Strawberry picnic hand pies (Print Version)

Sweet handheld delights filled with fresh strawberries and topped with golden, flaky lattice crusts.

# 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 egg, beaten for egg wash
13 - 1 tablespoon coarse sugar for sprinkling

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing just until the dough holds together. Divide dough in half, shape into disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss diced strawberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate and develop flavor.
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 about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out 8 rectangles or circles approximately 3 by 4 inches. Place on 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 lattice pattern. Place lattices over filled bottoms, trimming edges as needed. Press edges to seal, 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 and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're fancy enough to impress but casual enough to eat with your hands at a picnic without guilt.
  • The buttery, flaky crust paired with jammy strawberries feels like you've unlocked a secret only bakers know.
02 -
  • If your filling is watery, the cornstarch will save you—but if you skip it, you'll end up with soggy bottoms and regret.
  • Freezing your filled pies for 30 minutes before baking makes them puff up higher and the crust stays flakier, which I discovered by accident and never looked back.
03 -
  • Keep everything as cold as possible until the moment they go in the oven—this single habit transforms your crust from good to genuinely incredible.
  • If your lattice strips break while weaving, just patch them together or lay them straight across—nobody will judge rustic charm, and it all tastes the same.
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