Air Fryer Lemon Hand Pies

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The flavor and texture of these Air Fryer Hand Pies are amazing. They are crispy and flaky on the outside while remaining warm and creamy in the middle. You would never believe that this hand pie recipe is made with store-bought ingredients.

Air fryer hand pies stacked on top of each other with one on top in half to show inside.

This is one of my favorite quick desserts with a pie crust. It’s great for holiday parties or just as a treat to enjoy after a long week. If you’ve never made hand pies in the air fryer, you better start. They get evenly golden brown in a short amount of time.

If you want more hand-pie recipes, you will love Apple or Blueberry Hand Pies and Mummy Cherry Hand Pies.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hand Pies Recipe

Only 5 ingredients: These fruit hand pies only need 5 ingredients and that includes the pie and the glaze.
Ready in 15 minutes: From start to finish, these easy hand pies are ready to eat in less than 15 minutes.
Easy to customize: There are no rules with this air fryer pie recipe! Add or swap whatever you like in the filling.

Ingredients

All you need are these 5 ingredients to make the best air fryer hand pies with pie crust. Plus, they’re all budget-friendly.

Frozen pie crust: I like Pillsbury pie crusts the best for this recipe. They cook well in the air fryer and have a tasty buttery flavor. I use the deep dish crusts because when you roll them out, they are a little larger.
Lemon pie filling: I find lemon pie filling to be the best for fried hand pies. Lemon curd works as well but it has a creamier texture.
Egg: To get that beautiful golden color on the hand pies, don’t skip brushing the tops with beaten eggs.
Icing sugar: This is also known as confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar. It adds sweetness to the glaze without having a gritty texture like granulated sugar.
Milk: Mixed with the sugar, the milk makes the glaze creamy. If you are looking for extra lemon flavor, use lemon juice instead.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

Lemon Berry: All varieties of berries pair wonderfully with lemon. My favorites are raspberries and blackberries. Add some fresh berries to the pie filling for pops of fruit flavor.
Lemon Coconut: Coconut flakes or coconut extract can be added to the lemon pie filling. I recommend the extract if you are not a fan of the texture of shredded coconut.
Lemon Mint: A classic pairing is lemon and mint. Finely chop fresh mint and mix it with the pie filling before making these fried fruit pies.

How to Make Air Fryer Lemon Hand Pies

Here are the easy instructions on how to make air fryer hand pies. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F while you are prepping your hand pies so it’s nice and hot when they are ready to cook.

Pie crust rolled out on a cutting board.

Step 1: Flatten the pie crust. Roll out each thawed pie crust one at a time until flat without changing the thickness.

Step 2: Cut the pie crust. Cut a 5 ½ inch circle. Work the remaining dough back together and repeat the process. Each crust will give you 3 circles.

⭐️ Pro Tip: If you notice the pie crust becoming a little crumbly and dry, add a splash of milk.

Step 3: Add the lemon filling. Spoon about 2 ½ tablespoons of lemon pie filling into the center of each dough circle. There should be about ½ inch of rim left not covered.

Dough folded over and edges crimped with a fork.

Step 4: Seal and brush them with egg. Fold each of the hand pies in half and crimp the edges closed using a fork. (Think of them like air fryer turnovers). Then, brush the tops with the beaten egg wash.

⭐️ Pro Tip: Use a little bit of egg wash or water if you notice that the pies aren’t sealing well.

Hand pies cooked in an air fryer basket.

Step 5: Bake and cool the pies. Place the prepared pies into the air fryer basket and cook for 7-9 minutes or until they are golden brown and flaky. Transfer them to a wire rack so they can cool.

Step 6: Make the glaze. While the lemon pies cool, combine the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl. Whisk the mixture until it’s smooth.

Glaze drizzled over air fryer hand pies on a wire rack.

Step 7: Drizzle the glaze and serve. Drizzle the glaze onto the cooled hand pies. Give them a few minutes to set at room temperature and then enjoy!

⭐️ Hint: You may have to cook the hand pies in batches, depending on the size of the air fryer basket. Make sure they don’t overlap so they cook evenly.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Mini Lemon Bundt Cakes or our Cast Iron Peach Cobbler recipe.

An oval platter with air fried hand pies in front of a white air fryer.

Storage

Refrigeration: Store leftover air fryer hand pies in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Enjoy cold or gently warm in the air fryer. I recommend not reheating them if they have been glazed.
Reheating: These pies only take 3-5 minutes to reheat in the air fryer or the oven at 350 degrees F.
Freezing: Place baked and cooled lemon hand pies in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will stay fresh for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating them.
Make Hand Pies Ahead of Time: Prepare your air fryer hand pies ahead of time by forming them and storing them in the refrigerator on a lined sheet pan covered in plastic wrap for up to 24 hours. You can also freeze them individually and unbaked on a tray. Once frozen, transfer them to a container. Thaw out when ready to bake. Brush the pies with egg wash and air fry according to the recipe directions.

Serving Suggestions

Spoon some tasty Easy Rhubarb Sauce over these air fryer hand pies for extra fruit flavor.
Pie and ice cream are a classic combination. Enjoy a scoop of White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream or Gingerbread Ice Cream with your fried lemon hand pie.
These are great for dipping too. Creamy Cherry Cheesecake Dip goes great because cherry and lemon complement each other well.
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a glass of milk, or a Tequila Espresso Martini if you’re feeling fancy!

Lemon hand pies on a plate with one broken in half.

Recipe Tips

Double the recipe: Two pie crusts only make 6 air fryer-fried hand pies. If you are making them to share for a get-together or a bake sale, this recipe is easy to double or even triple. Just remember to air fryer in batches.
Let them cool: Allow the hand pies to cool completely before you drizzle the glaze on top. If they are too warm, they will melt.
Use turbinado sugar: Don’t want to make the glaze? Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top of the warm pies for sweetness and texture.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make the hand pies in the oven?

Yes! You can bake the hand pies instead of air frying. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and cook the pies for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown!

Can I make my pie crust?

Yes. Use your favorite homemade pie crust recipe in place of the store-bought crusts.

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

I prefer it because it ensures that all of the hand pies are cooked evenly, especially if you have to make them in batches. If you forget, keep an eye on the pies to ensure they don’t overbrown.

Air fryer lemon hand pies on a plate with one cut in half to show lemon filling.

Video

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Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.