Vegan Apple Filo Hand Pies

I am loving all things apple lately, and I have been making apple desserts almost every weekend since the start of the season!  So last weekend was no exception, I decided to make some apple hand pies!  Except not with the usual pie dough, with filo dough!  I have made savory ones with it in the past or individual spanokopitas and stuff, and loved the texture so I thought why not a sweet one!  These Vegan Apple Filo Hand Pies turned out so delicious I had to share them!

They are actually pretty easy to make.  I made the filling first, the day before actually so it could cool.  It is pretty simple like a pie filling just cooked in a pan.  I added some maple and vanilla flavors to make it extra delicious!  For the filo dough, you want to make sure you thaw it out overnight so it is easier to work with the next day and doesn't break as much.  Then while you are working with it I recommend putting plastic wrap over the pieces you aren't working with so it doesn't dry out.

I brushed it with vegan butter so it got nice and flaky and wrapped it around the flavorful apple filling.  You have to be gentle with it, but I feel like it is still less work than regular pie dough that you make from scratch.  After they were wrapped up and given one last brush of butter, I sprinkled them with sugar and popped them into the oven for about 20 minutes!  They smelled sooo good!

Once they had cooled down and I was able to try one, it was so delicious!  Tender sweet apples scented with cinnamon, maple and vanilla wrapped in crispy flaky dough, perfect served with some vegan whipped cream for dipping!  If you are in the mood for something with apples, definitely give these Vegan Apple Filo Hand Pies a try!

Vegan Apple Filo Hand Pies

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 4 cups organic tart sweet apples, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 Tbsp maple syrup (or to taste)
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp maple extract
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch

Filo Dough:

• 10 sheets thawed filo dough
• 1/4 cup melted vegan butter
• granulated sugar for sprinkling

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F degrees.
2. Heat a pot on the stove on medium heat, then add the apples, maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, and cook for about 15-20 minutes stirring often until the apples have softened.  Then add maple and vanilla extracts, cinnamon, sea salt and sprinkle in the cornstarch and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
3. When ready to make the hand pies, lay out a piece of filo, brush the top with melted butter, fold in half and put about 1/4 cup apples in the center.  then fold the top half of the dough over it, then the bottom half, then each of the sides.  Place folded side down on a parchment lined tray.  Repeat with the remaining apples and dough.  When the hand pies are all on the sheet pan, brush with more melted vegan butter, and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
4. Place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes until they are crispy and starting to brown.
5. Remove from the oven and let cool at least 15 minutes before enjoying.