Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (2024)

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By Amanda Paa – Updated April 23, 2021

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The first rhubarb dessert of the season definitely signals the start of spring for a Minnesota girl. Jams, crisps, buckles and bars — so many recipes I’d love to try, so little time.

I’ve also vowed to use this vegetable that’s usually referred to as a fruit in more savory dishes this year, but not before I made these gluten-free Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies.

A gluten free pie recipe isn’t usually my first choice when I’m making something sweet, mostly because I want something I can indulge in without a long wait. But today was different. I was in one of those, “I’ve got plenty of time to dilly dally with a fun project” moods.

Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (2)And to tell you the truth, once the pastry is chilled and rolled out, it really doesn’t take that long for these hot pockets to meet your mouth.

I added just a smidge of polenta (cornmeal) to a pretty standard pie crust recipe because I love the slight crunch and sweetness it gives to baked goods (just as I did with this Upside-Down Strawberry Rhubarb Cake).

Plus it adds a beautiful golden hue once finished, and with a glossing from a farm-fresh egg, these little hand pies shine and glisten.

Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (3)I was so so happy with how buttery, flaky and delicate the gluten-free crust turned out to be. I’ve learned the key is to not overwork the dough. You want to see lumps of butter when you roll it out, really!

The filling is basically a roasted jam of glorious fruit – diced young rhubarb picked from our tiny backyard and a few raspberries for color. You’ll find that the amount of sugar needed varies depending on how tart your rhubarb is.

A short blast from the oven helps soften the fruit and concentrate the natural sugars, so I found I only needed about 1/4 cup of added sweetener for this batch.

Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (4)I also realized that this is a perfect dessert for taking to parties because no forks or knives are needed, there’s no glass pie plate to drop as you’re walking in, and zero clean-up.

I mean, what’s better than a portable packet of spring’s natural beauty queen?

If you make this gluten free pie recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram with hashtag #heartbeetkitchen or @heartbeetkitchen!

Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (5)

Raspberry Rhubarb Gluten-Free Hand Pies

Flaky gluten-free hand pies filled with a fresh raspberry rhubarb jam.

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Prep Time :20 minutes minutes

Cook Time :50 minutes minutes

Total Time :1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Yield: 8 small pies

Author: Amanda Paa

SCALE:

Ingredients

  • Crust:
  • 130 grams Cup4Cup gluten-free flour or your favorite gluten-free flour mix
  • 20 grams cornmeal
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 7 tablespoons cold butter diced
  • 1 tablespoon greek yogurt
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons ice cold water
  • Filling:
  • 6 ounces of rhubarb about 3 large stalks, diced
  • 1/3 cup raspberries mostly used for the color
  • 1/4 cup sugar or more to taste, depending on how tart your rhubarb is
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • zest of one lemon
  • 1 egg beaten (for washing & sealing)

Instructions

  • To make the pastry, put the flour, polenta, salt and
    sugar in a food processor fitted with the dough blade. Add the butter and pulse
    about 10 times to start breaking up the butter, then process for about 15 seconds,
    until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs and there are pea-sized lumps of butter.

  • Add the water and greek yogurt, pulsing
    until the mixture just starts to clump together, adding an additional
    tablespoon of water at a time if needed. As long as it sticks together when you
    use your hands to squeeze it into a ball, you’re set. You don’t want to overprocess, there should still be flecks of butter showing.

  • Flatten the dough and wrap in cling
    film. Chill in the fridge for about an hour until just firm.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. While
    the dough is chilling, make the filling by putting the rhubarb, sugar, lemon zest and cornstarch in a roasting dish and mixing. Bake for about for about 15 minutes until the rhubarb has softened and shrunk a bit. Remove and mash the
    raspberries so that the color fully distributes. Taste and stir in a little more sugar if needed. Set aside.

  • When the dough has chilled, roll it out
    on a well-floured surface or parchment paper until it’s about 3mm thick. Chill
    the flattened dough for another half an hour or so.

  • Remove the dough from the fridge and
    using pizza cutter, cut out squares about 2 ½ inches wide by 4 inches long.

  • Place a spoonful of the filling on one square, brush the edges with beaten egg
    and place another square over top, pinching the dough around the jam and sides
    to seal. Cut a vent in each pie and freeze for about 40 minutes, until firm.

