Friday, June 10, 2011

Nutella Hand Pies - Flaky, Chocolate Mini Pies

I've been holding back on one of my favorite recipes, and it's time to share it with you. Nutella Hand Pies are flaky, chocolate mini turnovers and are my "Go-To" for Bake Sales. There is almost always a zip-lock bag of these ready for baking in my freezer at all times. They are my most requested family treat (except for the Nutella Crack Pie). I've also made these with Apples, Cherries or Blueberries inside and added little fork marks on the outside to remember which is which. Once you get the hang of making these (which is ultra easy), you will be trying all kinds of fillings (savory and sweet.)My Grandmother and my Mom made something like these in the southern tradition of "fried pies". Grandma W used to make them from canned biscuits rolled out and apples marinated in sugar, juice and spices. Those will remain my favorites because I grew up eating them, and my Mom's will always be my favorites because they're, well... Mom's.These Nutella Hand Pies are made with homemade pastry that is extra flaky for a few reasons: 1- The butter is extra cold, even frozen and you grate it into the flour. 2- The wet ingredients are a mixture of sour cream and buttermilk. 3- The dough is chilled, rolled out, then chilled again before being rolled out again - which develops layers (a little like puff pastry has, but thicker.)The result is a pastry that almost melts just about the time the Nutella hits your mouth, too. These are perfect quick grabs for breakfast or brunch, but they make a nice little lunch addition to a picnic, a lunch box or an afternoon tea.Today is one of those fun "Lets Lunch" group postings that I've been doing with some blogging friends across the world. Each month we pick another food or theme, then we all post about it on the same day. It's our way of having lunch together no matter the time, distance or culture. At the bottom of this page, you will find a list of my buddies who are participating in today's lunch which is...PIES.

You will not believe how many different ideas you will see and can click over to from this one place. Be sure to take a look, and if you want to join us next time, just let me know (or look for our info on twitter under #LetsLunch)

RECIPE: Nutella Hand Pies (makes 12 -24 depending on size)

1/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
pinch of salt

6 oz. butter (keep in freezer for minimum 20 minutes)
1 egg (for an egg-wash before baking)
Nutella (1-2 Tbls. per hand pie)

1) In a small bowl, beat buttermilk, sour cream and sugar together.
2) In another bowl, sift in flour and salt, then grate butter into the flour and toss to coat and separate.
3) Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients lightly (using a fork), just until they clump together.
4) Empty onto a lightly floured board and pull ingredients into a ball and mash together once or twice just until it holds. (You should see the streaks of butter in the dough which means it will be nice and flaky.)
5) Make two balls, wrap them in plastic wrap, press them down into a nice square about 4x4 and chill for 20-30 minutes (or overnight).
6) Remove one chilled dough at a time and roll out into a rectangle shape about 8x8. Fold into thirds like a letter, wrap in plastic and return to refrigerator to chill again for 20- 30 minutes.

7) Remove one chilled dough at a time to work with it. Roll it out thin, cut into circles. You can use any scraps left over to re-roll, but try to stack the pieces on top of each other to roll out to protect the buttery layers. Try to not over-work.
8) Brush a little water on the outsides rims of the circles, drop a dollop of Nutella in each one and fold over to seal. Press the edges closed with the tines of a fork.
9) Once sealed, place on a parchment lined baking sheet, prick with the fork and brush with beaten egg. You can freeze them at this point (once they are frozen, bag them and bake later), or bake them in a preheated 350F oven for about 15-20 minutes depending on size. I hope you enjoy these. Everyone in my house loves them.

Don't forget to go over and look at all these great PIE ideas for today's Let's Lunch!

A Tiger In The Kitchen Japanese Curry Pot Pie

Zest Bakery - Lime-Custard & Curd Pie

Free Range Cookies - Dirt Pie with Compost Cookie Crust

Monday Morning Cooking Club - Pilaf Pie with Chicken, Sultanas & Sweet Spices

Chez Us -Summer Chicken Pot Pie

GrongarBlog - Spanakopita and Rhubarb Crisp

Hot Curries & Cold Beer - Pecan Pie with a twist

Beyond The Plate - Flaky Homemade Puff Pastry covered Chicken Pot Pie

Kitchen Dreamer - Chinese Sausage and Roasted Sweet Potato Hand Pies

29 comments:

charissa (zest bakery) said...

