Apple Cheddar Hand Pies

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These amazing apple cheddar hand pies are the perfect mix of cheese, apple spice and buttery crust, all in one bite!

About my overall lack of preparedness for any holiday: 

Y’all, I know not all of you have your Thanksgiving s&*^ together. I’m just not convinced that everyone in the US is completely prepared for this upcoming holiday. I mean, please. I can’t possibly be the only person on the planet who is scrambling to figure out what to make for my first Thanksgiving with my boyfriend and his family. (Yes, I’m still FREAKING out about it and NO, I HAVEN’T DECIDED WHAT ON EARTH I’M GOING TO MAKE).

Okay, that’s not entirely all true. I have about 10 things pinned that I could make, but none of them are really singing to me. That’s neither here nor there, though. Let’s go back to that question I posed earlier – y’all can’t all be ready for Thanksgiving, right?

I’m holding onto hope that a few of you are planning on hitting the grocery store tonight, after a long day of work, and are going to start in the wine aisle and hope that you at least remember to pick up a turkey or potatoes after opening said wine and chugging it as you throw everything but what you need into your cart (Christmas themed Oreos, anyone?) I’m praying that a few of you haven’t even looked at a holiday recipe, better yet picked up any ingredients for said Pinterest-worthy perfections. I’m just crossing my fingers that a few of you are hoping that your in-laws won’t mind that the beloved turkey is being served on the fanciest of Chinet paper plates because your youngest child decided it would be fun to smash your nice plates during a temper tantrum and you’ve been too busy to worry about buying other ones.

I’m just really hoping that a few of you are going to buy your pies from the store’s bakery section, pull them out of the boxes, arrange them on your nicest cake stand and add a few dollops of whipped cream (from a can) and toss some cinnamon sticks on a few minutes before your overly critical mother comes over and pretend you made them yourself.

A few of you are doing these things, right? Even if you’re not, maybe just say you are so I don’t feel like a complete and utter failure for being busy, stressed, a little depressed and completely overwhelmed this year. It doesn’t have to be true, but just tell me, okay?

Apple Cheddar Hand Pies

Yields about 8 pies. Slightly adapted from Oh Sweet Basil.
Prep time: About 45 minutes
Cook time: About 15 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour

Ingredients: 

**For the crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup cold water

For the filling:

  • About 2 large apples, core removed and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple pie spice
  • About 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Cabot sharp cheddar, cut into bite-size chunks

For the egg wash:

  • 1 large egg white
  • Splash of water
  • chopped walnuts for garnish

***You can sub in store-bought pie crust if you don’t have time (or patience) to make your own.

Directions: 

  1. To prepare the crust, whisk the flour, salt and brown sugar together. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse sand. Add water, 2 – 3 tablespoons at a time, or until mixture starts to come together. You want the crust to be relatively crumbly, but should form a soft enough dough when formed with your hands.
  2. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly with a floured rolling pin. Roll into a disc and wrap tightly with saran wrap. Chill for at least an hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling by mixing the apples, lemon juice, honey, brown sugar, corn starch and apple pie spice together. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
  5. Once the pie dough is done chilling, remove from fridge. On a floured surface, roll the dough out with a floured rolling pin until about 1/8 inch thickness, or however thick you want it. Using a circle cookie cutter (about 3 – 4 inches), stamp out about 16 circle shapes, or as many as you can get.
  6. Add about one spoonful of filling into the middle of half of the crusts. Add 1 – 2 chunks of cheddar cheese over the apples. Carefully cover the apple mixture with the remaining crusts. Using a fork or your hands, press the edges together and crimp to seal (so the filling doesn’t spill out). Poke the top of the crusts with a fork or cut a cross in the middle.
  7. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg wash over the top crusts and carefully transfer to the prepared baking sheets.

Nutritional information per serving (about 1 pie):

Calories: 300
Fat: 17 grams
Carbohydrates: 38 grams
Fiber: 2.4 grams
Protein: 7 grams

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