Strawberry Basil Hand Pies

Strawberry Basil Hand Pies

These are maybe one of the yummiest things I’ve ever made. They take a little work, but they are SO SO worth it. Basically a healthier, adult-friendly pop tart, these sweet little guys are packed with fruit and drizzled in sweet vanilla glaze. They’re buttery, rich, and taste WAY BETTER than store-bought! That I can promise. These babes first debuted in my Homestyle Vegan Cookbook two years ago, but they've become a Sunday morning staple in our house ever since! They're easy to whip up, and are a total crowd pleaser. Who doesn't love pop tarts?! 

My second cookbook, a collaborative effort titled 'Vegan Bible' will be out later this year, in October. Lots more fun new recipes coming your way! In the meantime, I thought I'd revisit one of my favorites in case you haven't gotten your copy of the cookbook yet. Seriously cannot wait to hear what you guys think when you try them. And know that if strawberries and basil together isn't your favorite flavor combo, you can always ditch the basil, sub out the strawberries for another fruit, or come up with your own flavor combination entirely! No matter what you decide, they're gonna be good. Let’s bake! ​

INGREDIENTS
Hand Pies:
1 heaping cup (210 g) fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced
1 tablespoon (15 ml) water (ONLY IF USING FRESH BERRIES)
1 tablespoon (3 g) fresh basil, finely chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups (315 g) whole wheat pastry flour
1/8th teaspoon salt
2/3 cup (150 g) cold vegan butter
2-4 tablespoons (30-60 ml) ice water

Vanilla Glaze:
6 tablespoons (48 g) powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1-3 teaspoons (5-15 ml) unsweetened almond milk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the strawberries, water (ONLY IF USING FRESH BERRIES), basil, sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally and smashing down the fruit as it cooks. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a fork or pastry cutter until small crumbs form. Drizzle ice water over the mixture about a tablespoon at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon, until a dough begins to form. The dough should be moist but not sticky.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a disc. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large, 1/4 in. thick rectangle. Use a sheet of plastic wrap over the dough to prevent cracking as you roll it out, if needed. Cut the rectangle into 12 equal squares (or rectangles) and move half of them to the lined baking sheet.

Scoop about 1 tablespoon of filling onto the 6 laid squares, leaving about 1/4 inch of space around the edge. Using your finger, dab a bit of water around the edges to help seal them. Top each square with its matching other half, pressing around the edges with a fork to seal them.

Use a toothpick to poke a poke a few small holes in the top, then bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. While they cook, prepare the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, vanilla and unsweetened almond milk.

When the hand pies are finished, let them cool on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before topping with glaze.

TIPS
Makes 6 hand pies.

Leftover hand pies taste great cooled - no need for reheating!

You can sub in any berries you prefer here and if basil isn’t for you, go ahead and leave it out.

Prefer a lower sugar option? Ditch the glaze!

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