Fluffy Yeast Hand Pies with Milk

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make fluffy yeast-and-milk hand pies? Measure out your ingredients. Use a neutral vegetable oil. Milk of any fat content works. You can swap the vanilla sugar for a pinch of vanilla.

2. Step 2:

   

   Sift the flour into a wide, deep bowl. Sifting aerates it, which helps the dough rise more easily and the pies come out light and fluffy.

3. Step 3:

   

   Warm the milk slightly. In a bowl, combine the yeast, 1 tsp of sugar, and about 70 ml of the milk. Stir well and let it sit for 10–12 minutes to activate the yeast. A foamy cap forming on the surface means the yeast is good. If it doesn't form, or barely rises, replace the yeast.

4. Step 4:

   

   In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the sugar, salt, and vanilla sugar.

5. Step 5:

   

   Pour in the rest of the warm milk and stir.

6. Step 6:

   

   Add the activated yeast and stir gently.

7. Step 7:

   

   Pour the vegetable oil into the mixture and stir.

8. Step 8:

   

   Add about ¾ of the sifted flour. Don't add it all at once — you may need less than the full amount. You can always work in more flour, but you can't take excess out. Stir the dough with a spoon to start.

9. Step 9:

   

   Work in the rest of the flour a little at a time, kneading with your hands. Go by the dough's feel, not by an exact amount of flour.

10. Step 10:

    

    Knead the dough. It should be soft, supple, and barely sticky. Cover it with a towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 70–80 minutes. The rise time can vary a bit, depending on the room temperature and how active the yeast is.

11. Step 11:

    

    Make the filling. I went with apple, cinnamon, and sugar. Use sweet or sweet-tart apples that aren't too firm. You can also fill the pies with other fresh fruit or berries, or with jam or preserves.

12. Step 12:

    

    Wash and dry the apples. Peel and core them, then cut them into small cubes.

13. Step 13:

    

    Add sugar and cinnamon to the diced apples and stir. Adjust the sugar to taste, and the cinnamon as you like.

14. Step 14:

    

    The dough has risen to about 2.5 times its size and is ready to shape.

15. Step 15:

    

    Gently punch the dough down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Divide it into equal pieces — as many as you want, depending on how big you'd like the pies. Roll each piece into a ball, then cover the balls with a towel while you shape the pies one at a time.

16. Step 16:

    

    Roll each ball into a round.

17. Step 17:

    

    Place filling in the center of each round.

18. Step 18:

    

    Bring the edges of the dough up over the filling and pinch them shut. You can shape the pies however you like.

19. Step 19:

    

    Arrange the pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced apart. They'll rise and grow as they bake. Cover them with a light towel and let them proof for 15–20 minutes.

20. Step 20:

    

    For the egg wash, lightly beat the egg with the milk using a fork.

21. Step 21:

    

    Brush the proofed pies on top with the egg wash.

22. Step 22:

    

    Bake the pies in an oven preheated to 350°F (180°C) for 20–25 minutes, until golden. Baking time and settings can vary, so go by how your own oven behaves.

23. Step 23:

    

    Let the baked pies cool. Serve these fluffy hand pies with fragrant tea, bold coffee, or a glass of milk. Enjoy!