Description
Sweet hearts melt with these Valentine’s chocolate hand pies, perfectly combining flaky pastry and rich chocolate for a romantic dessert. Delicate crimped edges and rich cocoa filling promise an intimate culinary moment you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons (24g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (120ml) cold milk or heavy cream
Chocolate Filling:
- 4 ounces (113g) semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons (31g) creamy peanut butter
Topping and Assembly:
- 2 ounces (57g) semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter (16g)
- 1 teaspoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
Instructions
- Craft a delicate chocolate dough by pulsing flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, and chilled butter in a food processor until crumbly. Incorporate cold milk gradually to form a cohesive mixture.
- Separate the dough into two portions, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours to enhance texture and flavor.
- Create a luxurious chocolate ganache by pouring scalding heavy cream over chopped semi-sweet chocolate. Stir until silky smooth, incorporating optional peanut butter. Allow the filling to rest and thicken for 15 minutes.
- On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough and cut into 3-inch heart shapes using a specialized cutter. Return the delicate hearts to the refrigerator to maintain their shape.
- Generously brush half the heart-shaped dough edges with egg wash. Carefully deposit a dollop of chocolate filling in the center of each prepared heart.
- Crown each filled heart with a matching dough cutout, crimping edges firmly with a fork to create a tight seal. Brush the exterior with additional egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar for a glistening finish.
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Arrange the assembled hand pies on a baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until edges are crisp and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow pies to cool for 10 minutes, permitting the filling to set and structure to stabilize.
- Prepare a decadent chocolate drizzle by melting remaining semi-sweet chocolate with a touch of oil. Optional: Swirl in peanut butter for added richness.
- Artfully drizzle the melted chocolate over the cooled hand pies, creating an elegant presentation perfect for romantic celebrations or indulgent moments.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that doesn’t shrink during baking.
- Keep ingredients cold, especially butter and milk, to prevent the dough from becoming tough and maintain its delicate texture.
- Use a sharp heart-shaped cutter for clean edges that seal perfectly and create a professional-looking pastry.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and add a pinch of xanthan gum to improve texture.
- Try alternative fillings like raspberry jam, caramel, or almond cream for variety in flavors.
- Prevent soggy bottoms by placing hand pies on a preheated baking sheet and ensuring the filling isn’t too runny.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg