Apple Whiskey Hand Pies are sweet, boozy desserts that are perfect to make with fresh apples and flavored whiskey.
Apple season is here! My family has so much fun going apple picking at local farms this time of year, and I have a special place in my heart for apple recipes.
This particular dessert recipe is an ideal indulgence for those who love the cinnamon, fall spice aromas and flavors of apple and whiskey together.
Got an air fryer? Try my Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies recipe!
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🌟 Why you'll love this dessert
Hand pies are one of my favorite pastry dishes to make when there are friends and family coming over.
- They usually just require a few ingredients
- Hand pies are easy to whip up in less than 30 minutes
- You can make sweet and/or savory hand pies.
- Hand pies are easy-to-eat finger food.
The apple whiskey adds a richness to the filling, and the mini marshmallows give it just an extra padding of sweetness and texture. And of course, the apple-cinnamon taste combo is always a winner.
🍏 Ingredient notes
Whiskey - You'll need to pick up a bottle of apple whiskey for this recipe. Most liqueur stores sell at least one brand of apple whiskey, such as Jim Beam or Jameson. I used Aval Pota from McMenamins Edgefield distillery. It's made with fresh pressed apples from Hood River, Oregon, McMenamins own malt whiskey, and a touch of cinnamon.
Apples - Granny Smith apples are a favorite to use in baked goods like this dessert. They keep their shape and bake beautifully. You can also use Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, or Braeburn apples.
You could also add freshly cut peaches into this recipe, or even some mini caramel chips.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
- In a large bowl, you'll combine chopped apples with cornstarch, cinnamon, lemon, and brown sugar, then saute over medium heat for just a couple of minutes.
- Then add the whiskey and cook the alcohol down a bit. Be sure to continually stir the ingredients, and cook until the apples just start to get soft, about 3 minutes. You don't want them too soft at this point, but they shouldn't be making any crisp sounds when you bite into a piece either.
3. Now, you can use pie crust or puff pastry dough for hand pies. I prefer the flaky, buttery crispness of puff pastry.
4. Roll out your puff pastry dough sheets, and divide into 9 even sections.
5. Place about 1-2 heaping Tablespoons of filling in the middle bottom half of each section. Top with 4-6 mini marshmallows. Be sure to set aside and save the remaining liquid from the filling. I'll tell you why in just a bit.
6. Fold over the top half and then secure all of the sides by pinching the edges. If you have extra pastry on some edges, feel free to gently fold those up a bit and then pinch.
7. Using a knife, gently poke 3-4 slits on the top of each hand pie. You can also gently press a knife or fork against the sides to add some detail, as I did (hint: this trick also helps hide some imperfections from the extra folded over pastry you might have on the edges!).
As you can see from the photo above, my hand pies weren't all perfectly uniform. Yours can be oblong or more square -- it all works, as long as you are able to secure all of the sides so that the filling doesn't ooze out while baking.
8. Remember the remaining liquid from the filling that you set aside and saved? Brush the tops of each hand pie with just a touch of that remaining liquid, and then sprinkle each pie with a little sprinkle of sugar.
9. Bake in a 400°F degree oven for 20-25 minutes, turning the pan 180 degrees around halfway through to ensure even cooking, until the tops are just golden. Let cool slightly before serving.
🍽 Serving ideas
Serve with an apple whiskey cocktail to complete the whole delicious fall eating and drinking experience.
🥧 Recipe FAQs
This recipe makes about nine hand pies, depending on how large you make each one.
Absolutely! We love using apple whiskey since it adds a stronger apple cinnamon flavor, but you can also add a little apple juice and extra sprinkle of cinnamon instead.
🍎 More fruit dessert recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Apple Whiskey Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 3 medium to large apples peeled and chopped
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup apple whiskey
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
- 2 sheets of pre-made or homemade puff pastry
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the apples, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
- In a large saute pan over medium heat, cook the mixture for about 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the apple whiskey, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Turn heat off and allow the mixture to cool for just a minute.
- Meanwhile, take out the puff pastry sheets and roll out over an even surface, such as a large cutting board or rolpat mat.
- Cut each puff pastry sheet evenly into rectangles.
