Baking Classics
The Technique
Hand Pies
A sun-kissed jubilee. Fresh strawberries & blueberries shine bright when cooked with a smidgen of lemon & sweetness. Snuggled under a blanket of crisp, flaky pastry layers, you simply can’t go wrong. If you prefer homemade pastry with a smattering of fresh fruit, hand pies are for you. The Buttermilk-Cornmeal Pastry Dough serves as the ideal backdrop for these petite, rustic pies plus the stovetop jam only takes about 10 minutes to prepare. Hand pies aren’t difficult to make but they do require a little extra attention. Strawberry-Blueberry Hand Pies are your reward for being patient. Think of them as summers answer to holiday cookies but the focus of this celebration lies in the freshly picked berries we were dreaming about several months prior. The sun-kissed, come-as-you-are festival of goodness radiates from the inside out. Get ready to savor the season by crafting a beautiful batch of petite pies with my valuable techniques.
Strawberry-Blueberry Hand Pies
makes 11 hand pies
The berry jam makes about 1 cup. You will have approximately 1/4 cup remaining to spread on toast or dollop over pimiento cheese topped crackers.
1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Buttermilk-Cornmeal Pastry Dough
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 Tbsp whole buttermilk
Whisk together 3 Tbsp sugar & the cornstarch in a small saucepan; whisk in the lemon zest & juice until smooth. Fold in the strawberries & the blueberries. Bring the mixture to a boil over Medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened about 4 minutes. Cook 1 additional minute, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat & transfer to a small bowl. Chill 2 hours or up to 2 days.
Prepare the Buttermilk-Cornmeal Pastry Dough as directed. Roll the dough between plastic wrap to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 22 {3 1/4-inch} circles using a round cutter, rerolling the dough as needed. Combine the egg & the buttermilk in a small bowl. Brush the mixture on half of the dough rounds; top with 1 1/2 tsp berry mixture. Cut a small hole from the center of each remaining dough round using a drinking straw. Place over the berry filled bottom halves. Press the edges lightly to seal. Use a fork to create a decorative flute around the circumference of each miniature pie & place onto a parchment paper-lined half sheet pan. Cover & chill 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush the pastries with the remaining egg mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 Tbsp sugar. Bake on the middle oven rack 18 to 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Serve at room temperature.
Buttermilk-Cornmeal Pastry Dough
makes 22 {3 1/4-inch} dough rounds
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 Tbsp plain yellow cornmeal
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup cold shortening
3 to 4 Tbsp whole buttermilk
Whisk together the flour, the cornmeal & the salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter & the shortening into the mixture using a fork or your fingers until crumbly in texture making certain to leave some of the fat in large bits. Drizzle the buttermilk over the mixture & shape the dough into a disc. Place the dough disc between two sheets of plastic wrap. Use as directed.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{testing notes}
How To Make Hand Pies
Organization is the key to success for many recipe applications. Helpful advice will have you baking your way to Best In Show at the next backyard social. Designed to combat the natural elements of southern summer kitchens & added steps, these tips will prove to be indispensable in achieving a quality batch of hand pies. Get ready to chill out in order to heat up a sweet, grand finale.
The Technique
Rolling the dough between plastic wrap allows you to get the pastry as thin as possible. You can certainly prepare the old-fashioned way but I find the less flour used, the better.
No. 1
The Preparation
Work in smaller portions of dough if you prefer. It can make the task more manageable. If the dough gets too warm, just pop it in the fridge a few minutes to firm back up again. As you cut the circles, place them on a parchment paper-lined half sheet pan. Use a drinking straw to cut the centers from half of the rounds so steam can escape. This will keep the filling from bursting from the sides during baking. Cover the dough rounds with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. You can also make all the cuts, then cover & chill them until ready to fill. The dough needs to be pliable to top over the filling to prevent the dough from tearing. Allow the pan to stand on the counter top a few minutes before proceeding. Do not over fill the dough & add the dollop just in the center. Leave about a 1/2-inch around the outside to seal the pies properly.
No. 2
The Sealing & Fluting
Brushing the egg over the entire bottom surface makes sealing less fussy. One quick swipe, a dabble of filling & on goes the second dough round. Gently press the dough around the filling to make snug contact with the base. Pick up the pie in your hand & press around the edges for a more secure seal. This will help prevent the pastry from opening during the baking stage. A tiny cocktail fork is the ideal fluting tool for the small pies. Press the tines around the circumference of each pie. This will add a decorative edge & seal the pies just a bit further. Chill the filled pies at least 20 minutes before baking to firm the butter & shortening. This will help provide those flaky layers everyone loves. The pies can also be held overnight & baked the following day. Cover well.
No. 3
The Baking
Before baking, brush the pies with some of the remaining egg wash. Sprinkle generously with the remaining granulated sugar. Allow the pies to cool on a wire rack to keep the bottom pastry good & crisp. Serve them warm or at room temperature.
The Tune
“The Blue Danube” Johann Strauss
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