Lemon Cheesecake Hand Pies

Recipe

For the Pie Dough :

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup cold water

For the Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

For the Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions:

Prepare the Pie Dough:

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and sugar.

Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse sand.

Pour the cold water into the bowl and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a rough ball.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it comes together in a smooth ball.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days.

Preheat and Prepare:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the Filling:

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth.

Beat in the egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest until well combined.

Roll out the Dough:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pie dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.

Using a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, cut out the dough into circles. Aim for 8-12 circles, depending on the size of your cutter.

Assemble the Pies:

Place a spoonful of the cream cheese filling onto the center of each dough circle, leaving a small border around the edges.

Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape and press the edges together to seal. You can use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges for a decorative touch.

Transfer the filled pie dough circles to the prepared baking sheet.

Bake:

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.

Prepare the Glaze:

While the pies are baking, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.

Finish and Serve:

Once the pies are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.

Drizzle the lemon glaze over the warm pies.

Allow the pies to cool completely before serving.

Enjoy these delightful Mini Lemon Cream Cheese Hand Pies with their perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors! They make for a great treat for any occasion.