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    Home » Recipes » Homemade Pies » Blackberry Hand Pies

    Published: Sep 27, 2020 · Modified: Mar 9, 2022 by Jessica Robinson · This post may contain affiliate links

    Blackberry Hand Pies

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    blackberry hand pies leaning up against each other on wooden cutting board

    Blackberry Hand Pies are made with blackberry pie filling, homemade pie crust, or refrigerated biscuit dough. Make this blackberry pie recipe ahead of time and freeze for later use.

    This hand pie recipe uses fresh or frozen fruit for the pie filling and is the perfect addition to any backyard BBQ, potluck or family gathering.

    Blackberry hand pies leaning against each other on wooden cutting board, loose blackberries around.

    Inspired by my widely popular Apple Hand Pies, I made homemade blackberry pie filling to create these delicious Blackberry Hand Pies. Make the pie filling ahead of time and cool completely before filling your pie crust.

    Why this recipe works

    • Prep ahead of time! – make blackberry pie filling ahead of time. Refrigerate it for a few days or freeze for a month or two.
    • Freezer friendly! – this hand pies recipe can be made ahead of time, place on half sheet pans lined with parchment paper and freeze. Cover the entire pan with plastic wrap to prevent frost bite.
    • Makes a great individual dessert! – these are the perfect size dessert. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    What you’ll need

    • Blackberries – use fresh or frozen blackberries.
    • Lemon juice – helps keep the blackberries fresh and adds some citrus flavor.
    • Cinnamon & Nutmeg – warm spice of cinnamon adds plenty of spice to your blackberry pie.
    • Pie Crust – use homemade or store-bought pie crust. You can even use refrigerated biscuit dough rolled out if you prefer.

    I’ve been perfecting my pie crust recipe for a few years now and we love blackberry pie. So, I thought these hand pies would be perfect combination for fall. Also try my apple cider donuts.

    Blackberry pies on wooden cutting board, loose blackberries and mint sprigs around.

    Blackberry hand pies can be prepared ahead of time, refrigerated or frozen. Homemade hand pies are easy to make using either store-bought or homemade pie crust or even refrigerated biscuit dough. 

    Large cast iron skillet with frozen blackberries on wooden cutting board.

    How to make Blackberry Pie Filling

    Step 1: Make the pie filling. Melt the butter in a 12-13-inch skillet. Cook the blackberries over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until soft. Sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice while they cook. Stir with a wooden spoon occasionally, making sure they do not burn.

    Step 2: Thicken the pie filling. Pour the cornstarch slurry once berries are almost done and let cook to thicken the blackberries pie filling.

    (NOTE: Blackberry Pie Filling will thicken once removed from the heat and it cools. Should it not be thick enough, simply pour back into the skillet, add a little more dissolved cornstarch and cook some more.)

    Step 4: Remove from the heat and let cool. Remove from heat and add the cinnamon, nutmeg and stir to combine. Let the pie filling cool completely.

    Uncooked blackberry hand pies on half sheet pan, clear glass bowl of blackberry pie filling on butcher block.

    Make a big batch of the blackberry pie filling and let it cool completely. Save time and make it a few days ahead of time!

    I like to make it the night before I assemble blackberry hand pies, so it’s completely cooled and ready to go! (Make the pie filling ahead of time and refrigerate for a few days, or freeze until needed)

    Blackberry hand pies with glaze on a wooden cutting board, loose berries around them.

    How to freeze hand pies

    As you create each hand pie, place them on a half sheet pan lined with a piece of parchment paper. I will typically overlap them just a tad and be able to fit about 5-6 hand pies in each row, with a total of 3 rows per sheet pan.

    Wrap the entire sheet pan of hand pies and place in the freezer flat. So the entire sheet pan stays flat. Once they are completely frozen you can stack another sheet pan of hand pies on top, if needed. But, not until they are completely frozen– otherwise you will squish the hand pies!

    Blackberry hand pies and loose fresh blackberries on wooden cutting board.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make Blackberry Hand Pies ahead of time?

    Absolutely! I make blackberry hand pies the night before and slightly overlap them on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Loosely cover the entire sheet pan with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. This also makes the pie dough super cold when you fry them, helping them become perfectly flaky.

    Can I freeze hand pies?

    Layer hand pies, slightly overlapped on a parchment lined half sheet pan. Three rows of hand pies, five to six hand pies per row. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for up to six months.

    How do you thaw hand pies?

