Because my lil’ blueberry and almond hand pies were so popular, here’s a quick and easy – and even cuter – hand pie recipe. Adorable little pockets of pastry are filled simply with dates, glazed with simple sugar syrup and topped with beautiful flecks of ground pistachios. You can grind shelled pistachios in a food processor or coffee grinder, but because it’s not a large amount you can easily do it in a pestle and mortar.
Ingredients:
For the pastry:
2 cups white spelt flour (or sub plain white flour)
3/4 tsp baking powder
pinch o’ salt
3 tbsp golden caster sugar
1 cup chilled diced vegan margarine
1 tsp vanilla extract
cold water, as needed
For the filling:
1 cup chopped dried dates
1/4 cup
hot water straight from the kettle
For the glaze and topping:
4 tbsp golden caster sugar
2 1/2 tbsp hot water straight from the kettle
a few tbsps of roughly ground pistachios
Method:
Start off by mixing the dates and 1/4 cup hot water in a bowl and popping a plate on top of the bowl so the heat doesn’t escape and leave to the side whilst you get on with the other bits like the pastry.
To make the pastry grab a mixing bowl and chuck in the spelt flour, baking powder, salt and the 3 tbsp golden caster sugar, stir everything together. Rub in the vegan
margarine until the mix is crumbly and the margarine is evenly dispersed amongst the flour. Add the vanilla, then add cold water, a little at a time, and mix it in, keep adding a little bit of water and mixing until you have a nice dough. Wrap in cling film and pop in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes.
Now’s a good time to check on your dates, they should be nice and soft, so go ahead and mash em up a lil’ with a fork, if you need to add a touch more hot water.
Pop the oven on to preheat at 180c/360f and line a cookie sheet with baking parchment, now grab your pastry out of the fridge and roll out on a floured surface and cut into about 20-24 hearts using a heart-shaped cookie cutter (or you can use a different shape, your choice) Pick up one heart shape and spoon a teaspoon of the mashed dates into the centre, brush around the edge of the heart shape with a little water and place another heart shape on top and gently press the edges together, repeat with the rest of the heart pastry pieces and transfer to the lined cookie sheet, and gently press around the edges with a fine pronged fork. Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
About five minutes before your lil’ pies are done baking, whisk the golden caster sugar and hot water together until the sugar is dissolved, brush generously over the pies as soon as they come out of the oven and sprinkle with the ground pistachios. Transfer the pies to a wire rack to cool and enjoy!
What beautiful photos!
They look amazing. I missed your blueberry and almond pies (how did that happen?!), checking them out now.
thank you! They were tasty too!
So cute, and tasty too! 🙂
These pastries look absolutely perfect Alexander! You’ve got a talent for decorating/food styling. I adore spelt flour, it’s my new favourite. Do you fin that it reamsins ‘stickier’ during the kneading/rolling process though? I’m still discovering the perfect consistency for a great finished product. Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
Not if I roll my pastry out on a surface dusted with plain flour, spelt absorbs moister quickly (it also rise quicker when used for bread!) I am a little bit in love with spelt flour.
Those look amazing! I can’t wait to try them!
Do you get to try them? Or you’ll make them yourself? 🙂
Make them myself haha
If I could send food through the internet I would!
those may be the most endearing little pastries I have ever seen! They are perfect!
Endearing pastries are what im all about! 😉
I’m going to repeat the other comments by saying this, but I have to: THESE COOKIES LOOK SOOOO CUTE! [sorry for shouting]
That okay, we all need to shout with excitement from time to time! Thank you!
How can you make gorgeous light pillows of datey goodness sprinkled with pistachios even better? Make them into little hearts! You are an unmitigated genius :). Heaven in a little green speckled heart 🙂
Everything is cute when heart shaped!
Even hearts! 😉
Alex they look fab, as always. I know you said you have a job now, but why are you not cooking and selling your stuff? Seriously, I don’t understand 🙂
Because as of yet a handsome gent with lotsa money hasnt decided to buy me a cafe/bakery, sigh! p.s. thank you!
Nice idea, I hear you.
If you see one I baggsy him first 🙂
My goodness, all your recipes look so delicious!!
Looks like ill be busy in the kitchen this weekend!!!!