Savory Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Hand Pies

For dinner, dessert, or snacks, try your hand at hand pies with a savory slant. Make and freeze a few batches of these homemade hot pockets. Then reheat and eat when hunger strikes. These hand pies can be sweet or savory, depending on the filling. The shapes can be round, square, or triangle shape. To simplify the recipe, use refrigerated prepared pie dough. But know that a from-scratch pie dough works, too. Let your imagination soar with these hand pies. The recipe was adapted from Allrecipes August September 2021 

Ham, Cheddar, and Broccoli Hand Pies

Cook's Notes: This recipe came together in under 30 minutes. I used Pappy's Pie Dough (frozen section), but Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Dough works well, too. The package makes 6-7 4-inch dough circles. You will need to reroll scraps. A martini glass is a perfect circle size. 

Ingredients: 

• One box 2 pie crusts

• 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped

• 1 cup shredded cheddar or white cheese

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 

• 2 cups chopped deli ham, shredded cooked chicken or cooked Italian sausage 

• ½ cup drained and diced roasted red peppers

• Egg wash

• Sesame seeds

Directions:

• Roll out dough and measure out 6-4-inch circles.

• Spread mustard on the pie circle. Mix broccoli and cheese together. 

  

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer 3 circles to the baking sheet. 

  

• Place 1/4 cup filling in the center. Brush the border around the filling with egg wash.

• Cover the dough circle with another dough round. Press dough edges together using fork tines to crimp and seal. 

• Brush egg top with egg wash. Sprinkle top with sesame seeds or bagel seasoning. Cut a small V shape in the center for vents.

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

• Chill dough circles in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. 

• Bake for 18 minutes.  

  

Apple Hand Pies

Follow the same technique as Ham, Broccoli, and Cheese Hand Pies, but use apple pie filling.

Ingredients

• 2 large green apples, finely diced into bite-sized pieces 

• 2 tablespoons butter

•  1/4 cup white sugar

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• Dash salt 

• 3 tablespoons water

• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

• Dash of nutmeg and allspice 

• 1 egg mixed with 2 teaspoons milk

Directions: 

• Melt butter in a skillet. Stir in apples, sugars, cinnamon, spices, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until apples are softened for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in water and cook 4 minutes more. Spread the filling onto a plate to cool completely before placing it on the dough.  

• Place apple filling in the center of the dough. Top with another dough circle. 

• Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. 

• Cut a small V shape in the center for vents. Chill dough circles in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

• Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until the crust is browned and the juices are bubbly.