Juicy sweet blueberry vanilla cream hand pies with the flakiest of crusts and fruitiest of fillings.
The other day I was waxing poetic about blueberries (we’re kind of having a moment) when the.boy interrupted me mid “Why Blueberries Are The Be-All And End-All of All Things And Why Don’t We Have Them At Every Meal?!?” rant and was like, “You are going to have the weirdest pregnancy cravings.”
Who? Me?
The girl who never succumbs to any food impulses ever ever ever?!
Impossible.
And then he continued with, “You are totally going to wake up in the middle of the night demanding that I go to the store for rhubarb. Or bulgur.”
To which I sighed and said, “Mmmm rhubaaarrrbbbb.”
Hmm. Maybe he has a point.
Speaking of pregnancy cravings…my friend Christina of Dessert For Two is having a baby girl!! In just a few weeks!!!!
(Can you tell I’m doing cartwheels right now.)
So a few of her blog friends and I are throwing her a VIRTUAL BABY SHOWER to celebrate!!
I had the honor of meeting Christina in real life a few years ago at a conference in California, though my first memory of her actually goes back a few weeks before that when she offered to let me and my friend Lauren stay with her the day before the conference so we could all hang out. Without ever having met us. Crazy, maybe, but that’s just the kind of person she is!! She’s sweet and adorable and will give you the shirt off her back if you need it, but she also tells it like it is and is really one of the most unabashedly herself people that I know. Which I love about her.
So, without further adieu, congrats Christina!!! You are going to be THE BEST MOM. That’s pretty much a fact.
Come see what everyone else made to celebrate!!
Fizzy Grapefruit Margaritas from Well Plated
Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Buttercream from Country Cleaver
Mini Bourbon and Bacon Tater Tot Casseroles from Climbing Grier Mountain
Maple-Chia Overnight Oatmeal from Feed Me Phoebe
Lemon Cake for Two from Keep It Sweet Desserts
Mini Raspberry Pavlovas from The Baker Chick
Almond Berry Cake Parfaits for Two from Edible Perspective
Peanut Butter Bourbon Blondies from The Frosted Vegan
Mixed Berry Mascarpone Scones from Bluebonnet Baker
Greek Yogurt Funfetti Cupcakes for Two from The Housewife in Training Files
Bourbon Barbeque Sliders with Bleu Cheese from Saucy Pear
Steak Fajita Tacos for Two from The Sweetphi Blog
Mango Madeleines from Stetted
Citrus Salad with Mint, Honey, and Lime from Rachel Cooks
Parfaits for Two from Order in the Kitchen
Peanut Butter Chocolate Mouse with Coconut Whipped Cream from Joyful Healthy Eats
French Breakfast Puffs from Stephie Cooks
Banana Pudding Cheesecake from The Domestic Rebel
About these hand pies.
They’re, OF COURSE, stuffed with the Almighty Blueberry, but also a schmear of vanilla pastry cream so each bite is flaky, buttery, creamy, and juicy. If serving to a large group of people, I highly recommend double fisting in the likely event that one of your guests (cough my brother cough) will make off with the bulk of them, leaving you wishing for seconds. And/or thirds.
(Okay, sixths. DON’T TELL.)
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2½ sticks unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
- ¼-1/3 cup cold water
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
- 3 cups blueberries, rinsed and dried
- 1 egg, beaten
- sugar, for dusting
- For the pie crust, put the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse once or twice to combine. Drop the butter through the feed tube and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand. Slowly add water, 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing after each, until the dough starts to come together.
- Remove the dough from the food processor and form into 2 equal disks. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- While dough is chilling, make the vanilla cream. Combine the milk, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Turn off the heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Slowly stream in the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the vanilla cream back into the pan and cook over medium-low heat until thickened, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter.
- Pour cream into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pushing it against the cream so that it doesn't form a skin. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
- When you're ready to bake the hand pies, heat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator and place on a cool, floured surface. Roll the dough out to ⅛-inch thick.
- Using a 4-inch ring mold, cut out rounds and place on one of the lined baking sheets. Reserve the scraps. Refrigerate cut out circles until ready to use. Repeat with the second disk of dough. If you have fewer than 15 rounds, refrigerate the dough scraps until firm and cut out more rounds.
