Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies

Get Ready for S’mores Magic, No Campfire Required!

Oh, do I have a treat for you today! I’m absolutely bursting with excitement to share my recipe for Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies. Forget the smoky campfires and sticky fingers of traditional s’mores – delightful as they are – because I’ve found a way to capture all that ooey-gooey, chocolatey, marshmallowy goodness in a perfectly portable, personal pie, all thanks to the magic of the air fryer!

What makes these hand pies so incredibly special? Well, for starters, it’s the ultimate marriage of classic s’mores flavor with the convenience of an air fryer. We’re talking flaky, golden-brown pastry pockets, baked to perfection without turning on your oven. Inside, you’ll discover a warm, melty core of rich chocolate, pockets of perfectly gooey marshmallow, and a sprinkle of crunchy graham cracker crumbs that deliver that iconic s’mores experience in every single bite.

You are going to absolutely adore these because they’re ridiculously easy to whip up, making them the ideal quick dessert for a weeknight craving, a fun project with the kids, or an impressive (yet effortless!) treat for your next gathering. No more messy plates or fighting for the last s’more stick – these individual hand pies mean everyone gets their own little piece of heaven. Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite way to enjoy s’mores!

Welcome to a delightful twist on a classic campfire treat: Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies! These little pockets of joy bring all the gooey, chocolatey, graham cracker goodness of s’mores into a convenient, mess-free hand pie, all made easy with your air fryer. They’re perfect for a quick dessert, a fun snack, or a unique party treat. Let’s get baking!

Ingredient Notes

To create these irresistible Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies, you’ll need a few key ingredients. I’ve focused on convenience and classic s’mores flavor, but there’s always room for a little personal flair!

Refrigerated Pie Crusts: This is my secret weapon for speed and ease. Two rolls of store-bought refrigerated pie crust are perfect. They unroll beautifully and are easy to cut and seal. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could absolutely use a homemade pie crust, but for quick hand pies, the pre-made stuff is a lifesaver.
Mini Marshmallows: These are non-negotiable for s’mores! Mini marshmallows are ideal for hand pies because they melt quickly and evenly within the small pastry pockets without overflowing too much. You want that gooey pull, and mini marshmallows deliver every time.
Milk Chocolate Bars: Classic s’mores call for milk chocolate, and I find that breaking up good quality milk chocolate bars (like Hershey’s or your favorite brand) into small pieces works best. The chocolate melts into a rich, decadent puddle. You could also use milk chocolate chips, but I find bar chocolate gives a more authentic s’mores melt.
Graham Cracker Crumbs: To get that distinct s’mores flavor, a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs inside is essential. You can buy pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs or simply crush whole graham crackers yourself in a food processor or by placing them in a Ziploc bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.
Egg: Just one egg, whisked with a tiny splash of water or milk, creates a beautiful egg wash. This gives your hand pies that golden, glossy finish and helps seal the edges.

Substitutions:

Pie Crusts: While pie crust is my go-to, you could experiment with puff pastry for a flakier, lighter hand pie. The cooking time might vary slightly, so keep a close eye on them.
Chocolate: Feel free to customize your chocolate! Dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, or even a different type of candy bar broken into pieces would be delicious. Just make sure it’s something that melts well.
Marshmallows: If you only have larger marshmallows, you can snip them into smaller pieces with kitchen shears. I don’t recommend marshmallow fluff inside the pies as it can be very sticky and prone to oozing out during cooking.
Graham Crackers: If you don’t have graham crackers, digestive biscuits or shortbread cookies crushed into crumbs could offer a similar texture and a lovely flavor profile, though they won’t taste exactly like traditional s’mores.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies is surprisingly simple. Follow these steps, and you’ll have warm, gooey treats in no time!

