Blueberry Hand Pies

Blueberry Hand Pies with a browned butter crust are truly scrumptious! They're a grab-and-go dessert that you'll want to sit down and savor!

*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2012. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

The taste of these homemade blueberry hand pies will blow you away! The blueberry filling is lovely, but its the nutty brown butter crust that will make you swoon with delight!

BLUEBERRY BROWN BUTTER HAND PIES    {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield - 6 hand pies

For the brown butter dough:
16 tablespoons butter (2 sticks)
1 cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3 cups all-purpose flour (more for rolling out dough)

For the blueberry filling:
2 pints of blueberries (wash and pick stems)
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons Amaretto
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup water
pinch of salt
1 cup frozen blueberries

For topping:
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water

To make the brown butter dough:
-In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat and stir occasionally until the butter becomes a lovely deep shade of brown.  This will take some time so don't rush it. All good things come to those who wait. 🙂
-Remove the butter to a dish and allow it to cool slightly.
-In a large saucepan over low heat, add the butter, brown sugar, and salt.
-Stir until the sugar is melted and removed from heat.
-Allow the mixture to cool until you can comfortably touch it with your finger.
-Add the eggs, lemon zest, and almond extract and whisk to combine.
-Add the flour (1 cup at a time) and stir well after each addition.
-Divide the dough evenly in half and form each half into a flattened rectangle.
-Wrap each half with plastic wrap and allow the dough to chill in the fridge for approximately 20-30 minutes. *Note - Don't let it chill longer than that or you'll have a very tough time rolling out the dough.
-While the dough is chilling prepare your blueberry filling.
-In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the 2 pints of blueberries, butter, vanilla, lemon zest, Amaretto, honey, and salt.
-Cook until just starting to simmer.
-In a small bowl, add the corn starch and water and mix well to combine.
-Add the cornstarch mixture to the blueberries and stir well to combine.
-Cook over low heat until the mixture has thickened considerably.
-Remove from heat, allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes and then add the frozen blueberries.
-Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
-To assemble the pies remove the dough from the fridge and with each piece, roll the dough out, onto a floured surface, to approximately an 8"x12" rectangle.
-Cut the dough into 3 even pieces.
-Spoon approximately 1 ½ tablespoons of the cooled filling on one side of the dough and fold the remaining dough over the filling.
-Using the tines of a fork, seal the edges of the pie by pressing firmly so the filling won't ooze out during baking.
-Make a small slit in the center of each pie and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
-With a fork, stir together the egg and the water.
-Brush the egg mixture over the top of the pies and sprinkle each with the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
-Bake your pies in the preheated oven for approximately 22-25 minutes or until the edges are nicely golden brown and the pies have puffed up.
-Remove the sheets from the oven and cool the pies on a wire rack until ready to serve.

These little pies were a real treat and something I will definitely be making again. 

The possibilities for fillings are simply endless! However, the one thing I won't be changing is the browned butter crust! Can you blame me?