Name: Turtle Hand Pies
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 package of two refrigerated pie crusts; 4 oz. Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar (this breaks evenly into 6 squares); 6 caramel squares; About ½ cup chopped pecans; Water for sealing crusts; 1 cup powdered sugar; ⅛ cup whole milk; 1 ½ teaspoons corn syrup

Warm and delicious turtle hand pies cook quickly in the air fryer. Chocolate, pecan and caramel make the perfect filling for these easy to make pastries.

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Turtle Hand Pies are made with Ghiradelli chocolate squares, gooey caramel chunks, and freshly chopped pecans wrapped in a flaked glazed crust.

We really love making full size pies, but being able to eat a hand pie is so much more convenient, and these are really cute!

You can make turtle hand pies in the oven or air fryer, we have included instructions for both, and each is delicious.

These little treats are easy enough to make on a weeknight or to serve on a holiday or special occasion with a side of vanilla ice cream.

To make things easy we are using refrigerated pie crusts, but if you want a good recipe for a homemade crust this one is the best!

chocolate, caramel and pecan hand pies stacked together

Table of Contents

TURTLE HAND PIE INGREDIENTS

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this delicious recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Crust: Use a refrigerated pie crust or a frozen pie crust, defrosted.
Filling: chopped pecans, caramel, dark chocolate
Glaze: powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup

ingredients needed to make air fryer turtle hand pies

MORE HAND PIES YOU’LL LOVE

CHERRY CHEESECAKE

What a sweet twist on the traditional cherry cheesecake recipe.

BLUEBERRY

A cross between a cobbler and pie, except no fork needed. Blueberry hand pies are the nostalgic hand held treat!

CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRY

Strawberry filled hand pies are great for Valentine’s day and as an edible gift.

CARAMEL APPLE

Apple hand pies can be made in the air fryer, full of flavor, including a creamy cheesecake filling.

air fryer hand pies with a homemade glaze next to chocolate and caramel

Essential

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Prepare your work surface and gather these kitchen tools and supplies before you begin this delicious, easy-to-make recipe so you don’t waste extra time trying to find things you need.

sharp knife or pastry cutter
basting brush
cutting board
whisk
baking sheet (sheet pan)
parchment paper (optional)

turtle hand pies after being cooked in the air fryer topped with a homemade sugar glaze

INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the full instructions and kitchen tips and quick tips for the best way to make this hand pie recipe. Don’t forget to check the prep time and cook time in the recipe card below before you begin.

PREPARE PIE CRUST: Sit out both of the pie crusts for 30 minutes to an hour so they come to room temperature. Flour the counter, and roll out the crusts.

CUT PIE CRUST: Use a 4-inch cookie cutter to cut out 12 circles from the two crusts. Use a rolling pin to roll the scraps to make additional pie crusts.

ADD CHOCOLATE: Place a piece of chocolate in the center of each circle ( 6 total because the others will be used for the top of the pies).

ADD CARAMEL & NUTS: Cut the caramel squares in half, and place the halves side by side on top of the chocolate. Top with a teaspoon of chopped pecans.

KITCHEN TIP

We cut the caramel square in half so that it sits flatter in the hand pie and also so that it melts more evenly. If you place the caramel square on top of the chocolate whole, the pie crust molds to the square shape before the caramel has a chance to melt and the hand pie takes on an odd shape.

add caramel on top of chocolate on pie crust round

add pecans to top of caramel and chocolate on pie crust

CUT SLITS: Make three small slits on the pie dough you are going to use to cover the filling.

KITCHEN TIP

The slits allow the turtle hand pies to vent while they are cooking so the filling doesn’t explode from the edges.

BRUSH WITH WATER: Use a basting brush to gently apply a little water on the sides you make the slits in.

KITCHEN TIP

Adjust the amount of filling to make a pie that has plenty of everything inside, but one that you can also seal without everything falling out or splitting apart during baking. We found it easiest to layer the ingredients as shown – with the chocolate square on the bottom, then the cut caramel square, and finally the chopped pecans.

SEAL EDGES: Place top pie crust, align the edges, and press to seal all the way around.

