Growing up, my favorite treat was my mom's caramelized onion recipe. Not kidding, she actually would bribe me with them to clean my room!
If you're a fan of caramelized onions and have a love for savory hand pies, then you're in for a treat with this recipe. These hand pies are filled with a delicious caramelized onion and Swiss cheese filling, all wrapped up in a flaky crescent roll dough.
Jump to:
- What Is A Hand Pie?
- Check out my other deliciously customizable hand pie recipe here!
- Grab-&-Go!
- Let's Talk Prunes
- Here's A Delicious Secret
- Learn all about prunes here!
- What Is Prune Purée?
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (Low Sugar + Paleo Friendly)
- Chocolate Mug Cake
- How To Make An Epic Hand Pie With The Best Caramelized Onion Recipe - Complete How-To Guide
- An Epic Hand Pie With The Best Caramelized Onion Recipe
- FAQ:
What Is A Hand Pie?
A hand pie is typically a half-circle-shaped pastry with a filling that can be either sweet or savory is created by dolloping the filling onto the biscuit-style dough, folding it over, and crimping it close. They could be deep-fried, fried, or baked!
Grab-&-Go!
These savory hand pies are a simple grab-and-go meal, and this recipe is great for any time of year. These hand pies are excellent for portion control and do not need plates or serving utensils.
The only time consuming part of this recipe is the caramelized onions, so once you have a batch of the onions made- you can make these easy hand pies whenever!
Let's Talk Prunes
Here's A Delicious Secret
Wanna know the secret ingredient that takes these hand pies to the next level? A prune purée, which adds a depth of flavor and richness to the filling!
Prunes?!
I know, I know. PRUNES! California Prunes bring a fresh taste to savory dishes or a rich and creamy nuance to baked goods.
What Is Prune Purée?
Prune purée is a multi-talented baking substitute that is used to replace the sugar, eggs, or fat in recipes.
Other Recipes Made With Prune Purée:
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (Low Sugar + Paleo Friendly)
This easy homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe uses prune pureé in place of refined sugars. Keep a batch on hand to whip up delicious meals that you can feel good about serving to your family.
Chocolate Mug Cake
Got five minutes? That’s all you need to whip up this individual Chocolate Mug Cake. This warm, gooey dessert is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth!
How To Make An Epic Hand Pie With The Best Caramelized Onion Recipe - Complete How-To Guide
This recipe is super easy, so let's dive in and learn how to make these epic hand pies!
Ingredients For Caramelized Onion Recipe:
- Bacon
- Bacon fat
- Yellow onions
- Salt
- Water
- Prune puree
Instructions:
- Cook the bacon bits in a pan on high until crispy - about 7 minutes.
- Drain the bacon from the fat in the pan & place bacon bits on a paper towel. Measure out 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat & add it back into the pan.
- Add your onions into the bacon fat & turn heat to low. Sautée for for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add two large pinches of salt to the onions & continue baking for 5 more minutes.
- Add 2 tbsps of the water to your onions & scrape the bottom of the pan to get all of the good stuff off the bottom of the pan.
- Add the prune purée, bacon bits, & last tablespoon of water to the onions & mix until combined.
While the caramelized onions are cooking, you can prepare the hand pies.
Hand Pie Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Air Fryer Ready Butter Flake Crescent Dough
- Swiss cheese
- Egg
- Caramelized onion mixture (from above recipe)
Instructions:
1. Open the crescent dough & unroll the dough. Separate along the perforated lines with a knife
2. Using your hands or a rolling pin, make each dough triangle large enough to hold the filling. If you are pulling be careful to not create holes in the dough.
3. Tear up one slice of Swiss Cheese & place it on the dough.
4. Spread 1-2 tbsps of the onion mixture onto the cheese, then tear up your other slice of Swiss Cheese & place it on top of the onions.
5. Place another dough triangle over the top of your pie & crimp closed with a fork.
6. Spray your air fryer with oil & place your hand pies in it. I usually will do 2 at a time. Cook at 300° F *do not preheat* for 6 minutes.
7. After the 6 minutes is up, flip the pies carefully using a spatula & cut 3 holes into the top of your pies. These holes allow access moisture to evaporate.
8. Take your egg wash & heavily apply it onto the tops of your hand pies.
9. After the 6 minutes, your pie should come out crispy & golden. Take them out of the air fryer & enjoy!
These hand pies are best served warm, and make for a delicious and satisfying snack or meal. The caramelized onions are sweet and savory, and pair perfectly with the melted Swiss cheese and flaky crescent roll dough. And the addition of the prune puree and bacon bits add a depth of flavor that takes these hand pies to the next level
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An Epic Hand Pie With The Best Caramelized Onion Recipe
Take any grilled cheese or hand pie recipe to the next level with this delicious caramelized onion recipe!
- Total Time: 1 hour 9 minutes
- Yield: 2 hand pies 1x
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions:
- 4 Slices bacon, chopped
- 1 tbs Bacon fat
- 2 Yellow onions, thinly sliced
- Salt
- 3 tbsp Water
- ⅓ cup Prune puree
Hand Pies:
- Air Fryer Ready Butter Flake Crescent Dough
- 2 Slices of Swiss cheese per pie
- 1 Egg
- 1-2 tablespoon Caramelized onion mixture
Instructions
Caramelized onions:
- Cook the bacon bits in a pan on high until crispy - about 7 minutes.
- Drain the bacon from the fat in the pan & place bacon bits on a paper towel. Measure out 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat & add it back into the pan.
- Add your onions into the bacon fat & turn heat to low. Sautée for for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add two large pinches of salt to the onions & continue baking for 5 more minutes.
- Add 2 tbsps of the water to your onions & scrape the bottom of the pan to get all of the good stuff off the bottom of the pan.
- Add the prune purée,bacon bits, & last tablespoon of water to the onions & mix until combined.
Hand pies:
- Open the crescent dough & unroll the dough. Separate along the perforated lines with a knife
- Using your hands or a rolling pin, make each dough triangle large enough to hold the filling. If you are pulling be careful to not create holes in the dough.
- Tear up one slice of Swiss Cheese & place it on the dough.
- Spread 1-2 tbsps of the onion mixture onto the cheese, then tear up your other slice of Swiss Cheese & place it on top of the onions.
- Place another dough triangle over the top of your pie & crimp closed with a fork.
- Spray your air fryer with oil & place your hand pies in it. I usually will do 2 at a time. Cook at 300° F *do not preheat* for 6 minutes.
- After the 6 minutes is up, flip the pies carefully using a spatula & cut 3 holes into the top of your pies. These holes allow access moisture to evaporate.
- Take your egg wash & heavily apply it onto the tops of your hand pies.
- After the 6 minutes, your pie should come out crispy & golden. Take them out of the air fryer & enjoy!
Notes
* MAKE SURE that your Butter Flake Crescent Rolls say 'Air Fryer Ready'!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 64 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: American
FAQ:
The length of cooking time is the major difference between sautéed onions and caramelized onions. Onions that have been caramelized are extremely sweet and soft since they are cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period of time.
No! Onions are ideal for caramelizing because they already contain natural sugars. These sugars are highlighted by this process, which brings them to the forefront.
Any onion can be caramelized, although yellow or Spanish onions tend to have a more balanced, sweet-savory flavor profile and are the most adaptable for use in a variety of cuisines. Vidalia or Walla Walla sweet onions also work, but bear in mind that after caramelized, their flavor will intensify to an even sweeter level.
KC says
Can’t wait to make more of these. So good!
dinnercult says
I am SO happy you enjoyed these!