Easy Cherry Hand Pies (Bakery-Style in Minutes with Empanada Dough)

Easy cherry hand pies with empanada dough—golden, flaky, and fast. A quick dessert shortcut that tastes bakery-made.

These easy cherry hand pies deliver the cozy, nostalgic flavor of cherry pie without the time and fuss of making pie dough. Using frozen empanada rounds makes them fast, reliable, and perfect for weeknights, parties, and last-minute dessert cravings—while still giving you that crisp, golden, handheld “bakery case” finish.

Why This Recipe Works

• Uses a smart shortcut (empanada rounds) for consistent results with minimal prep
• Hand pies bake faster than a full pie, so you get a quicker payoff
• Egg wash + finishing sugar creates an attractive, crisp, bakery-style top
• Vent slits help prevent blowouts and soggy pastry
• Easy to customize with different fillings (store-bought or homemade)

Ingredients (& what each one does)

** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.

• Frozen empanada dough rounds: the quick, sturdy “pie crust” shortcut that bakes up crisp and flaky
• Cherry pie filling: provides fruit, sweetness, and the classic cherry pie flavor without extra cooking
• Egg: brushed on top for shine, color, and better browning
• Demerara [paid link] sugar (optional): adds crunch and a sparkling bakery-style finish

How to Make Easy Cherry Hand Pies

** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.

1. Preheat the oven and prepare your dough rounds.
2. Add cherry filling to the center, then fold the dough into a half-moon.
3. Seal well, with the tip of a sharp knife, vent the tops, and then brush with egg wash.
4. Add bakery-style Demerara [paid link] finishing sugar, then bake until golden.
5. Cool briefly, then serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Don’t overfill: too much filling makes sealing harder and can leak during baking.
• Seal like you mean it: press the edges firmly, then crimp with a fork to lock them in.
• Vent every pie: a few small slits help steam escape so the crust stays crisp.
• Keep dough cold-ish: if it gets too soft, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
• Bake until truly golden: color = flavor and crispness.

Recipe Variations

• Cherry-almond: add a tiny drop of almond extract to the filling (or drizzle with almond glaze).
• Cream cheese cherry: add a small smear of sweetened cream cheese before the cherry filling.
• Mixed berry: swap in berry pie filling or a berry blend.
• Chocolate cherry: add a few mini chocolate chips with the filling.

Serving Suggestions

These are sweet enough to stand alone, but great with:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Whipped cream
• A dusting of powdered sugar or a simple glaze
• Coffee, hot tea, or a cold glass of milk

New Life for Leftovers

• Breakfast pastry: warm one up and serve with yogurt.
• Dessert upgrade: split and add a scoop of ice cream for a quick “hand pie sundae.”
• Party platter: re-crisp in the oven and serve on a tray with dipping glazes.

Storage

• Room temp: Store in an airtight container for short-term keeping (best for same-day texture).
• Refrigerator: Airtight container for a few days (they may soften).
• Reheat to re-crisp: Oven is best—heat until warm and crisp again. (Avoid microwaving if you want a crisp crust.)

People Often Ask (FAQs)

Can I use puff pastry instead of empanada dough?
Yes. Puff pastry will bake flakier and lighter, but may need different bake time.

How do I keep hand pies from leaking?
Use less filling, seal firmly, crimp with a fork, and vent the tops.

Can I make these ahead for a party?
Yes—bake ahead, store airtight, then reheat in the oven to re-crisp before serving.

Can I use homemade cherry filling?
Absolutely. Just make sure it’s not overly runny so the crust can seal and bake crisp.

Do I have to use finishing sugar?
No—optional, but it adds great crunch and a bakery-style look.

Final Thought

If you want the comfort of cherry pie with a fraction of the effort, these easy cherry hand pies are the perfect shortcut. They’re quick, customizable, and reliably delicious—exactly the kind of recipe you’ll come back to whenever you need a simple dessert that looks impressive.

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Easy Cherry Hand Pies

Ronda Eagle | Kitchen Dreaming

These cherry hand pies are amazing. Frozen empanada pie dough rounds make these handheld Cherry hand pies quick and easy to prepare. If you're not a fan of cherry pie filling, you can always use another fruit — or make your own.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Calories 84 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 Pkg Frozen Empanada Dough Rounds , thawed
• 21 ounces Cherry Pie Filling
• 1 egg , beaten
• demerara [paid link] sugar , for dusting tops of pastry (optional)

Instructions

 

• Heat oven to 425°F. Divide dough in half.
• Top each dough round with 1 tablespoons pie filling onto center of each round.Fold the dough over in half. Press edges firmly together and seal with a fork. Cut 3 small slits in the tops of each pie to release steam while cooking.
• Brush each pie with egg wash and dust with demerara [paid link] sugar for a bakery-style finish.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Serve warm or cool.
• To reheat, place in a preheated oven and heat until crisp and warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pie (1/10 of recipe)Calories: 84kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 76mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin D: 1µgVitamin E: 1mgVitamin K: 1µgCalcium: 6mgFolate: 14µgIron: 1mgZinc: 1mg

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