Air Fryer Apple Pie (Small Hand Pies)
A full 9-inch pie does not fit in an air fryer basket, but apple pie in the air fryer works beautifully as small hand pies. Refrigerated pie crust and a quick cinnamon apple filling give you flaky, golden pockets in about 10 minutes per batch, with no oven to heat. This guide also covers frozen pies and how to reheat a slice.
- Temperature
- 350°F180 °C
- Total time
- 55min
- Prep time
- 25min
- Servings
- 6
- Per serving
- 365kcal
Why the air fryer works for apple pie
Pie crust is mostly butter or shortening and flour, and it turns flaky when the fat melts into thin layers in strong, dry heat. A basket air fryer delivers exactly that, with hot air circulating around a small pie on all sides. That is why the crust browns evenly and crisps within 10 minutes, where a regular oven needs 40 minutes or more for a full pie.
The trade-off is size. A 9-inch pie plate does not fit, and a deep filling would stay raw in the middle by the time the top browned. Hand pies solve both problems: the filling is cooked first on the stovetop, so the air fryer only has to brown the crust and heat the apples. The same method works for apple pie in the air fryer made with store-bought pie crust, which saves you the dough.
How to make apple pie in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Cook the filling Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt and cook for , until the apples are just tender but still hold their shape. Stir in the cornstarch, cook for until glossy, then let the filling cool for .
- Cut the circles Unroll both crusts on a lightly floured counter. Cut 12 circles with a 4-inch round cutter or a wide glass, rerolling the scraps once.
- Fill and seal Spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling into the center of 6 circles, leaving a ½-inch rim. Brush the rim with beaten egg, cover with the remaining circles and press the edges with a fork. Cut two small slits in each top, brush with egg and sprinkle with the granulated sugar.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F for , then brush the basket lightly with oil.
- Cook in batches Place 3 hand pies in the basket with space between them. Cook for , flipping carefully after , until deep golden. Repeat with the second batch.
- Cool before eating Let the pies cool on a rack for . The apple filling stays scorching hot long after the crust looks ready.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Apple Pie (Small Hand Pies) | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh hand piesFlip after 5 min, 3 pies per batch | 350 °F (180 °C) | 10 min |
| Frozen unbaked hand piesDo not thaw | 330 °F (170 °C) | 14–16 min |
| Frozen small baked pie | 330 °F (170 °C) | 12–15 min |
| Reheat a slice | 320 °F (160 °C) | 4–5 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Read also: Thanksgiving in the air fryer – a game plan
Tips
- Use firm apples. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp keep their shape when cooked. Soft apples turn to sauce inside the crust.
- Keep the dough cold. If the crust turns sticky while you work, slide the cut circles into the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Cold dough makes flakier layers.
- Do not skip the egg wash. A thin coat of beaten egg gives the golden color, glues the edges together and holds the sugar on top.
What to serve with apple pie
Serve the hand pies warm with vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of whipped cream, or with a drizzle of caramel sauce. For a dessert table, set them next to air fryer cheesecake and air fryer cookies. Any leftover filling is good over oatmeal or pancakes the next morning.
Storing and reheating
Cooled hand pies keep for 2 days covered at room temperature or up to 4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, place them in the air fryer at 320 °F for 3–4 minutes, until the crust is crisp and the filling is steaming hot. To freeze unbaked pies, assemble them without the egg wash, freeze on a tray until solid and move them to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Brush with egg and bake straight from frozen.
Variations
- Apple pie taquitos: Spoon the cooled filling into small flour tortillas, roll tightly, brush with melted butter, roll in cinnamon sugar and cook at 375 °F for 6–8 minutes.
- Puff pastry: Cut thawed puff pastry sheets into squares, fill, fold into triangles and cook at 350 °F for 8–10 minutes until puffed and deep golden.
- Baked apples, no crust: Core 2 apples, fill with brown sugar, cinnamon and a pat of butter and cook at 350 °F for 18–20 minutes until tender.
- Baked Apples: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer baked apples.
- Empanadas: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer empanadas.
- Apple Chips: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer apple chips.
- Apple Crisp: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer apple crisp.
If it does not turn out right
- The filling leaks out
- Too much filling or an unsealed edge. Keep to 2 tablespoons per pie, leave a ½-inch rim, press with a fork and always cut the vent slits.
- The crust is pale or soft on the bottom
- The basket was crowded or cold. Preheat first, leave space between the pies and flip halfway so both sides brown.
- The apples are watery
- Pre-cooking the diced apples with a little cornstarch gives a thick filling. Skip the pre-cook and the juices soak into the crust.
Questions and answers
How long does apple pie take in the air fryer?
Small hand pies take about 10 minutes at 350 °F, flipped halfway. A reheated slice of pie needs only 4–5 minutes at 320 °F.
Can I cook a frozen apple pie in the air fryer?
Yes, as long as it fits. Frozen unbaked hand pies cook at 330 °F for 14–16 minutes. Small frozen pies that are already baked need about 12–15 minutes at 330 °F, and a whole 9-inch pie will not fit in a basket.
How do I reheat apple pie in the air fryer?
Heat a slice at 320 °F for 4–5 minutes, until the crust is crisp and the filling is hot. This brings back the flaky crust that the microwave makes soggy.
Can I make mini apple pies without a cutter?
Yes. Use a wide glass or cut the dough into squares with a knife and fold each square over the filling into a triangle.
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