    Thaw in the fridge, uncovered. NOTE: If you leave them covered with plastic wrap after being frozen, they end up with too much condensation. Simply remove the plastic wrap and they’ll thaw perfectly overnight.

    Blackberry pies on wooden cutting board, loose blackberries around them.

    What is a Blackberry Hand Pie?

    These yummy fried hand pies are small pieces of dough with a dollop of blackberry pie filling, then crimped and fried. They are an old-fashioned tradition here in the South.

    These blackberry pies can be fried or baked.

    Close up of blackberry hand pies, one cut in half in front on wooden cutting board, fresh berries around.

    Do I have to make Homemade Pie Crust?

    I make hand pies with homemade pie crust. But, if you don’t want to fuss with homemade crust you can use refrigerated biscuit dough or refrigerated pie crust.

    Doing a little research, I found that many old-time Southern cooks made these little hand pies with biscuit dough. But, I think you’ll love them with the pie crust.

    Pie crust tips

    If your pie crust is getting too warm, plop the entire pie in the fridge or into the freezer for a bit to get it really cold again before baking.

    Can you freeze pie dough?

    While you can freeze pie crust, I like to make pie crust fresh each time I need it. You can make an entire pie, wrap with loosely with plastic wrap and freeze it. Should you wish to freeze pie dough, be sure and wrap it tightly with heavy-duty plastic wrap and sealed freezer zip-style bag.

    Close up of blackberry hand pie cut in half, other pies in background, loose blackberries.

    More Pie Recipes

    • Cherry Pie
    • Cherry Hand Pies
    • Blackberry Cobbler
    • Blackberry Pie
    • Blueberry Pie
    • Blueberry Crumble Pie
    • Apple Pie
    • Pumpkin Pie

    Did you make one of my recipes? Please take a moment to leave a star rating. Also, if you are on Pinterest, please feel free to leave a comment there! Follow A Farmgirl’s Kitchen on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST and YouTube and subscribe my mailing list for ALL the latest recipes!

    5 from 5 votes
    Blackberry hand pies on wooden cutting board, loose blackberries around.
    Print Rate this Recipe

    Blackberry Hand Pies

    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time3 mins
    Total Time33 mins
    Blackberry Hand Pies are made with blackberry pie filling, homemade pie crust or refrigerated biscuit dough. Make these blackberry pies ahead of time and freeze for later use.
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Southern
    Servings: 12 pies
    Calories: 114kcal
    Author: Jessica Robinson

    Equipment

    • Half Sheet Pans
    • Parchment Paper (Half Sheet pan)
    • Plastic Bench Scraper
    • Small Pizza Cutter

    Ingredients

    Blackberry Pie Filling

    • 5 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • Homemade pie crust or biscuit dough
    • canola oil (for frying)

    Instructions

    Blackberry Pie Filling

    • Melt the butter in a 12-13-inch skillet. Cook the blackberries over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until soft. Sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice while they cook. Stir with a wooden spoon occasionally, making sure they do not burn.
    • Dissolve the cornstarch in about ¼ cup of cold water. Stir to combine.
    • Pour in the cornstarch mixture once they are almost done and let cook to thicken the blackberries and juice. (NOTE: Blackberry Pie Filling will thicken once removed from the heat and it cools. Should it not be thick enough, simply pour back into the skillet, add a little more dissolved cornstarch and cook some more.)
    • Remove from the heat and add the cinnamon, nutmeg and stir to combine. Let the pie filling cool completely.

    Blackberry Hand Pies

    • Roll out your biscuit dough or pie crust on a lightly floured surface, into 4-6 inch ovals, about ⅛-1/4-inch thick. Scoop about 1 tablespoon or so of the cooled pie filing in the center of each round.
    • Fold over, lightly press down on the filling and the edges. (Lightly wet edges with water, using your fingertip if needed) Crimp the edges of the dough with a floured fork.
    • Place uncooked pies on a half-sheet pan which is lined with parchment paper. If frying pies right away, place the entire sheet pan in the fridge while you heat the oil.
    • Fill a fry pan with about 2-3 inches of canola oil. Heat the oil until very hot (about 370 to 375 degrees F).
    • Place only a few hand pies in the hot oil at a time, as to not overcrowd the pan or let the oil cool. Fry until they are brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes total. As they fry, use a slotted spoon to gently move them back and forth. (So they don't burn.)
    • Remove from the hot oil and let drain on paper towels on a half-sheet pan. Sprinkle with granulated sugar while they are still warm. Or drizzle with a simple glaze.
    • These are best served warm.

