Description
Delicious Sweet Potato Hand Pies featuring a flaky pie crust filled with a spiced sweet potato mixture, fried to golden perfection and finished with a sweet milk glaze. Perfect as a comforting dessert or snack with a delightful balance of creamy filling and crispy exterior.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 batch homemade pie crust recipe or 2 boxes store-bought pie crusts
Filling
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Frying
- Canola oil, for frying (2-3 inches in the pot)
Glaze
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
- 6-9 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
- Prepare Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Mix thoroughly to incorporate the spices evenly and set aside while preparing the crust.
- Prepare Crusts: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pie crust dough to about â…›-inch thickness. Use a 4-5 inch round cookie cutter to cut circles from the dough, aiming for about 26-28 rounds if using homemade dough, slightly less if using store-bought.
- Fill and Shape: Place about 1 tablespoon of the sweet potato filling onto one half of each dough circle. Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape. Moisten the edges lightly with water to help seal, then press edges with a fork to crimp and close the pies firmly.
- Fry Hand Pies: Pour canola oil into a medium pot to a depth of 2-3 inches and heat over medium heat until it reaches 375°F (190°C). Carefully place 2-3 hand pies into the hot oil. Fry each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Remove pies from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Maintain the oil temperature between batches to ensure even frying.
- Make Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and 6 tablespoons of whole milk. Add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the glaze is smooth and pourable but not too runny.
- Glaze and Serve: While the fried hand pies are still warm, drizzle or dip them into the glaze. Let them sit briefly to allow the glaze to set slightly before serving warm.
Notes
- Maintain frying oil temperature carefully to ensure crispy, evenly cooked pies without greasiness.
- Filling measurements are flexible; adjust sweet potato quantity to preference.
- Use fresh or leftover mashed sweet potatoes for convenience.
- Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container and reheat in an oven or air fryer for best texture.
- The glaze can be adjusted thicker or thinner depending on preference by varying milk quantity.
