Air Fryer Fruit Pies are an oil-free take on classic fried pies—also called hand pies—that bake up light and flaky in an air fryer. Pick your favorite canned or homemade fruit filling, then finish each pie with a simple vanilla glaze or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert any night of the week.
Key to Success #1 – Refrigerated Pie Crust
When time is short, refrigerated pie crusts from the grocery store are a reliable shortcut. Modern store-bought crusts are flaky and tasty, and they save time without sacrificing texture.
If you prefer, use your favorite homemade pie crust recipe instead. This recipe uses two store-bought pie crusts to make eight hand pies. If you want only four pies, fold one crust in half and cut it into four squares before assembling.
Key to Success #2 – Cutting the Crusts
To prevent filling from leaking, make sure each top crust matches its bottom crust in size and shape. A simple trick is to stack the two pie crusts and cut them together so the resulting pairs line up perfectly.
The photos show how round crusts were trimmed into roughly square pieces; the exact shape doesn’t matter as much as making matching top and bottom pieces so you can seal the edges well.
Following this method yields enough pieces for eight hand pies. The pies may not be perfectly square, but they bake beautifully and taste delicious.
Key to Success #3 – Tip for Using Pie Filling
Each pie only needs about a tablespoon of filling, so cutting the fruit into smaller pieces makes assembly easier. For canned fillings, a quick trick is to run a sharp knife through the fruit while it’s still in the can to chop pieces smaller—this helps the filling fit neatly inside the crust.
Run a sharp knife through the pie filling in the can to cut the fruit smaller. Easy!
Key to Success #4 – Crimp the Edges
Sealing the edges is essential to keep the filling inside. Press the edges down gently with your fingers, then crimp with a fork for a classic look and a secure seal. Stretch the top crust slightly with your fingers before placing it over the filling; that gives a little room to accommodate the fruit without tearing the dough.
Key to Success #5 – Single Layer Cooking
Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Cook the pies in a single layer to ensure even browning and crisping. Depending on your air fryer model and basket size, you may fit four pies per batch. These pies typically take about 14–16 minutes at 360°F, and turning them halfway through helps both sides brown evenly.
Key to Success #6 – Vanilla Glaze
A simple vanilla glaze finishes the pies beautifully. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and a splash of vanilla until the glaze is thin and pourable. You only need about a cup of powdered sugar total — just enough to drizzle or lightly coat the tops so the pies aren’t soggy.
These Air Fryer Fruit Pies are simple and versatile. Use cherry, apple, peach, or any fruit filling you enjoy—chocolate or lemon custard variations would be delicious too. They’re quick to assemble, bake up flaky and golden, and are perfect for a last-minute dessert.
Save this Air Fryer Fried Pies recipe to your favorite dessert collection.
Air Fryer Fruit Pies
Light, oil-free hand pies baked in the air fryer. Choose your favorite pie filling and finish with a vanilla glaze or ice cream for a quick dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 pkg (14.1 oz) refrigerated pie crusts
- 1 can (20 oz) pie filling, your choice of fruit
For glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp milk (more if needed to thin)
Directions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Soften the pie crusts according to package directions.
- Place the two crusts on top of each other and cut both at once into eight square-ish pieces. Each matched pair will be one pie.
- Working one pie at a time, add about 1 tablespoon of pie filling to the center of the bottom crust. If fruit pieces are large, cut them smaller before filling.
- Stretch the top crust gently with your fingers and place it over the filled bottom crust. Press edges with your fingers and crimp with a fork to seal.
- Arrange pies in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook 14–16 minutes at 360°F, turning halfway through, until golden and puffed.
- While pies cook, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until thin and pourable.
- Drizzle glaze over warm pies and serve. Optional: serve with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 fried pie • Calories: 137 kcal • Carbohydrates: 35 g • Protein: 1 g • Fat: 1 g • Sugar: 25 g • Sodium: 37 mg
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