KITCHEN TIP

Fold up the outer edges to provide a tighter seal – this also makes an attractive edge on the hand pies. We have found this to be a better method instead of using a fork to crimp.

top crust on mini hand pie with hands pressing down on edges

PLACE IN AIR FRYER BASKET: Add as many turtle hands pies as you can to the air fryer basket while leaving room in between each one. These shouldn’t stick to your basket, but just in case you can use cooking spray before you add the pies.

COOKING TIME: Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees or until they are golden brown and flakey.

KITCHEN TIP

Use parchment paper liners for easy cleanup.

MAKE GLAZE: While the hand pies are cooking, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup in a medium bowl and whisk together.

sugar glaze ingredients being whisked in a bowl

FINISH: After the pies are finished cooking, transfer them to a cooling rack and immediately brush them with the homemade glaze. Repeat the air frying process for the remaining pies.

pastry basting brush brushing sugar glaze on top of 4 cooked turtle hand pies

top shot of chocolate, caramel, and pecan hand pies in a serving dish

STORAGE TIPS

Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning.

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container or ziploc bag and refrigerate or store on the counter for up to 3 days if you can’t eat it the next day.

Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer safe, container. If you’re storing in a zip top plastic bag, try to get as much air out as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to defrost is in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheating: These hand pies are delicious when eaten warm. The caramel can harden too much and be difficult to chew when the hand pies are cold. Reheat hand pies in the air fryer or microwave, just until warm.

holding a turtle hand pie that is split open

Granny Smith Apple Pie Recipe

Pin Recipe

Classic apple pie recipe with the perfect balance of tart apples and a sweet filling in a sugar-sprinkled crust. Make this delicious apple pie dessert to accompany any meal.

1 hour 15 minutes

Check out this recipe

granny smith apple pie with one slice missing

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click the questions to see the answer.

Can you make turtle hand pies in the oven instead of the air fryer?

Follow all of the instructions for assembling the pies, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown and flaky.

two hand pies on a black plate next to caramel squares

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Hand Pie

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Hand Pies are an easy 3 ingredient dessert that is snack size, almost mess free, and has just the right amount of filling.

See Recipe

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Hand Pie

These caramel apple cheesecake hand pies are cute and fun to make in the air fryer.

See Recipe

caramel, hand pie, pecan

5 from 9 votes

Turtle Hand Pies

Course Dessert

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Warm and delicious turtle hand pies cook quickly in the air fryer. Chocolate, pecan and caramel make the perfect filling for these easy to make pastries.

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

Hand Pie Ingredients:

▢ 1 package of two refrigerated pie crusts
▢ 4 oz. Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar this breaks evenly into 6 squares
▢ 6 caramel squares
▢ About ½ cup chopped pecans
▢ Water for sealing crusts

Glaze Ingredients:

▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
▢ ⅛ cup whole milk
▢ 1 ½ teaspoons corn syrup

Instructions

Bring pie crusts to room temperature 30-60 minutes before making pies.
Unroll pie crust onto a floured countertop. Cut out 12 circles from the two crusts using a 4” fluted biscuit cutter. Gather scraps and re-roll to make additional crusts so that you have 12 total.
For each pie, center a chocolate square on a crust circle. Slice a caramel square in half and place the two halves side by side on top of the chocolate. Mound 1-2 teaspoons of chopped pecans over the chocolate and caramel.
Cut small slices for venting into a second pie crust circle and brush with water. Place the moistened crust over the filled bottom piece. Align the edges and press them together well to seal all the way around the pie.
Fold up the outer edges to provide a tighter seal – this also makes an attractive edge on the hand pies.
Space four hand pies in the basket of the air fryer (or as many as you can fit while leaving a couple inches around each pie).. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
While the hand pies are baking, whisk together the ingredients for the glaze.
Remove the pies from the air fryer when they are golden and flakey. Place them on a cooling rack and immediately brush with glaze.
Leave hand pies to set and dry (about 15 minutes).

Notes

Storage:

Store leftover hand pies in an airtight container on the countertop. Reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or toaster oven.

Notes:

These hand pies are delicious when eaten warm. The caramel can harden too much and be difficult to chew when the hand pies are cold. Reheat hand pies in the air fryer or microwave, just until warm.

Nutrition

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caramel, hand pie, pecan

Turtle Hand Pies

TURTLE HAND PIE INGREDIENTS