- Remove the first sheet of dough from the refrigerator. Spoon 1 tbsp of vanilla cream onto it, leaving a border. Add 4 to 6 blueberries onto one of of one round. Using a pastry brush, brush the beaten egg around the edges of the dough. Lift the side that doesn't have any blueberries over to meet the blueberry side so that the two edges meet. Gently press the edges together and use a fork to crimp and seal them. Repeat with remaining rounds. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Brush the top and edge of each pie with the beaten egg and dust with coarse sugar. Slash the top of each pie with a sharp knife to create a vent.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate pans and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the pies are golden brown and oozing. Cool completely before serving.
Blueberry mania!
Rhubarb, Blueberry, and Ginger Brioche Bread Pudding
From Around the Web:
Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream from The Kitchy Kitchen
Blueberry Almond Tart from Love & Olive Oil
Mini Berry Galettes from Hip Foodie Mom
Blueberry Lemon Sticky Buns from Delights of Culinaria
Blueberry Cobbler Biscuits from The Candid Appetite
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] with Coconut Whipped Cream from Joyful Healthy Eats French Breakfast Puffs from Stephie Cooks Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others Banana Pudding Cheesecake from The Domestic Rebel […]
Now I’m craving blueberries, too. Gorgeous!
That vanilla cream looks like a winner and the pastry perfect!
I’ll let you know how many of these I can get in my mouth at once. 😀
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
I just love blueberries, and these hand pies are too cute! That vanilla pastry cream looks divineeeee.
Hand pies are probably one of the best contributions to the dessert world. These look incredible, thank you! 🙂
I am LITERALLY craving blueberries now. Or more specifically, those hand pies. These officially start springtime.
ah, pregnancy cravings. . should be interesting. . be sure to keep the.boy on his toes! 🙂 LOVE these blueberry and vanilla cream hand pies!!! and thank you so much for the link love! Hope your first day yesterday was great!
Oh yummy. I love blueberries so much and these sound amazing. Sooo perfect with that first cup of coffee in the morning.
That sounds like the most perfect hand pies ever! There’s nothing like blueberries and cream. Mmm…. Happy Tuesday Joanne!
Hahahah people have said the same thing to me if I am ever to be pregnant. Either that or I am going to end up hating all foods which will be supremely depressing. Until then, I will have two of these please, one for each hand. Double fisting pies?
First of all, before I get to anything else….do you need a pregnancy test? HEHE! I’m cracking up at your ‘mmmm rhubaaaarrrrb’ comment. I think we’re all saying that since spring is finally here!
Now, more importantly! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You are so sweet, and blogging is worth it just to meet people like you. I had so much fun with you in SF, and we need to hang out again! I hope to be in NY again in July!
Love ya!
tina
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
Is it summer yet? Because these hand pies are amazing!! So exited to be celebrating Christina today!
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
Wowza! Cannot wait to try these!
Oh wow, these pies look fantastic! Love blueberries!
I loooooove hand pies of any kind, but this combo of fresh blueberries and pastry cream looks divine. I would say this would have been 100% worth a midnight grocery run. 🙂
Haha! Rhubarb and bulgar. I can see that. I am blueberry crazy and they are actually starting to show up at the farmer’s markets here (yeah, I know, California. pft!). These hand pies look amazing!
These sound so yummy and perfect for spring and summer. Little hand pies are just the cutest, and the whole post is such a sweet way to celebrate Christina 🙂
What a lovely dedication post, Joanne! Congrats to Christina! And now onto these portable pies – seriously what’s not to love! My only complaint about blueberry pie is I need 2 hands to eat it – but one hand is all I need to eat these!
Well, I am not pregnant but I am now most definitely craving these little beauties. YUM.
I’m officially gaga over these hand pies! I love the fact that there’s vanilla cream in there; the combination of that and the blueberries sounds so decadent and delicious!
I think these are the cutest baby shower food ever! And yes, yes, YES about blueberries! Love them, and they were the perfect choice here.
Huge congrats to Christina! <3
What a lovely hand pie recipe! I love that blueberry crumb pie as well.
What gorgeous hand pies! And such a sweet surprise for such a sweet lady – love Christina!
These are pure, sublime happiness in a crust!! and absolutely perfect for Christina!!
I will take one of these every morning before work please? lol. I just love these cream hand pies. Amazing.
Kay of Pure & Complex
http://www.purecomplex.com
Oh man those plump little hand pies are calling my name!!
OMG I forgot she had offered that! Ah memories. And obviously bonding with you was the best:-)
Love these and am having a pregnancy-like craving for them as I stare at the screen!
oh i want one! So bad. like right now. Like come bring them to me:))) Oh my goodness they are incredible in those pictures and look absolutely delicious- melt in your mouth
If I had to pick one pie to belong in heaven, I think something like this would be IT, Joanne. Oh my goodness, I’m swooning at the thought of that pastry cream in there all mingled with the blueberries. They photographed so beautifully, too! Triple win!
