Pecan Hand Pies

A flaky crust and caramelized nutty filling make these Pecan Hand Pies the perfect individual-sized treat for your Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. Surprise your friends and guests with this unique (and easy!) twist on a classic favorite. The best part? They’re simpler to make than a traditional pie!

Best Pecan Hand Pies Recipe

Having grown up in the South, right on the border of Texas and Louisiana, pecan pies are a tradition at just about every Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration.

From a classic Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup, a Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie, to a twist with these Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, I can’t ever seem to get enough of this Fall treat!

Then just this last week I was trying my hand at making homemade empanadas (recipe coming soon, I promise!) when I thought, hey! Why not turn my FAVORITE pie into a delicious hand pie?!

And my friends, I couldn’t be more THRILLED to present to you hands down the BEST Pecan Hand Pies! (Like that play on words there ;))

So what makes them the best?! Well, lemme tell ya…

The filling is made much like your favorite pecan pie except with a hint of orange zest and a bit more cinnamon added in. Which equals… a flavor explosion!

Then the crust is brushed with a bit of egg wash so it comes out a gorgeous golden color and gets super flaky.

But even better than the taste and texture?! We’re making these SO super quick and easy. Instead of laboring away to make your own Homemade Pie Crust (which yes, indeed you can!), we’re simply using store-bought pie crusts to speed things up. So much easier and a very minimal sacrifice on the finished taste!

What are Hand Pies?

A hand pie is just what it sounds like—a miniature pie you can fit in your hand! These tasty treats can be sweet or savory in a variety of flavors, and they go by many names. In fact, just about every culture in the world has some form of hand pie.

To make them, usually, a pie crust is cut into a circle, filled with prepared ingredients, then folded and crimped before baking.

Ingredients

To make this easy pecan hand pie recipe you need:

• Pecans. Be sure to grab raw, unsalted pecans at the grocery store. Save some time by buying chopped nuts, or grab whole pecans or halves and chop them yourself.
• Sugar. Brown sugar will give you that rich, caramelized flavor you find in traditional pecan pies. You might also want some powdered sugar and sanding sugar, as well.
• Butter. Stick with salted butter for the best results. Unsalted butter will work, but you’ll need to add additional kosher salt to the recipe.
• Milk. You only need a tablespoon, so either regular milk or a plant-based alternative works fine.
• Vanilla. Don’t skip this, and go with pure vanilla rather than imitation if possible.
• Cinnamon. This warming spice is essential for this dish. It adds an irresistible pop of flavor you didn’t know you needed.
• Egg. An egg wash gives the crust the beautiful golden color and flaky exterior.
• Orange zest. While this ingredient is optional, it adds so much to the recipe.
• Pie crusts. You can definitely make your own homemade pie crust, or take the easy route and grab the refrigerated kind from the store.

How to Make Pecan Hand Pies

Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.

Make the Filling

Preheat the oven to 375℉.

Place the chopped pecans on a baking sheet, be sure they are spread evenly and not overlapping.

Bake the nuts for 5 to 6 minutes, just until they’re toasted and fragrant. (Here’s more info on how to toast pecans.)

Then, stir together the roasted pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest in a medium-sized or large bowl.

Make the Egg Wash

Crack the egg into a small bowl, then pour the milk in as well. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine.

Set aside until the pies are assembled.

Cut the Crust into Circles

To ensure the pie dough won’t stick, lightly dust your cutting board with powdered sugar. (You can also use a lightly floured surface, but powdered sugar tastes better!) Then, roll one of the pie crusts out with a rolling pin so it lays flat.

Use a 4 ½-inch round cookie cutter to make 6 circles. If you don’t have one, you can use a cup or large biscuit cutter. You will need to reshape and reroll the dough to get enough circles.

Then, repeat the process with the second pie crust. You will end up with 12 mini pies.

Fill, Fold, and Seal

Use a pastry brush to spread the egg wash over the outside ½-inch of each pie crust circle. Then, spoon about 1 ½-tablespoons of pecan pie filling mixture slightly off-center of the dough rounds. You will be folding half over, so leave some space.

Pull the opposite side of the crust over the filling, taking time to line up the edges. Picture folding a taco in half!

Use your thumb to press the edges together. They should stick because of the egg wash. Use a fork to crimp all the way around the edges of the crust that meet to seal it even better. The key is to press firmly enough that the crust sticks together but not so hard you end up pushing through the crust.

Repeat the process with the remaining 11 circles.

Brush and Vent

Place each of the filled hand pies on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving about 1 inch in between each one.

Coat the tops with more egg wash. Then, use a sharp knife to cut a plus sign or small slit in the middle of the top of each pie. This allows steam to escape without breaking through the edges.

Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes. The edges should be golden brown and the dough completely cooked.

Be sure to let the pies rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes, then dust the tops of the pies with sanding sugar (or granulated sugar if that’s all you have.) 

Let the mini pecan pies cool on a wire rack.

How to store hand pies? 

Once you’ve made your hand pies, you can easily store them at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days. Pop them in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to warm them back up.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend instead of all-purpose flour in the crust.
• Dairy-Free: In place of butter, opt for a vegan butter alternative.

More Pecan Dessert Recipes

Pecans were MADE for dessert. Try any of these tasty yet super simple pecan dessert recipes next.

If you love pecan pie, you have to whip up a traditional Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup, Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie, or Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars. They’re some of my favorite things on a Thanksgiving table. (Learn if Pecan Pie Needs to Be Refrigerated and How to Freeze Pecan Pie, too.)

Don’t miss these Pecan Sandies or Cinnamon Sugar Pecans.