Whimsical Strawberry Christmas Tree Hand Pies

#ad Bring a touch of festive magic to your kitchen this holiday season with a batch of delightful Christmas Tree Hand Pies, filled with luscious strawberry goodness! These charming mini desserts are not just incredibly flavorful but also a joy to make and share with your loved ones. Perfect as a sweet snack, a unique dessert for holiday gatherings, or a fun baking project with the kids, these hand pies are guaranteed to spread cheer.

If you’re looking for more delicious dessert inspiration featuring Lucky Leaf, be sure to explore recipes like Fluffy Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Pie with a Pretzel Crust, Lemon Coconut Cream Cheese Dessert, the incredibly Easy Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie, and this comforting Pecan Blueberry Crumble Pie!

Crafted with the exceptional quality of Lucky Leaf Premium Strawberry Fruit Filling, these adorable mini fruit pies are destined to be a smash hit with everyone, from the youngest family members to the most discerning adults. Infuse your home with the sweet aroma and festive spirit of the season by adding these joyful holiday pies to your baking list. Who’s ready to dive into some fruity, flaky, and utterly delicious pie perfection?

The Magic of Lucky Leaf Premium Fruit Filling

Why Choose Lucky Leaf for Your Holiday Baking?

There are countless reasons why Lucky Leaf Premium Fruit Filling will become your go-to ingredient, especially during the busy holiday season. Imagine treating your friends and family to something truly special, effortlessly, with our easy-to-follow Christmas Tree Hand Pies recipe, all thanks to Lucky Leaf! This product is a genuine time-saver for creating year-round dessert ideas and offers unparalleled convenience. It’s perfect for quickly assembling crisps, cobblers, toppings, pie layers, and so much more, making elaborate baking feel simple.

Lucky Leaf stands out as an excellent choice for the entire family, delivering high-quality, vibrant fruity flavors without the addition of high-fructose corn syrup, and always packed with plenty of real fruit. This incredibly versatile product isn’t just a filling; it can elevate your dishes as a delicious topping or even a secret ingredient in both your baking and no-baking recipes, streamlining your kitchen adventures during the busiest times of the year.

Beyond its convenience and taste, Lucky Leaf is a cooperative owned and operated by its dedicated family fruit growers. This commitment ensures that every product is of premium quality, produced on their Family Farms with sustainable harvesting practices. By choosing Lucky Leaf, you’re not only getting a fantastic product but also supporting a company that inspires communities to incorporate fruit as a nutritious part of a healthy diet – a choice you can truly feel good about! Now, let’s explore more about crafting these sweet, delightful Christmas hand pies with the incredible assistance of Lucky Leaf.

The Irresistible Charm of Easy Christmas Tree Hand Pies

Why These Festive Treats Are a Holiday Must-Make

Who can resist a truly delicious dessert during the holiday season? These adorable Christmas tree hand pies offer a playful and unique alternative to traditional hand pies, making them an instant favorite. This season, elevate your festive treats by making a truly unique and fun snack that everyone will adore – easy Christmas tree hand pies using Lucky Leaf Premium Strawberry Fruit Filling! Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of sweet and tart, combining a vibrant strawberry filling with a beautifully baked, flaky pastry crust.

The best part about this Christmas Tree Hand Pies recipe is its incredible efficiency. It takes less than 40 minutes from start to finish (prep and bake time combined), positioning them as the ideal last-minute holiday treat when unexpected guests arrive or when you simply need a quick, festive dessert. Gather your simple ingredients, and let’s embark on a joyful baking adventure!

Essential Ingredients for Your Festive Hand Pies

Creating these charming Christmas Tree Hand Pies requires only a handful of readily available ingredients, many of which you might already have in your pantry. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, allowing you to focus on the fun of assembly and decoration. Here’s what you’ll need:

Christmas Tree Strawberry Hand Pie Recipe Ingredients

• **Pie Crust:** 1 package store-bought pie crust for a 9-inch double-crust pie. For an extra homemade touch, you can always use our homemade pie crust recipe.
• **Filling:** 1 can of Lucky Leaf Premium Strawberry Pie Filling. This is the star of the show, providing incredible flavor and convenience.
• **Egg Wash:** 1 large egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, for that perfect golden sheen and to help seal the edges.
• **Optional Topping:** Coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for a lovely sparkle and added crunch. We often use red-colored sugar for extra festivity!