Totally adorable and perfect for tea time! Yum!

Ilke said...

It does not get any better than this!! I will try this as soon as possible because i have two big jars that i got from Costco! Good trick about shaved butter. I always have hard time working it into the tart dough.

Linda said...

When I see nutella, I think of you! Great idea to use buttermilk and sour cream in the crust. Oh, the ideas I'm getting . . .

Steff @ The Kitchen Trials said...

Frozen, grated butter for the pie dough?! Oh my gosh. I have to try this. Thank you for sharing that tip!

Carissa @ Pretty/Hungry said...

I'm going to make these as a surprise for my husband's birthday! He ADORES nutella. Thank you for sharing!

Diane Schmidt said...

Oh these look so delicious!
I grate cold butter often and LOVE the results.
This is a must make recipe!!!
Love your packaging. I love sewing bags :) FUN!!!!
LOVE your labels, that there is room to write on them-genius!!!

Lana said...

That was a trick my mother taught me, to shave very cold butter in my flour:)
These look divine, and i have to try making them (I always have Nutella or Eurocream, which is very similar, in the pantry:)

Sippity Sup said...

Nutella? I never understood the connection. But in your hands I see beauty. GREG

Sue said...

These look beautiful and delicious! I see them in my kitchen(and my stomach) in the near future:)

Jennifer (Savor) said...

I am ashamed to say that when you referred to them as crack pies, I drooled even more.

Jeanne said...

YUM! These bring back memories from childhood. I am southern bred too and these handpies were always a special treat my momma and grandmother made using fig preserves. Of course they were fried pies from a cast iron skillet. I can't wait to try these.

Lauren at Keep It Sweet said...

These look so cute and delicious!

Lauren Wyler said...

these look awesome thanks for sharing! When you freeze them, do you thaw them before baking them or do you bake them frozen for longer?

Kate@Diethood said...

Those are fantastic! I would not be able to stop at one...or ten!

Charissa said...

I am drooling all over the keyboard. I love nutella and flakey little pastrys. Oh dear...all day I'll be thinking of how to avoid making these.

Salvador Dali said...

Your dish look cery delicious!:) Can i take cookie? :)

Elena (Running in Heels After Child) said...

These look so good, and I am going to check out our "Nutella Crack Pie" next, the name made the laugh and want to try it.

I have a question for you, I have some store bought pie crust in my fridge I need to use up and a broken foot (really), do you think these would be worth making with out the home made pastry? I am trying to find a little treat I can put together very quickly and easily on one foot.

Thanks,
elena

Danielle said...

Oh my dear god, you and Cheryl are lunchers after my own heart this time. I've been thinking about hand pies since I tried a fried apple version in NOLA last year. Your post is a reminder that I should stop procrastinating and just do it! :)

Ethan said...

thank you for not keeping this recipe to yourself!
I think I could polish off all 12-24 by myself.

Anonymous said...

can you substitute regular milk for buttermilk?

showfoodchef said...

Anonymous: you absolutely can use regular milk (better with whole milk, though). It will be just a tiny less flaky, but I've done it in a pinch, myself. Thx for asking.

Khali//Bandit and the Scene Stealers said...

These are my favorite!!!!!! I was think that for the holidays this year I would give people pies but hand pies sounds even more fun!!!! Love the packaging too!!!

Sylvie en la cocina said...

Que buena idea, es una merienda estupenda para los niƱos. Te dejo mi enlace por si quieres visitarme, vengo de La Cuineta Divertida.Un saludo http://lacuinetadivertida.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hey!! this blog is my new discover and I love it !! THX from Costa Rica!!

Valentina said...

Yum! I love that you grate the butter! Brilliant!

christi said...

I made these today . They are wonderful! thanks for this! :)

Clare said...

Just pulled these out of the oven <3 I needed to add a little extra buttermilk when I was first blending the dough into a ball, but it all turned out perfect :)

Honeyed Pandemonium said...

That looks so yumm! Love you blog, my first time here. Will try making these soon!
Luck,
Pratiksha

Shelli said...

These look amazing but I'll have to try them with shortening to reduce the lactose....BUT my real question is about the sewn sandwich bags. What is the paper product? Waxed bags? Freezer bags? Grocery bakery bags? Absolutely adorable.