The Best Strawberry Hand Pies Recipe (Gluten Free!)

Prepare portable pies for any occasion with this easy Strawberry Hand Pies recipe. These sweet, paleo-friendly treats are satisfyingly sweet and so simple to make! Gluten-free, grain-free, and perfect for strawberry season (or any time of year!).

What Is a Hand Pie?

A hand pie is a miniature version of a traditional pie. While most pies are large and need to be sliced before serving, hand pies are small, portable, and great to have on the go. They are also great because they come in individually portioned sizes. These pies come in different varieties with various fillings. Some pieces are savory, while others are sweet and might even have a glaze added to them.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Hand Pie Recipe

If you are a pie fan with a delicious flaky crust, I think you’ll love these simple Strawberry Hand Pies! Not only are these super cute and fun, but they are so delicious with a sweet burst of strawberries with every bite.

They are the perfect summer treat to have on hand, but you can make them any time of the year with frozen strawberries. I love this recipe because it is grain-free and gluten-free but totally delicious you won’t even realize it’s a healthier option!

Ingredient Notes

All you need are a few simple ingredients to make both the pie dough and the strawberry pie filling for these delicious strawberry hand pies. 

• Arrowroot Starch: We use this in place of cornstarch. You can also use tapioca starch for similar results.
• Coconut Flour: Makes a delicious and flaky base for your crust.
• Cold Butter: Use unsalted butter. You can use palm shortening if you are dairy-sensitive. Ghee will also work. 
• Egg: Pulse your egg in your food processor with butter and flour. You’ll need another one for the egg wash.
• Sea Salt
• Maple syrup: You can also use honey if that’s what you have on hand.
• Strawberries
• Coconut Sugar
• Fresh Lemon Juice

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make the Filling

1. Combine chopped or sliced strawberries, coconut sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until broken down and thickened. Place in the refrigerator to cool while you work on the crust.

Make The Dough

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add arrowroot starch, coconut flour, salt, cold butter, maple syrup, and an egg to the food processor. Pulse until you can pinch it into a dough. If it’s too dry, pulse in water 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. Sprinkle some arrowroot starch on parchment paper (to create a lightly floured surface) and place dough on top. Place another parchment paper over the dough, and, using a rolling pin, roll dough out until it is about ⅛-¼ inch thick.
4. Using a circle/round cookie cutter 2¾ inch in diameter (or a mason jar ring), cut out 12 circles. You can re-roll the remaining dough scraps until you have 12.

Assemble and Bake

1. Add a tablespoon of the strawberry filling each to the center of 6 circles. Place the remaining circles on the top, sealing the edges gently with your fingers. Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges.
2. Cut out an X on the top to help release steam.
3. Whisk an egg in a small bowl, and using a pastry brush, brush egg wash on the tops of each hand pie. Transfer the hand pies and the parchment paper to a baking sheet.
4. Bake on your prepared baking sheet for 30-35 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
5. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. If you’re not Paleo, enjoy it with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. You can also dust a little powdered sugar on top. 

Expert Tips

• This grain-free pie crust is more fragile than regular crust made with all-purpose flour. Make sure to use a rubber spatula to lift the crust after you cut it, and be gentle when crimping and cutting before you put the paleo hand pies in the oven. If the dough rips while working with it, you can easily fix it using your hands.
• You can use other fruits as well and make any fruit-filled hand pies you’d like. You can use other types of berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries. Just combine them with coconut sugar and lemon juice, just like you would with the strawberries. You can even experiment with using a combination of different fruits with this hand-pie recipe.
• While fresh strawberries are great to use and easy to find during strawberry season, you can always use frozen strawberries. Be sure to chop the strawberries into small pieces before you combine them with lemon juice and coconut sugar.
• You should have no problem finding coconut sugar at your grocery store. If you are unable to find it at your usual store, you can always get it from Thrive Market or just use white sugar You only need a little for these paleo hand pies, so the bag that you purchase will last a while, and you can continue using it in other paleo-friendly recipes.

Storage Tips

Place the baked and cooled hand pies in an airtight container. You do not have to store them in the refrigerator, but doing so will make them last a bit longer. If you leave them out at room temperature, your pies should stay fresh for two days. They can last up to five days in the fridge.

You can store the pies in the freezer to keep them fresh even longer. Wrap each hand pie in parchment paper or tightly with a piece of plastic wrap, seal them with tape, and put them in a large container or freezer bag. Seal the bag shut and put the pies in your freezer for up to three months. You can thaw them in your refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

More Delicious Desserts

• Easy Apple Pie Bars with Salted Caramel Sauce (Paleo, Vegan)
• Strawberry No Bake Cheesecake Bars (Paleo, Vegan)
• Paleo Pumpkin Pecan Pie
• Paleo Chocolate Mousse Stuffed Strawberries
• Chocolate Chip Pretzel Pecan Pie (Gluten Free, Paleo)

If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!