Simple Glaze Recipe Ingredients

• **Powdered Sugar:** For the base of your sweet glaze.
• **Liquid:** A few tablespoons of your milk of choice or heavy cream, to achieve the desired consistency.
• **Optional Decoration:** Festive sprinkles, to add a final flourish of holiday cheer.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Christmas Tree Strawberry Hand Pies

Making these delightful hand pies is a fun and straightforward process. Follow these instructions carefully to create perfectly golden, fruit-filled Christmas tree treats:

1. **Prepare Your Workspace:** Begin by thawing your ready-made pie crust according to the package directions. While the crust thaws, preheat your oven to 350℉ (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
2. **Create the Egg Wash:** In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water until well blended. This egg wash will give your pies a beautiful golden-brown finish and help seal the edges.
3. **Roll Out the First Crust:** Gently unroll one thawed pie crust with a rolling pin. Aim for a thickness between ¼” and ⅛”. Ensure there are no holes or breaks in the dough, as this can cause the filling to leak during baking. If you notice any small tears, you can gently pinch them together to seal.
4. **Cut Out Christmas Trees:** Using a 4-inch Christmas tree cookie cutter or Christmas hand pie molds, cut out 6-7 tree shapes. You can adjust the size of your cutter if you prefer larger or smaller pies. Gather any dough scraps, gently re-roll them, and cut out additional trees until most of the dough is used. Set these aside.
5. **Prepare Bottom Crusts:** Carefully place the cut-out tree shapes onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart. Brush the edges of each dough tree with the egg wash. This sticky layer will help create a secure seal when you add the top crust.
6. **Add the Strawberry Filling:** Spoon approximately 1 to 1½ tablespoons of the Lucky Leaf Strawberry Pie filling into the center of each tree shape. Be careful not to overfill, as this can make sealing difficult and lead to leakage.
7. **Apply Top Crusts:** Roll out your second pie crust and cut out an equal number of Christmas tree shapes. Gently place these top crusts over the filling on each bottom crust, aligning the edges as best as possible.

Finishing Touches and Baking Your Mini Desserts

8. **Seal the Edges:** Use the tines of a fork to firmly crimp and seal the edges of each hand pie. This not only secures the filling but also creates a beautiful decorative border. Don’t worry if a little filling oozes out; it just means extra caramelized goodness!
9. **Vent and Decorate (Pre-Bake):** With a small knife, make 3 small slits on the top of each pie. This allows steam to escape during baking, preventing the pies from bursting. Brush the tops of the pies with the remaining egg wash. If you desire, sprinkle with coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for a glistening finish. If you plan to glaze the pies after baking, you might want to skip the coarse sugar at this stage.
10. **Bake to Golden Perfection:** Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven. Bake the hand pies for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crusts are beautifully golden brown and the strawberry filling is visibly bubbly.
11. **Cool and Final Decorate:** Once baked, remove the pies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you want to go all out with decoration, this is the time! Once cooled, you can add a simple glaze, festive sprinkles, or any other decorations you wish to adorn your Christmas trees.

Crafting a Simple Glaze for Your Strawberry Hand Pies

A sweet glaze adds an extra layer of deliciousness and visual appeal to your Christmas Tree Hand Pies. Here’s how to make it:

1. **Mix the Glaze:** In a small bowl, combine your powdered sugar with a small amount of milk (or heavy cream). Start with just a tablespoon or two of liquid and mix thoroughly. Continue adding liquid, a teaspoon at a time, until you achieve a thick yet pourable consistency. It should be able to drip slowly off a spoon.
2. **Glaze and Serve:** While the hand pies are still slightly warm (this helps the glaze set beautifully), you can apply the glaze. Drizzle it artfully over each pie using a spoon, or for a more generous coating, carefully dip the top of each pie into the bowl of glaze using a large fork. If adding festive sprinkles, do so immediately after glazing, as the glaze sets quickly. Serve your beautifully decorated Christmas Tree Hand Pies right away and enjoy the festive flavors!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hand Pies

