Recipe

Servings: 6 Hand Pies
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

*Your Chef will lead you through all the techniques, so prepping ahead of class is optional

Ingredients for the pie dough:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
• 8 tablespoons cold ghee, broken into pea sized pieces
• 3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated and chilled
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 to ⅓ cup ice water
• 1 egg, beaten, for egg wash
• pinch of kosher salt

Ingredients for the filling:

• 1 ½ cups diced strawberries
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. To make the dough: place the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine.
   Sprinkle in the cold ghee and grated cheddar and use your fingers or a fork to cut the ghee and cheese into the flour until it resembles wet sand.
   Pour in the vinegar and ¼ cup of water and stir until a shaggy dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add additional water to barely bring the dough together. Fold the dough over itself a few times, turn the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and then use the plastic wrap to form the dough into a flat disk. Wrap the dough tightly and place in the refrigerator to chill for about 15 minutes.
3. To make the strawberry filling place all the filling ingredients into a bowl and stir until the strawberries are fully coated.
4. To form the hand pies: When the dough is chilled place it on a lightly dusted work surface and dust the top with a bit of flour. Roll the dough out into a 10 inch by 15 inch rectangle, about ⅛ in thick. Cut the dough into 6 squares that are 5 inches by 5 inches each or into circles using a 6 inch round cutter.
5. Place a heaping tablespoon of the strawberry filling, straining the excess liquid, into the center of each of the cutouts. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges with the egg wash. Grab one corner of the square and fold it onto the opposite corner to create a triangle shape or fold the circle in half to form a half moon.
6. Press around the edges of the dough, sealing and pushing out any air pockets. Crimp the edges of the hand pies with a fork to create an extra seal, then place onto the prepared baking sheet.
7. Brush the hand pies with the egg wash and then cut 2 or 3 tiny slits into the center of the top of each hand pie. If the dough has warmed considerably and is very soft, chill the formed pies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to firm back up.
8. Place the pies in the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until golden brown, rotating the tray half way through if needed for even cooking. When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool.