Celebrated annually on January 23rd, National Pie Day is an unofficial holiday to celebrate that baked dish made out of pastry dough and filled with a tasty and usually sweet filling – otherwise known as the pie. This day has been celebrated since the 1970s. Today, it’s a great day to have a slice of pie or share one with your loved ones.

I’m not a big fan of cake but I love pie. This delicious treat makes it hard to stop at one slice. If you enjoy pie as much as I do but need help with portion control, I’ve got a great solution. Individual hand pies! These 2 bite treats have all of the flavor you love and stop that cycle of slicing just a bit more to even out the pie. Another bonus is that hand pies are portable. No fork needed so they are great to throw into a lunch box or enjoy as an afternoon treat at your desk. While pies tend to be high in fat and calories, using a nutritious filling like pumpkin helps bring balance to your diet. Pumpkins are nutrient dense, low in calories and loaded with antioxidants.

Pumpkin Hand Pies

16 servings

Ingredients

• 2 pie dough chilled, 1 package of premade dough or try making 2 batches of this recipe
• 1 cup 100% pumpkin puree
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water for egg wash

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and stir together until well combined.
3. Roll out one of the chilled dough balls, to 1/8 inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Use a 5-6 inch diameter bowl rim or glass to cut out circles. Re-roll dough as needed to get as many circles out of it as you can.
4. Place 2 tablespoons of pumpkin filling in center of each circle. Moisten edges with water, fold dough over, and seal tightly. Use a fork to crimp edges and brush with egg wash. Repeat with remaining dough ball and filling.
5. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 25 minutes or until golden brown.