Pumpkin Hand Pies - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt. (If your food processor is a 7-cup or smaller, remove half of the mixture and make th dough in two batches.) Pulse in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add the vinegar and cold water, pulsing until the dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (add additional water 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary). Do not over mix. Shape the dough into three 1-inch-thick disks, cover tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

Meanwhile, make the filling: In a small saucepan, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, spices and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium-heat, stirring occasionally, to cook out the moisture, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat, mix in the vanilla and cream cheese until fully incorporated, then mix in the egg yolks. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Working one disk at a time, on a lightly floured surface, roll the disks to 1/8-inch-thick. Cut out twenty-eight 3 1/2-inch pumpkin shapes, transferring them to the refrigerator as you work. Cut 3 vertical slits in half of the cutouts as shown (these will be the tops of the pies).

Place 7 "bottoms" on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place 2 tablespoon of the pumpkin mixture onto each bottom, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Lightly brush the border with egg. Sandwich the filling with the scored pumpkin cutouts and press the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining cutouts and pumpkin mixture.

Brush the tops of the hand pies with the remaining egg. Bake until golden brown, 23 to 25 minutes.