    Video

    Recipe Notes

    Tips on making Blackberry Hand Pies:

    Adjust the sugar in your blackberry pie filling based on how sweet or tart of the blackberries.
    You can make hand pies AHEAD of time. Overlap them slightly on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer. Cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap.
    To thaw blackberry hand pies: Remove the plastic wrap that was covering the tray and discard it. It will have extra moisture you DO NOT want!
    Let them thaw, uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.
    If you do not have a thermometer. You can test if the oil is hot enough by sprinkling a tiny bit of flour off of your fingers into the center of the oil. If the flour bubbles out to the edges of the pan quickly, the temperature is ready.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AFarmgirlsKitchen or tag #afarmgirlskitchen!

    Disclosure: As an Affiliate Marketer, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a product affiliate link on A Farmgirl’s Kitchen and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you!  I own every cooking product I recommend and love how they perform.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carol Cuevas says

      October 15, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent. The butter in the filling takes it to the next level. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        October 17, 2022 at 10:30 am

        Oh thank you so much!! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Victoria Smith says

      August 16, 2022 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! I just made these with store-bought bisquit dough and they were excellent!!! Thank you for this recipe. We have wild blackberries all around us and I have wanted to make handpies for a while. Sooo good.

      Reply
    3. Kim D says

      July 29, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      RE the pie crust: single or double pie crust

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        July 29, 2021 at 2:12 pm

        Kim,
        There’s a link to the pie crust recipe in the ingredients. I usually make a big batch of hand pies, so I make multiple batches of pie crust. However, you will need one batch of pie crust to make one batch of hand pies (about 12 pies.) If you are using store-bought, you’ll need at least one package, if not two. Since it’s already pre-rolled out. I highly recommend using homemade pie crust.

        Reply
    4. Mary says

      July 01, 2021 at 2:01 pm

      You mentioned that these pies can be baked what temp and how long would you suggest?

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        July 01, 2021 at 3:25 pm

        Mary,
        Yes, you can bake these pies. Bake at 400 degrees F. I would have them thawed, but really cold so your pie crust gets nice and flaky.
        Bake for about 30 minutes OR until the crust is nice and golden brown. I would brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with a little sugar prior to baking.

        Reply
        • Debbe’ says

          September 10, 2022 at 1:57 pm

          5 stars
          These hand pies are So Delish! My husband loves Apple pie, so my first batch I made for him, the second one I made with blackberries. They were delicious too! Our Pastor loves raisin pie, so he’ll get a batch soon! Instead of pie crust, which can be a little fragile, I decided to make a cream cheese pastry dough instead. Again, SO DELISH! Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe! I’m thinking of doing meat pies too! Endless possibilities for this recipe! Thanks again! Debbe’ 💞

          Reply
          • Jessica Robinson says

            September 12, 2022 at 10:00 am

            Thanks so much! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

            Reply
    5. Patricia says

      June 19, 2021 at 12:09 am

      I would love to receive emails with any recipes that you might post.
      Thank You.

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        June 20, 2021 at 9:03 pm

        Patricia,
        You can sign up for our emails on some of our most popular recipes. It’s right before the recipe card in our apple hand pies post. Let me know if you need help!

        Reply
    6. Sonya says

      June 03, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      I love all things fried, especially fried pies…

      Reply
    7. Lisa Hatfield says

      September 28, 2020 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      Jessica, these blackberry handpies are so beautiful with that glaze and the video is so helpful to see how you make each one. I can tell you have made these so many times! Can’t wait to make these…

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        September 28, 2020 at 11:32 am

        Thanks so much Lisa!! Super simple to make these ahead of time and freeze them!

        Reply
        • Victoria Smith says

          August 16, 2022 at 10:16 pm

          5 stars
          Excellent! I just made these with store-bought bisquit dough and they were excellent!!! Thank you for this recipe. We have wild blackberries all around us and I have wanted to make handpies for a while. Sooo good.

          Reply
          • Jessica Robinson says

            August 28, 2022 at 10:53 am

            Thank you so much for letting us know you enjoyed us!

            Reply
        • Victoria Smith says

          August 16, 2022 at 10:17 pm

          Do you freeze them cooked or uncooked?

          Reply
          • Jessica Robinson says

            August 28, 2022 at 10:30 am

            They are always frozen uncooked.

            Reply

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    Meals are meant to be shared around the dinner table. My recipes are farm-inspired with a modern twist for active families. All of my recipes use simple and readily available ingredients. Read more →

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