One of the most classic on-the-go eats, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, gets a dessert makeover in this recipe for Peanut Butter & Jelly Hand Pies.
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Stuffed with crunchy peanut butter cream and tangy grape jelly, these golden brown beauties would be a perfect addition to any picnic or afternoon at the beach. And given that it’s going to be 80+ in San Diego this week, and I’ve got the next 4 days off, I see an afternoon or two at the beach in my very near future.
Luckily, these hand pies are super simple to prepare, so I can easily whip them up as needed. The key? Store-bought puff pastry! Start by swirling together some cream cheese, chunky peanut butter, honey, sugar and milk until fully mixed. If you can manage to not eat the entire filling with just a spoon, spread some on cut discs of thawed puff pastry. Ideally, the puff pastry would be made with just butter (Dufour brand), but I’ve also made this recipe with cheaper types of puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm, I’m looking at you), and it turns out just as well. Next, top each swath of peanut butter filling with a spoonful of grape jelly, then seal the pie closed with another puff pastry disc. Be sure to crimp the edges all pretty with a fork. After a quick bake in the oven and a brief rest, you’ll be enjoying these warm, flaky pockets of goodness. Continue reading for the recipe.
I should mention that this recipe is highly adaptable. Switch out grape jelly for strawberry jam, raspberry jam or any other fruit preserve on hand. Substitute the jelly for fresh berries mashed with a little sugar and lemon juice or ripe banana sprinkled with brown sugar. Chopped, candied bacon would go well with the banana-peanut butter variation. Instead of peanut butter, try other nut butters like almond, pecan or walnut. Season to taste with additional salt or sugar as needed.
See what I’m saying about that peanut butter filling :)?
Peanut Butter & Jelly Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon milk, plus a splash for the egg wash
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 (17-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
- 9 teaspoons grape jelly, 1 teaspoon per pie
- 1 egg
- Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Add cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt to a medium bowl, mixing with a spatula to combine. Set aside.
- Roll out 1 sheet of cold puff pastry to an 11” x 11” square. Using a 3” round cookie cutter or similar-sized glass or bowl, cut out (9) 3” circles of pastry, and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon 1 tablespoon of peanut butter filling and 1 teaspoon of grape jelly in the middle of each round. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg with a splash of milk (this is an egg wash). Brush the egg wash on the edges of the rounds (around the filling). Roll and cut the remaining sheet of puff pastry using the same method above. Place these rounds over the filled rounds to form the pie. Using a fork, crimp the edges of each round to seal up the pies. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer, and let the pies chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- While the pies are chilling, preheat an oven to 425°F. Place a rack in the middle of the oven. Take the baking sheet from the freezer, and brush the tops of each pie with egg wash. Cut 2 slits in each pie, then sprinkle each pie with turbinado sugar. Bake the pies for 15 minutes at 425°F, then drop the heat to 400°F, and bake until the pies are golden brown and bubbling (5 – 10 minutes more). Let the pies cool for 10 minutes before serving, and they’re best enjoyed warm.
Check out these other pie, tart and puff pastry recipes on Kitchen Konfidence:
Bacon Jam Hand Pies
Caramelized Garlic Tart
Rye Pecan Pie
Zucchini Tart
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Averie @ Averie Cooks says
cream cheese, chunky peanut butter, honey, sugar and milk <— that wouldn't even make it into these gorgeous little pies!! 🙂 They look awesome!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Averie! I had a feeling you’d like these 😉
cristina says
Luv these little hand pies and that you included cream cheese! These would be addicting and dangerous in my presence. Delish for packing in lunches too!
Brandon Matzek says
Yes! They would be a perfect lunch dessert. Thanks Cristina.
J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says
Best hand pie recipe yet! Peanut butter should be in more pies. Is the cream cheese necessary or would it be ok with just peanut butter you think?
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Joyce! The cream cheese adds some tanginess as well. You could thin just the peanut butter with milk to get the right consistency, but you would lose the tanginess. I’m sure it would still be tasty 🙂
The Food Hunter says
I think I would try it with strawberry….endless possibilities!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks!! I’m making those next 🙂
fabiola@notjustbaked says
Can I just say, YES?!!! Well, yes. It’s simple.
Brandon Matzek says
Haha thanks Fabiola!
Sippitysup says
To anyone anywhere in the world, if you were ever a kid, you are smiling now. GREG
Brandon Matzek says
Well said 🙂
Liren says
Seriously, I can’t go to sleep now! This is going to haunt me until I get my hands on some puff pastry! These are the best hand pies ever!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks so much Liren :)!!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Wow, Brandon- These look delicious but I’m not going to lie- I’d eat the filling by the spoon.
Brandon Matzek says
Haha, I totally understand :). Thanks Arman!
Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says
Oh I love hand pies, and these are gorgeous! Plus, I bet my kids and their friends would love these for an afternoon surprise snack (if there are any left after I am left alone with them fresh from the oven, that is).
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Marlynn! They are a crowd and kid pleaser.
Marye says
Hand pies are awesome…and these look spectacular! I love that you made them with puff pastry.
Brandon Matzek says
I agree! Thanks Marye.
Miranda @ Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt says
Oh my. These little hand pies are so pretty. I’m such a sucker for peanut butter and jelly. I’ll definitely be making these! I love that you used puff pastry! Hello short cut.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Miranda! I love peanut butter and anything really.
Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa says
This sound absolutely marvelous! I love the idea of a more decadent PB+J 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Alyssa!
Mirlandra @ Mirlandra's Kitchen says
I enjoy a good PBJ as much as anybody else but when I saw the title of this post I thought it was a bit daffy. Then I saw the puff pastry and the honey… This looks like a lot of fun! I love the simplicity and the idea of a flaky hot PBJ. It’s like PBJ toast gone way uptown.
Brandon Matzek says
Haha yes!!! Thanks Mirlandra!
Wendi Spraker says
Brandon, I love the idea of these hand pies! So cute and portable – and I am SURE they are delicious! We have a lot of running to do this weekend and I believe that your hand pies will be in my “going out the door” bag. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Wendi and enjoy your weekend :)!
Steph @ Steph in Thyme says
YUM! What a great idea to kick up classic PB&J up a notch. Definitely want to try!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Steph!!
Savita @ ChefDeHome says
Peanut butter, jelly and cream cheese in pies! Yes, please! It’s like mini pb&j to go! Love the idea, Brandon. Thanks for sharing!
Brandon Matzek says
Exactly! Thanks Savita!
Laura says
These are so deliciously rustic–I love them! Question: have you ever tried chocolate in place of the jam/jellies?
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Laura! I have not, but that’s a great suggestion. Nutella perhaps too?
Katherines Corner says
oh my goodness I know five grandchildren who will devour this yumminess. You made a rock star out of PB and J. Love it. Hugs!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Katherine. I hope they enjoy them :)!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I’m not sure why hand pies scare me so much. Anything where I have to roll dough totally intimidates me. I need to get over that, because these look so darn good!
Brandon Matzek says
Yeah, give this a try. The store-bought puff pastry makes the process much easier!