Apple Pie Cheddar Crumble Hand Pies

Golden Apple Pie Cheddar Crumble Hand Pie broken open to show the melted cheddar and cinnamon apple filling Golden Apple Pie Cheddar Crumble Hand Pie broken open to show the melted cheddar and cinnamon apple filling

An Upstate New York Classic, Taken Literally

Yancey's Fancy Apple Pie Cheddar folds right into a cinnamon-apple filling, melting into gooey pockets inside a flaky, golden hand pie. Sweet, buttery, and perfectly cheesy, it's the Thanksgiving dessert you didn't know you needed.

Prep Time: 35 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 1 hour
Serves: 12

What You Will Need

  • 12 pie dough rounds (store-bought or homemade), 5-inch
  • 3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced small
  • 1 1/2 cups Yancey's Fancy Apple Pie Cheddar, shredded
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • 2 tbsp turbinado sugar, for topping

What To Do

  1. Make the Apple Filling: In a bowl, toss the Granny Smith apples with the light brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch until evenly coated.
  2. Fold in the Cheddar: Gently fold the shredded Apple Pie Cheddar into the apple mixture so the shreds are distributed throughout without breaking down the apple pieces.
  3. Fill and Seal: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spoon the filling onto one half of each pie dough round, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Fold the dough over, then crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal in the filling as it melts.
  4. Egg Wash and Vent: Brush the tops with the beaten egg, sprinkle with the turbinado sugar, and cut two small vents in the top of each pie to let steam escape.
  5. Bake Until Golden: Bake until deeply golden and the filling is visibly bubbling through the vents.
  6. Cool Slightly: Let the hand pies cool on the pan so the molten cheddar-apple filling sets just enough not to spill when you bite in.

Pro Tips:

If your dough gets too soft to crimp well, chill the filled pies for 10 minutes before baking. These freeze well unbaked. Bake straight from frozen, adding about 8 extra minutes.