Pies?
These pies go with everything, but here’s some inspiration:
- Tea Time: Serve with a hot cup of tea. Herbal, black, green… doesn’t matter.
- Brunch Spread: Perfect next to quiche, fruit salad, and mimosas.
- Ice Cream On Top: Warm them up and plop a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Heaven.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I freeze them?
Yup! Assemble the pies and freeze them before baking. Bake straight from frozen—just add 5 extra minutes.
Puff pastry instead of pie dough?
Totally! They’ll be flakier, maybe a little more rustic, but in the best way.
How do I stop them from leaking?
A little leakage? Totally normal. But if it’s a jam explosion, try using less filling and crimping the edges a little tighter.
And that’s it! My favorite Strawberry Heart Hand Pies, baked with love, a little chaos, and a lot of fun. Give them a try and let me know how they turn out. Did your hearts look like hearts… or potatoes? I need to know!
Can’t wait to hear from you!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Keep the Flavor Coming – Try These:
Strawberry heart Hand Pies
Ingredients
For the Hand Pies
- All-purpose flour for dusting
- 2 premade 9-inch pie crusts or homemade pie dough
- ¾ cup strawberry jam
For the Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
For the Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Prepare the Egg Wash
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water until fully blended. Set aside.
Roll Out the Dough
- Lightly flour a clean work surface. Roll out the premade pie crusts (or homemade dough) to approximately 13 inches in diameter.
Cut the Dough
- Using a 3.5-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 24 hearts from the rolled dough. Collect any remaining dough scraps, reroll them gently, and cut additional hearts as needed to yield 24 pieces in total.
Vent the Top Crusts
- Using a fork, gently prick 12 of the heart-shaped cutouts. This allows steam to escape during baking.
Assemble the Hand Pies
- Place the remaining 12 hearts on your work surface. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of strawberry jam into the center of each heart, taking care to leave a border around the edges.
- Place the pricked heart-shaped tops over the jam filling and press the edges firmly together using a fork to seal.
Apply the Egg Wash
- Lightly brush the tops of each assembled pie with the egg wash to promote a golden, glossy finish.
Bake the Pies
- Arrange the assembled hand pies on the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are spaced apart. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool the Pies
- Remove from the oven and transfer the pies to a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before glazing.
Prepare the Vanilla Glaze
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Glaze the Hand Pies
- Once cooled, drizzle the vanilla glaze over the pies using a spoon or piping bag. Allow the glaze to set for approximately two hours before serving.
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
