Last-Minute Fall Hand Pies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Can you make pies a day ahead? ›

So you could make the pie on the morning of Christmas Eve and then bake it on Boxing Day. You could also assemble the pie and then freeze it (unbaked) up to a month in advance. The pie will need to be thatwed for 24 hours in the fridge before you bake it.

The types of pie can you freeze

Fruit pies, such as apple, cherry, peach or blueberry, freeze magnificently, as do pecan pies. They can be frozen baked or unbaked, the latter of which can be a great way to get ahead when hosting a dinner party or big holiday meal.

Assembled and unbaked hand pies can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. If frozen, no need to thaw before baking; simply add an extra couple minutes of bake time. Baked hand pies can be frozen for up to 3 months.

After baking the pie, let it cool, then wrap it completely in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store the wrapped pie in the refrigerator up to two days ahead of Thanksgiving. If any moisture forms on the top of the refrigerated pie, gently blot it off with a paper towel.

If made ahead without baking, the pastry crust can become too wet and end up soggy after baking. The best way to make your apple pie in advance? Bake the pie completely, then chill it overnight, allowing the pie to sit at room temperature for at least an hour before serving.

I frequently bake and freeze my classic apple pie, favorite cherry pie, blueberry pie, and very cherry berry pie with fresh cranberries with excellent results. I do not recommend freezing custard or cream pies, as the texture of the filling doesn't hold up well to freezing.

Most pies will freeze well from a raw or cooked state. However, custard filled pies do not tend to freeze well. When freezing a fruit pie, you'll see the best results if you freeze a combination of cooked fruit filling in a raw pastry. Raw fruit filling can become watery on thawing and may require additional thickener.

In general, custard and cream pies do not freeze well. They tend to get soggy and unappealing when you defrost them. On the other hand, Stephens and Wickenden say fruit pies freeze quite beautifully. First, let the pie cool to room temperature.

The humble hand pie goes by many different names: Call it a pasty, a turnover, an empanada, or whatever you like — the crowd-pleasing filled pastry is always welcome on any table.

Is it better to freeze a fruit pie cooked or uncooked? ›

Freezing homemade pies is easy and saves time later when you need a delectable dessert. Homemade pies are a delicious dessert that can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and then baked when you want a very special dessert. It is much better to freeze pumpkin and fruit pies before baking rather than after.

WHAT KIND OF CRUST IS BEST FOR HAND PIES? A hand pie is a tiny version of a full-sized pie so we want to use a similar pie crust. I'm using Pâte Brisée which is a very simple, not-too-sweet but delicious crust. It's very similar to pie dough but the texture is finer and stronger than traditional pie dough.

According to the University of Illinois Extension, pies with eggs and dairy will only last about two hours without refrigeration, while pies without eggs or dairy can last for up to two days without refrigeration. Pies with eggs and dairy products should always be stored in the refrigerator until served.

If you can, make pie the day before or early in the day you plan to serve. “Most pies are better off if they set up, even if you want it warm,” Bishop said. “Cool it down, and if you want, pop it back into the oven for a few minutes before serving. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is cutting into it too early.”

There's absolutely no need to stress over apple pie less than 24 hours before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. You can prepare the pie entirely (save for baking it) and freeze the whole thing, then pop it into the oven once the turkey comes out. Or you can make the crust dough ahead, wrap, and chill or freeze.

You can follow your apple pie recipe right up to when it goes in the oven, at which point you can use that same method of storing it in an airtight container or in tightly-sealed plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge. It will keep uncooked in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Fruit pies keep at room temperature for two days; you can store them, loosely covered, in the refrigerator for up to two days longer.