[Post sponsored by Volkswagen] Today, I’ll show you how to create something delicious that you can even take along. Or should I say something that comes in a handy size ;) There’s no need to sit at a table if you don’t want to. You can go wherever you want. Just feel free. You can enjoy them on the train or bus, even in the car or when you’re taking a walk.
I baked some little blueberry pies for Volkswagen. Delicious little pies to be precise. But what about the connection to Volkswagen? Well, I’ll explain later.
For now, let’s focus on the mini pies. Or mi-pies. Or however you want to call them. When I brought a box full of pies to the office, one of my colleagues called them “delicious little fellas”. And at the office you could hear a lot of delightful “uuuhs” and “aaaahs” that day. ;)
And don’t worry about your baking skills – these little fellas will always be a success. The recipe is quite easy to follow. The dough is more or less typical pie dough, but slightly altered. You don’t need a food processor for the dough, just a bowl and a pastry blender. The regular pie dough is made of flour, salt, butter and some water. For this one, use sour cream instead of water and add a bit of baking powder, this will give the pies even more volume.
If you don’t like blueberries, you can also choose any other kind of filling. No matter if you prefer sweet or savory, the dough works well with both. Maybe some apples or pears? Maybe raspberries, cherries or whatever is in season at the time. You can also try a filling with bacon and cheese… Feel free to mix ‘n’ match.
Regardless which filling you are going to use, it will surely be delicious. And as I mentioned at the beginning, you can enjoy these little pies pretty much anywhere. At home with a cup of coffee, as a snack while traveling or as a dessert when you’re having a picnic in the park – you will enjoy this little treat everywhere. Put them in a nice box and you’re good to go.
Back to Volkswagen. As I told you, I would explain this collaboration. ;) Well, like many bloggers out there, Volkswagen is on Pinterest to share information and inspire people. Now, they asked a bunch of bloggers to create recipes, which will be pinned on Pinterest. So in the next couple of weeks and months you will find more and more delicious recipes on this Volkswagen Pinterest Board* dedicated to the topics cars and mobility – so stay tuned and check back from time to time ;)
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
For the dough:
2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (230g) butter, cold
1/2 cup (120g) schmand or sour cream
For the filling:
1/3 cup (65g) sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
zest of 1/2 organic lemon
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla paste
about 1 cup (100g) fresh blueberries
To finish:
1 egg
some water
coarse sugar (optional)
Für den Teig:
260g Mehl (Type 405)
1/2 TL Backpulver
1/2 TL Salz
230g kalte Butter
120g Schmand oder Saure Sahne
Für die Füllung:
65g Zucker
2 EL Speisestärke
Abrieb von 1/2 Bio-Zitrone
1 EL frischer Zitronensaft
1/2 TL Vanillepaste
ca. 100g frische Blaubeeren
Zum Bestreichen:
1 Ei
etwas Wasser
grober Zucker (optional)
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. For the filling wash the blueberries and dry. Mix the sugar with cornstarch and lemon zest in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice and vanilla paste to another bowl and mix. Add the blueberries and mix until covered, then sprinkle the sugar mixture on top and mix until distributed evenly. Set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 425˚F (220°C). Roll out the dough (quite thin) on a floured surface and cut out 24-28 circles with a diameter of 3 inches (7,5cm) – you have to collect remaining dough probably several times and roll out again for more circles. Place half of the dough pices on baking sheets lined with baking parchment and place a small amount of the blueberry filling on each circle, place a second piece of dough on top and press the edges together. To close the edges tighter, you can use a fork to press them together and also give the mini pies a nice edge. Mix the egg with some water and brush the mini pies – sprinkle with sugar (optional) and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool down a bit on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool down completely (or you serve them still a bit warm).
2. Für die Füllung die Blaubeeren waschen und trocknen. Den Zucker mit der Stärke und Zitronenschale in einer kleinen Schüssel vermischen. Den Zitronensaft und die Vanillepaste in eine zweite, etwas größere Schüssel geben und verrühren. Die Blauberen zugeben und mit der Flüssigkeit vermischen, bis alle Blaubeeren feucht sind. Die Zuckermischung darüberstreuen und dann vermischen, bis alle Beeren eine Beschichtung haben. Zur Seite stellen.
3. Den Ofen auf 220°C (425°F) vorheizen. Den Teig (recht dünn) auf einer bemehlten Fläche ausrollen und 24-28 Kreise mit einem Durchmesser von etwa 7,5cm (3 inches) ausstechen. Übrigen Teig immer wieder zusammensammeln und erneut verwenden und ausrollen, bis alles verbraucht ist. Die Hälfte der Teigkreise auf Backbleche mit Backpapier legen und dann jeweils eine kleine Menge der Blaubeerfüllung daraufgeben. Jeweils ein zweites Stück Teig auf die Füllung legen und dann die Ränder zusammenpressen. Man kann die Ränder auch noch mit einer Gabel zusammendrücken, dann halten sie besser zusammen und es gibt noch ein schönes Muster. Das Ei mit etwas Wasser verquirlen und damit dann die Mini Pies einstreichen und mit dem Zucker bestreuen (optioal). Die Mini Pies im heißen Backofen für 15-18 Minuten backen bzw. bis sie goldbraun geworden sind. Auf den Blechen etwas abkühlen lassen und dann vorsichtig herunternehmen und auf einem Kuchengitter auskühlen lassen (wer mag, kann sie auch noch etwas warm servieren).
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Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
Blueberry Hand Pies
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 18
- Total Time: 60
- Yield: 14 1x
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup (230g) butter, cold
- 1/2 cup (120g) schmand or sour cream
For the filling
- 1/3 cup (65g) sugar
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- zest of 1/2 organic lemon
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla paste
- about 1 cup (100g) fresh blueberries
To finish
- 1 egg
- some water
- coarse sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the flour with baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the (really) cold butter in small pieces to the bowl and cut into pea-size pieces with a knife or pastry blender. Add the schmand (or sour cream) to the bowl and mix in and knead qickly until the dough comes together. If the dough seems to wet and sticky, add some more flour. Form a ball, flatten a bit and wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for about 1 hour.
- For the filling wash the blueberries and dry. Mix the sugar with cornstarch and lemon zest in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice and vanilla paste to another bowl and mix. Add the blueberries and mix until covered, then sprinkle the sugar mixture on top and mix until distributed evenly. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F (220°C). Roll out the dough (quite thin) on a floured surface and cut out 24-28 circles with a diameter of 3 inches (7,5cm) – you have to collect remaining dough probably several times and roll out again for more circles. Place half of the dough pices on baking sheets lined with baking parchment and place a small amount of the blueberry filling on each circle, place a second piece of dough on top and press the edges together. To close the edges tighter, you can use a fork to press them together and also give the mini pies a nice edge. Mix the egg with some water and brush the mini pies – sprinkle with sugar (optional) and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool down a bit on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool down completely (or you serve them still a bit warm).
Notes
- Enjoy baking!
*I have partnered with Volkswagen to make this delicious hand pies. That is why I have to declare this here in Germany as Advertising. All I wrote in this article is still based on my own opinion and has not been affected by anybody :)
I love my job, but in between I love to bake and try new things in the kitchen. A lot of my friends and colleagues encourage me to bake - for a very simple reason: they get the leftovers - and it seems they like it most of the time ;) 
Ich habe die Hand Pies mit Apfel und Rosinen, die ich in Vanille-Rum getränkt habe, gebacken. Super lecker! Danke für das tolle Teig Rezept!
Klingt nach einer sehr leckeren Version! :)
LG, Marc