Okay don’t hate me but I lowkey hate raw blueberries. Baked? Compote-d? I’m there. Especially for these pies! Love all that oozy blueberry action and omg vanilla cream. Also don’t worry about pregnancy cravings because if you need a child you can totally just adopt me (and feed me lots of your yummy food, duh) 🙂
Ummmm YES! I need these NOW! So so good!
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
OMG I just LOVE hand pies!!! These are absolutely no exception! I want to make these ASAP! Had fun doing the shower with you! Pinning this recipe right away!
Totally delicious! I have to make these. Never made hand pies before and I also am a lover of blueberries!
These are absolutely gorgeous! The blueberries bursting out and the vanilla cream.. i mean just give me my stretching pants because I’m so ready to down these pies!
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
yum yum! i’ve never had a hand pie (gasp). these look great!
PIE! These guys sound so delicious. I definitely have to get my hands on some fresh blueberries very soon!
This is such a sweet post! Congrats to Christina! These hand pies are adorable and perfect for baby shower! Love the blueberry filing with vanilla pastry cream!
I just told Lorraine over at Not Quite Nigella that I wanted one of her biscuits with my coffee, now I want one of these pies – thank goodness it is all virtual food:-) They look fab – Joanne.
You had me at pie. Duh. And also? Can’t wait for you to be pregnant!
I LOVE that you put pastry cream in them! That sends them over the edge of deliciousness for me!
Yum, blueberry vanilla cream hand pies. I wish I had one right now.
Haha, I bet if I had pregnancy cravings, it would be for these hand pies! Why have I never made hand pies before??? I need to remedy this!
I want all of these!!! And they are perfect for a shower!
What a great recipe, and so versatile. Thanks for sharing 🙂
These look delicious! I love blueberries made into dessert. It’s the best way to eat blueberries in my mind! yum!
During Passover my one craving was pie. Blueberry to be exact. And guess what I had last night? A blueberry hand-pie!
Congratulations to Christina!!She gets babies and baby blueberry pies.
They look gourgeous! I love blueberries too. I had no pregnancy cravings. Not even once!!! And now I realise how boring that is… :/
Hand pies are just the best. And love the vanilla cream you tucked in there. Total yum! Can’t wait to try these out!
I would eat all of these as fast as I could. The blueberries! The vanilla cream. OMG
I buy blueberries by the Costco sized tub. More than one at a time. And, yes, now I am craving rhubarb too. And these pies.
Mini desserts are the best! These look outrageously good! 🙂
Ohmagerd, pastry cream in pies? That sounds outrageously amazing.
What a delicious idea to put pastry cream inside along with the blueberries. They must be so delicious! I love hand pies – more crust with every bite 🙂
Produce makes me wax poetic all the time! And now I am craving blueberries. And pie. And rhubarb. Well done.
These pies look so wonderful! I love the virtual baby shower idea! So cute!
Again my mouth is watering! Looks soooo delicious!:)
These are the cutest little hand pies I’ve ever seen!! I love blueberries too and whenever I eat them I always wonder why I don’t eat them more often! Haha, about bulgar being a pregnancy craving, that would be funny!
I’m eating a bowl of cereal with blueberries as I read, and now I really wish I could convert it into these hand pies! They look delicious (and surprisingly cute unfolded for some reason) 🙂
As someone who made blueberry vinigrette (I don’t know how to spell that!) to put on their goats cheese salad, I totally agree! These pies look SO delicious!
handpies are SO fun, and that cream inside is unexpected and delightful! you’ve succeeded in making my mouth water, joanne. 🙂
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
Why am I allergic to blueberries! I never thought much about blueberries because I have had the allergies for a long time but for the first time, I want to risk it all by baking these then eating them outside a hospital for good measure. (I normally just break out into hives…) worth the risk? For these and the blueberry scones I saw on another blog… maybe.
Mmmm blueberries and pastry and creamy filling – these look amazing (and pregnancy is also weird for making you hate the stuff you love like chocolate and fruit!)
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Cream Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
[…] Blueberry Vanilla Hand Pies from Eats Well With Others […]
These were incredible. Love the vanilla cream inside. I have not ever made a hand pie recipe that used pastry cream but I wonder why not because it’s great!