Making Jack O'Lantern Hand Pies for Halloween

If you need a themed food for a Halloween gathering, you are in luck! Last year, I made these Mummy Jalepeno Poppers, which were super cute. This year, I'm making Jack o'Lantern Hand Pies. The best thing about these hand pies is their versatility! You know I love a recipe that I can change up in several ways, and this one fits the bill

Today I'm making cherry hand pies, but you can use any sweet pie filling, or make a savory pie...the options are endless.

Watch Me Make Them

The Recipes

This is the RECIPE I used for my pie dough. Feel free to use your own favorite recipe or use store-bought crust.

For the filling, I made my own cherry filling using sour cherries I had in the freezer. Below is an estimate of what I did. You don't have to be too precise when making pie filling. The most important part is using a little corn starch to thicken the cherry juice as it bakes. If you want it really sweet, use more sugar. Less sweet, use less. Cardamom is a nice complement to cherries, but it can be a little strong, so don't overdo it (and feel free to omit it completely). You can also add a little almond extract if you enjoy that flavor.

1 1/2 cup frozen sour cherries, thawed, and strained to remove some of the juice.

1 TBSP sugar

2 tsp corn starch

1 tsp vanilla extract

scant 1/4 tsp cardamom

The Process

I made the crust and allowed it to chill in the refrigerator while I prepared the filling. I then rolled out the crust and used a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the pieces. You need 2 pumpkin shapes for each hand-pie, one for the bottom, one for the top. Leave the bottom piece fully intact. For the top piece, cut out the face of the Jack O'Lantern, or make simple slits for a plain pumpkin.

Place the bottom pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a little bit of water to dampen the edges of the bottom crusts. Spoon some filling into the center, top with the Jack O'Lantern piece. Use a fork to press around the edges to seal the hand-pie. Bake at 350°F for roughly 25-30 minutes.

The baking time will vary depending on the size of your handpies, so keep a close eye on them. Remove them when the crust is lightly browned.

Variations

Make it easy - if you are rushed for time but still want to create something fun, go ahead and use store-bought crust and canned pie filling. While I always prefer homemade, I understand that it's not always possible.

You don't have a pumpkin cookie cutter? Just use a glass to create circles. As soon as you cut in the jack o'lantern face, it becomes a jack o'lantern. Or, if you want to serve them some other time, just do circles. Be sure to cut a couple slashes in the top for venting.

Filling Ideas

Sweet Pies - you can use any type of pie filling you enjoy. Other fall-appropriate options would be apple, mixed berry, pumpkin (combine a little canned pumpkin with some sugar and pumpkin pie spices), Nutella, or just some chocolate chips.

Savory Pies - this is where you could get really creative. I'm going to give you a handful of ideas below, but truly, the sky is the limit. This is a great way to repurpose a small amount of leftovers!

• mashed butternut squash with a little salt and curry powder

• mashed potatoes and chopped meat of your choice

• black beans and cheddar cheese

• scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs

• taco meat and shredded pepperjack cheese

• cream cheese with diced jalapenos and shredded cheddar cheese

• caramelized onions and mustard

• sautéed mushrooms (diced) with a small amount of mushroom gravy

• any leftover pot pie filling

I hope I have inspired you to give this a try. While these are a cute Halloween treat, try them with other seasonal cookie cutters!

Enjoy!

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