Strawberry Picnic Hand Pies (Printable)

Sweet hand pies with juicy strawberries and golden lattice tops, perfect for outdoor treats and snacks.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pie Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
05 - 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

→ Strawberry Filling

06 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
07 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - Pinch of salt

→ Assembly

12 - 1 large egg, beaten
13 - 1 tablespoon coarse sugar

# How To Make:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in using a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water one tablespoon at a time, mixing just until the dough holds together. Divide dough in half, shape into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine diced strawberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Toss gently to combine and let sit for 10 minutes to allow the strawberries to macerate and release their juices.
03 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to approximately 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out 8 rectangles or circles measuring about 3 by 4 inches each and place on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of strawberry filling onto the center of each piece, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Roll out the second dough disk and cut matching shapes. For lattice tops, slice each piece into 6 thin strips and weave into a crosshatch pattern. Place lattices over filled bases, trimming edges as needed. Press and seal edges firmly, then crimp with a fork. Brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
04 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown with bubbly filling visible through the lattice. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • They're completely portable and won't fall apart in a picnic basket, unlike a full pie that needs careful handling.
  • The lattice top looks impressive enough to make people think you spent hours in the kitchen, but the whole project takes less than an hour.
  • That crispy-flaky exterior against the jammy strawberry filling inside is basically summer in every bite.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step or skip the ice water patience; warm dough makes tough, greasy pies that don't shatter when you bite into them.
  • The cornstarch in the filling is not optional if you want pies that don't leak everywhere; fresh strawberries release a shocking amount of juice, and cornstarch is your savior.
  • Macerate the strawberries ahead of time so the filling has time to thicken slightly before assembly, otherwise you're fighting wet filling the entire time.
03 -
  • Keep your butter and water ice cold throughout the process; this single habit is what separates flaky pies from dense, tough ones.
  • Don't be afraid to re-roll your dough scraps for the lattice strips; pastry dough is forgiving and nobody will taste the difference between first and second roll.
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