Prepare Your Workspace and Ingredients: First, unroll your two refrigerated pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface or a piece of parchment paper. Let them sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to make them easier to work with. Get your mini marshmallows, chocolate pieces, and graham cracker crumbs ready in separate bowls. In a small bowl, whisk one egg with about a teaspoon of water or milk to create your egg wash.
Cut Out Your Circles: Using a 3-4 inch round cookie cutter, or the rim of a glass, cut out as many circles as you can from each pie crust. You should get about 6-8 circles per crust, for a total of 12-16 hand pies. Gather the scraps, gently re-roll them, and cut out additional circles until you’ve used most of the dough.
Fill the Hand Pies: Take one pie crust circle. On one half of the circle, place a small amount of chocolate pieces (about 1-2 teaspoons). Leave a border around the edge for sealing. Top the chocolate with about 5-7 mini marshmallows. Then, sprinkle a small pinch of graham cracker crumbs over the marshmallows. Be careful not to overfill, or they’ll be hard to seal!
Seal the Hand Pies: Gently fold the empty half of the pie crust circle over the filling, creating a half-moon shape. Align the edges and press them firmly together with your fingers. To create a decorative and secure seal, use the tines of a fork to crimp all around the curved edge of the hand pie. This not only looks pretty but also helps prevent the filling from escaping.
Prepare for Air Frying: Using a small, sharp knife, make 2-3 tiny slits on the top of each hand pie. These vents allow steam to escape during cooking, preventing the pies from bursting. Brush the tops of all your sealed hand pies generously with the egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color and a lovely sheen.
Preheat Your Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Preheating ensures even cooking and helps achieve a crisp crust right from the start.
Air Fry the Hand Pies: Carefully place 2-4 hand pies in a single layer in your air fryer basket, depending on the size of your air fryer. Make sure they don’t touch each other, as overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking. Air fry for 6-9 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed, and you can see the marshmallows and chocolate melting through the slits. Cooking times can vary based on your air fryer model, so keep an eye on them, especially during the first batch.
Cool and Enjoy: Once cooked, carefully remove the Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies from the basket and transfer them to a wire rack to cool slightly. The filling will be extremely hot and molten right out of the air fryer, so give them at least 5-10 minutes to cool before biting into them. This also allows the chocolate and marshmallow to set a little, making them less messy.

Tips & Suggestions

To ensure your Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies turn out perfectly every time, I’ve gathered some of my best tips and suggestions:

Don’t Overfill: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any hand pie! Too much filling will make it impossible to seal the edges properly, leading to leaks and a messy air fryer basket. A moderate amount of chocolate and marshmallows is all you need.
Prevent Sticking: I always recommend lining your air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper specifically designed for air fryers, or using an air fryer silicone liner. This prevents the hand pies from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, especially if any filling oozes out.
Batch Cook: Unless you have a very large air fryer, you’ll need to cook these in batches. Resist the urge to overcrowd the basket; air circulation is key to getting that perfectly crisp, golden crust. Cook in a single layer for best results.
Watch Them Closely: Air fryers vary significantly in cooking time and temperature accuracy. Keep a close eye on your first batch of Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies. They can go from perfectly golden to overdone quite quickly. Adjust cooking time as needed for subsequent batches.
Customize Your Fillings: While classic s’mores are amazing, feel free to get creative! A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top of the chocolate before baking can enhance the flavor. You could also add a very thin slice of banana, a few raspberries, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon with the graham crackers for an extra dimension.
Proper Sealing is Key: Take your time to really crimp the edges of your hand pies with a fork. This ensures a tight seal and minimizes the risk of the gooey filling escaping during cooking.
Cool Before Eating: I know it’s tempting, but please allow the hand pies to cool for at least 5-10 minutes on a wire rack after air frying. The melted chocolate and marshmallows will be molten hot and can cause burns. Cooling also helps the filling set slightly, making them easier and less messy to eat.
Make Them Ahead: You can prepare the hand pies up to the point of air frying, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to eat, air fry them directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.

Storage

Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies are definitely best enjoyed warm, right after they’ve had a moment to cool down. However, if you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare in my house!), here’s how to store them:

Room Temperature: If you plan to eat them within a day or two, you can store cooled Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will lose some of their crispness, but the filling will still be delicious.
Refrigerator: For longer storage, up to 3-4 days, place the completely cooled hand pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Reheating: To bring them back to life and restore some of that lovely crispness, reheat the hand pies in your air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through and the crust is crisp again. You can also use a regular oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. Microwaving is an option for heating the filling, but it will make the crust soft, not crisp.
Freezing Baked Hand Pies: If you want to prepare a larger batch, you can freeze baked and completely cooled Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies. Wrap each pie individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 1 month. To reheat, remove from the freezer, unwrap, and air fry at 325°F (160°C) for 8-12 minutes, or until hot and crisp.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! My take on the incredibly easy and utterly delicious Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies. I absolutely love how simple the air fryer makes this classic treat, transforming it into a convenient, portable dessert without sacrificing any of that gooey, chocolatey, marshmallow perfection. These Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies truly are a game-changer for those times you crave something sweet and nostalgic, but don’t want to bother with a campfire or a full oven. They’re quick, they’re warm, and they bring pure joy with every bite. I encourage you to whip up a batch soon – your taste buds (and your family!) will thank you for these delightful Air Fryer S’mores Hand Pies!