Here are some common questions and helpful tips to ensure your Christmas Tree Hand Pies are a resounding success:

**Pie Dough Tips for Success**

• **Chilling is Key:** If your pie dough becomes too soft or sticky to handle, especially in a warm kitchen, don’t hesitate to place it in the refrigerator or even the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Cold dough is much easier to work with and helps prevent shrinkage during baking.
• **Preventing Shrinkage:** Always work with chilled dough. Overworking the dough can develop the gluten, making it tough and prone to shrinking. Roll it just enough to reach the desired thickness.
• **Patching Tears:** If your dough tears while rolling or cutting, simply pinch the edges together with your fingers or use a small piece of scrap dough to patch it.

**Storing Your Delicious Fruit Hand Pies**

• **Room Temperature:** You can store baked hand pies, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days. This is generally fine for short-term storage.
• **Refrigeration:** For extended freshness, transfer your hand pies to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 3-4 days. While they will still be delicious, they are always best enjoyed within a day or two of baking for optimal texture.

**Can Hand Pies Be Frozen? Absolutely!**

Freezing hand pies is a fantastic way to prepare ahead for the holidays or to save leftovers for later enjoyment. Here’s how:

1. **Prepare for Freezing (Unbaked):** Arrange the unbaked hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut 2-3 slits into the top of each one, but do not brush with egg wash or sprinkle with sugar yet.
2. **Flash Freeze:** Place the baking sheet with the pies into the freezer. Freeze them until they are completely solid, typically 1-2 hours.
3. **Store Long-Term:** Once frozen solid, transfer the individual hand pies into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or an airtight container. They can be stored this way for up to 3 months.
4. **Baking from Frozen:** When ready to bake, place the frozen pies on a baking sheet covered with foil or parchment paper. If desired, brush them with egg wash and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake the pies at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and the filling is bubbling. No need to thaw beforehand!

**Want to Air-Fry These Mini Hand Pies? Here’s How!**

Air frying offers a quick and convenient alternative for crispy hand pies with less oil. Follow these simple steps:

1. **Preheat Air Fryer:** Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes.
2. **Prepare Basket:** Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
3. **Air Fry in Batches:** Place two hand pies in the basket, ensuring they are not touching for optimal air circulation. Air fry for around 10 minutes, checking frequently, until the crust is a beautiful golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.
4. **Cool and Repeat:** Carefully remove the hot pies from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly. Repeat with the remaining pies in batches. If your air fryer basket is large enough, you can cook more than two at once, provided they have adequate space.
5. **Glaze (Optional):** Once cooled, glaze your air-fried hand pies if desired.

Celebrate the Season with Handmade Christmas Hand Pies!

The Christmas season is a time for joy, togetherness, and creating cherished memories. This year, why not add a unique and personal touch to your celebrations? With the effortless assistance of Lucky Leaf Premium Strawberry Fruit Filling, it becomes incredibly simple to create these enchanting Christmas Tree Hand Pies that are sure to be the star of your holiday dessert spread.

These mini pies offer more than just a delicious treat; they provide an opportunity to gather with loved ones, share laughter in the kitchen, and make lasting memories while baking. The process itself becomes a part of the holiday magic, culminating in sweet, edible treasures. Whether enjoyed as a breakfast pastry, an afternoon snack, or a delightful conclusion to a holiday meal, these hand pies encapsulate the warmth and spirit of Christmas.

You can also find this fantastic recipe on the official Lucky Leaf website! We encourage you to try this recipe and share your festive creations with us and your friends on social media. Be sure to tag us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Happy baking and happy holidays!

Discover More Festive Christmas Treat Ideas!

If you’re still brimming with holiday baking enthusiasm, here are more delightful recipes to explore and add to your festive repertoire:

• 40 Christmas Tree Desserts: A vast collection of themed treats.
• Christmas Tree Pull Apart Cupcakes Cake: A stunning centerpiece for any holiday party.
• 15 Popular Easy Cream Pies You’ll Love!: A selection of creamy, dreamy pies for every occasion.
• Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies: A classic with a festive twist.
• 60 Easy No Bake Christmas Treats: Perfect for quick, delicious, and fuss-free desserts.