  • Return oven to 350 degrees. Remove pies
    from freezer and brush each with the beaten egg, then bake on a sheet pan lined
    with parchment paper for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Raspberry Rhubarb Hand Pies (gluten free pie recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep rhubarb pie from getting soggy? ›

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven.

Does rhubarb need to be cooked before baking? ›

Absolutely not. I have never pre-cooked the rhubarb. In fact, I think it would be a runny mess if you did.

What is a good substitute for rhubarb? ›

If you'd like to make this recipe but can't find rhubarb anywhere, substitute with any tart fruit. This could be some firm cherries, blackberries, or granny smith apples.

Why put rhubarb in pie? ›

You almost never see a strawberry pie on its own. There's no complexity. It's like a sugar bomb. Rhubarb, when mixed with strawberries, gives you that sourness to balance the sweetness and the complexity.

How do you get a crispy crust on the bottom of a pie? ›

Getting a brown, flaky/crispy bottom crust on your pie is all about quick and effective heat transfer. That's why aluminum or aluminum/steel pans — rather than glass or stoneware — are your best choice for baking pie. Metal, especially aluminum, transfers heat quickly and efficiently from oven to pie crust.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

How do you make rhubarb taste better? ›

Sweeten It: Rhubarb's natural tartness can be balanced with sugar or other sweeteners. You can make rhubarb compote, pie, or jam by simmering chopped rhubarb with sugar until it becomes tender and sweet. Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste.

Should you soak rhubarb before baking? ›

Discard leaves and woody ends. Wash rhubarb with cool tap water, but do not soak.

Should you wash rhubarb once picked? ›

You do not need to wash the stalks until you are ready to use them or freeze them,” says Cooper. “When you are ready to use fresh rhubarb, rinse them for 20 seconds with water and dry on a clean cloth.” Remove and throw away leaves and trim the ends of the rhubarb.

What is the old name for rhubarb? ›

Rha comes from the Indo-European protolanguage *sreu, which means river or to flow. Rha barbarum was transformed to rhubarb in English and to Rhabarber in German. Medicinal rhubarbs are R.

Can I use canned rhubarb instead of fresh? ›

If you can get early forced rhubarb then that is ideal, but frozen rhubarb is a good alternative. If you can't get either of these then you could use tinned or canned rhubarb.

What happens if you don't cook rhubarb? ›

Stick to the stems if you're eating rhubarb raw—the leaves are poisonous. I repeat: Rhubarb leaves are poisonous. The leaves contain oxalic acid, which can be fatal to both people and pets if consumed in large amounts.

Why can't you eat too much rhubarb? ›

High in oxalic acid

Rhubarb contains approximately 570–1,900 mg of oxalate per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The leaves contain the most oxalate, comprising 0.5–1.0% of the leaf ( 3 ). Too much oxalate in the body can lead to a condition known as hyperoxaluria, which is when excess oxalate is excreted in the urine.

What is the best rhubarb for pie? ›

Redder varieties are desirable for pies, because the color of the filling is more attractive than the grayish color of cooked green varieties. Plant stature and vigor also vary among varieties. In general, greener varieties are more vigorous and have longer stalks than red varieties.

What brings out the Flavour of rhubarb? ›

While cinnamon may be a more common spice to pair with rhubarb, citrusy, herbal cardamon lends a warm, citrusy note to a dish. A big pinch of ground cardamom can be added to any cake, pie, or compote, or you can simply add a little to the whipped cream you'll be topping your rhubarb dessert with.

How do you firm up pie filling? ›

Types of Pie Thickeners
  1. All-Purpose Flour. Flour is a popular thickener for sauces and soups, and it can be used to add body to your fruit filling. ...
  2. Cornstarch. ...
  3. Arrowroot. ...
  4. Quick-Cooking Tapioca. ...
  5. Instant ClearJel.
Oct 29, 2018

How can I make my pie more firm? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy solution, as you're sure to have it in your pantry. Since it's lower in starch, you'll use more of it than you would higher-starch thickeners. Quick-cooking tapioca makes filling bright and clear, but also gives it a stippled and somewhat sticky texture.

How do you stiffen a pie filling? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

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