- On the bottom half of each rectangle, place about 1-2 Tablespoons of filling in the middle. Top each with 4-6 mini marshmallows. Set aside the remaining liquid from the filling; you'll use this toward the end.
- Gently fold over the top of each rectangle and pinch together the edges. If you have extra pastry in some spots, simply fold them up a bit, then pinch to close.
- Using a knife, cut 3-4 small slits at the top of each pastry.
- Using a knife or fork, you can gently press into the edges of each pastry to create a striped design. This also helps keep the pastry from puffing up and out too much.
- Taking the reserve liquid, brush a small amount over the tops of the pastries.
- Sprinkle a little sugar over each pastry.
- Bake at 400°F degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Summar says
Yum! These look amazing!
Nicole White says
YUMMM!! Apples and whiskey, can't wait to try these for a great fall treat!
Becky Hosman says
This looks like the perfect fall dessert (or anytime I want an amazing apple dessert). I was looking for a new dessert to bring to our Thanksgiving dinner and this will be a crowd pleaser!!! So excited to try this out. Your recipes always look so wonderful. I have a few saved for special occasions.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Oh thank you so much, Becky!
Shahin Huneke says
Apple whiskey? I had no idea. The fall season just got a little better lol. This sounds delicious!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
The Aval Pota is SO delicious, Shahin. I am already thinking of more recipes I can use it in!
Jasmine says
Oh man! These look delicious. They're definitely going into my dessert rotation --- at least, once it gets cool enough in LA to turn the oven on. Haha.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
LOL - Jasmine, it's still been in the low 90's and high 80's here in Portland, but that doesn't stop me from homemade pastries! ;)
Allena says
OMG! My mouth is watering! This recipe sounds superdelicious. And bonus for me, I've never made a hand pie -- I love making and trying new things. I have a go-to apple crisp recipe that everyone adores, but that's as far as my apple dessert repertoire extends. I think the flavor profile on this is killer... a little sticky, sweet; likely a little bitterness from the alcohol; the velvety texture of the apples; the tang of cinnamon; and the flaky, buttery goodness from the puff pastry. I think I've just convinced myself to make it tonight. I found some Rainer Honeycrisp apples over the weekend and they are divine. Thank you for sharing this, Marlynn. If it turns out beautifully, I'll share pics. If not, perhaps a few more words to describe the amazingness I know it will be.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Allena, nice descriptive language! Made ME hungry! :)
Jennifer says
Do I want the recipe for the apple whiskey sour? YES!! And those hand pies look amazing. I love the addition of the mini marshmallows. This is going on my "to-do" list for this fall.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
You've got it! I will try to post the cocktail recipe in the next couple of weeks!
Candice says
Oh boy. I'm going to make these and my family is going to think I'm a hero.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Do you have your superhero cape ready? ;)
Margaret Fleischaker says
These look amazing! I'm going to have to make them for the annual 'Applepalooza' I have every year with a few friends. It's a giant feast where every dish needs to include apples...these will be a hit!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Oh my gosh, your Applepalooza sounds like so much fun, Margaret!
kim- Today's Creative Blog says
This looks amazing Marlynn! Not your typical apple pie.....I never even thought to use their whiskey for baking. You're brilliant!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Oh, I use whiskey in cooking, baking, braising... ;) Thanks, Kim!
Heather says
Get out of town! Those look delicious! Are the marshmallows the secret to success or the amazing whiskey? This looks perfect for a good fall storm! Maybe a warm snack before the kids play soccer in the Oregon rain. . . .
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
The marshmallow addition was a random experiment to use up what we had left and it worked! :)
Amanda Woodruff says
Such a perfect combination. I'm totally ready for fall and apple pies. Didn't know McMenamins had an apple whiskey--I'm definitely going to have to try this!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I didn't either until now. It really makes a great cocktail too!
Jenni says
Wow- this looks amazing. I love whiskey with apples, and haven't ever thought of incorporating them in hand pies! I bet these would be amazing with icecream.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I actually had one with some fresh whipped cream. SO GOOD. I'll have to try it with ice cream next time!
Margaret says
These look relish -- I need one for each hand!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Ha ha - love it!
Pech says
OMG sounds amazing, I love how it uses apple for dessert and local apple whiskey to layer on the flavors of fall and gives me a break from the usual apple pie!