Sweet & Savory Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies: A Puff Pastry Recipe for Year-Round Enjoyment
Imagine biting into a golden, flaky puff pastry, perfectly baked to a crisp, revealing a luscious homemade strawberry filling. Now, add a sophisticated twist: creamy, tangy goat cheese and fragrant fresh thyme. These aren’t just any hand pies; these Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies are a delightful culinary experience that lets you savor the vibrant flavors of Florida strawberry season, all year long. They strike a perfect balance between sweet and savory, making them an ideal treat for any occasion.
This post is sponsored by Florida Strawberry in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.
Confession time: I’ve never considered myself a natural baker. The precision, the exact measurements, the delicate techniques – they often feel like a foreign language to me. While I admire those who create intricate from-scratch desserts, that particular culinary arena simply isn’t my forte. And that’s perfectly fine! Instead, I’ve embraced the art of “semi-homemade” baking, where smart shortcuts meet fresh, quality ingredients to produce impressive results. It’s a space where I can truly shine, combining convenience with creativity to craft delicious treats that taste anything but semi-homemade.
This recipe, in particular, carries a wonderful sense of nostalgia. Growing up, one of my father’s favorite hidden treasures was a stash of those small, individual hand pies found near the checkout aisle. He had a particular fondness for the cherry and strawberry varieties. Despite his best efforts to keep them secret, my siblings and I always managed to sniff out his private cache of treats. Of course, he’d eventually give in, allowing each of us to pick one. Those simple, fruit-filled pastries hold a special place in my memories, symbolizing simple joys and childhood mischief. Sorry, Dad, but those pies were too good to stay hidden!
As the Florida strawberry season typically winds down in April, I found myself inspired to revisit these cherished childhood snacks. But instead of a simple recreation, I wanted to elevate them, infusing them with a sophisticated, grown-up twist that still honored the classic comfort of a hand pie. The result is this unique recipe for homemade Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies – a perfect homage to my dad’s favorite, enhanced with a gourmet touch.
These hand pies are a symphony of flavors: the bright, natural sweetness of Florida Strawberries, the creamy tang of goat cheese, and the subtle, earthy notes of fresh thyme. This unexpected combination creates a truly memorable sweet and savory experience. The beauty of this recipe also lies in its ability to extend the joy of strawberry season. While fresh Florida Strawberries are undeniably amazing, using frozen berries for the filling ensures you can whip up these delectable pies any time of the year. Freezing fresh strawberries at their peak ripeness locks in their intense flavor and vibrant color, making them a fantastic base for this pie filling.
Indeed, when it comes to homemade hand-pie fillings, frozen fruit is often the secret ingredient to success. They break down beautifully when cooked, creating a rich, thick sauce without becoming mushy like fresh berries sometimes can. At the close of each Florida strawberry season, I make it a ritual to freeze a substantial amount of these naturally sweet berries. This simple act allows us to enjoy the taste of summer sunshine and delicious Florida produce throughout the colder months, making sure that flavorful strawberries are always within reach.
My passion for preserving Florida Strawberries this way stems from its incredible ease and versatility. Freezing berries isn’t just a simple task; it opens up a world of culinary possibilities for later use. Beyond hand pies, these frozen gems can transform into countless other delicious creations. Imagine starting your day with a refreshing smoothie, vibrant with the taste of summer. Or perhaps crafting homemade jams and jellies, ready to be canned and enjoyed as gifts or pantry staples. They are fantastic for creating a quick, luscious sauce to pour over pancakes, waffles, or French toast for a decadent brunch. You can even use them to make compotes, or experiment with unique pickled berry recipes. The convenience of having pre-portioned, frozen strawberries means that fresh, seasonal flavor is always at your fingertips, reducing waste and maximizing enjoyment.
If you’re new to the simple art of preserving fresh strawberries in the freezer, rest assured, it couldn’t be easier! The key to successful freezing begins with selecting the right berries. Always opt for firm, fully ripe strawberries – their firmness is an indicator of optimal sweetness and flavor. Before freezing, ensure your berries are thoroughly washed. It’s crucial to wash them *only* with water and *only* right before you intend to preserve them, as washing too early can lead to moisture loss and a less vibrant berry. Once cleaned, remove their caps, then slice or dice them into convenient, bite-sized pieces. As a general guide, approximately 2/3 cup of fresh berries will yield one full pint once frozen. I personally prefer storing my Florida Strawberries in portioned-out Ziploc baggies; this method is incredibly convenient for grab-and-go use and helps save precious space in my small freezer. However, glass canning jars also work wonderfully for freezing strawberries if you have the space and prefer that option. The goal is to make future cooking and baking as effortless as possible.
While I’ve experimented with similar hand pies using cream cheese, for these specific Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies, I knew a more sophisticated flavor profile was in order. The combination of creamy goat cheese and aromatic thyme elevates these pies from a simple snack to an elegant offering, perfect for spring entertaining. Think bridal showers, festive brunches, or even casual backyard BBQs – they fit beautifully into any setting. On a recent Friday morning, I even indulged in one for breakfast with my coffee, and I have to admit, it tasted like a truly gourmet, grown-up version of a Toaster Strudel. OMG, it was absolutely worth it! This delightful treat proves that sometimes, a little indulgence is exactly what you need.
These versatile hand pies are not only ideal for spring but also a fantastic way to enjoy the essence of summer, long after the Florida strawberry season (which typically runs from December to April) has concluded. The very thought of relishing these juicy berries, perfectly encased in flaky pastry, in the middle of summer brings me immense joy. I’m pretty sure they would bring a smile to my dad’s face too. Though, I can almost hear him playfully turning up his nose at the mention of goat cheese and thyme in a hand pie. He’d probably call them “frou-frou” extras (his words, not mine!). Yet, despite his teasing, I know for a fact he would have tried them if he were here, and deep down, he would have absolutely loved them. That mix of sweet and savory, elevated by the fresh herbs and tangy cheese, creates a flavor profile that’s truly irresistible, even for the most traditional palates.
For my Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies, I rely on the convenience and reliability of pre-made puff pastry. While you absolutely can use your favorite homemade pie crust recipe if you have one, puff pastry offers a foolproof solution that even a self-proclaimed non-baker like myself can master with ease. Its inherent flakiness and buttery texture create an incredibly satisfying crust with minimal effort. To ensure your hand pies bake perfectly without excessive puffing, remember to include several small slits on the top of each pie. These slits act as crucial air vents, allowing steam to escape and preventing the pastry from ballooning up too much, which can lead to uneven baking. Another important tip for achieving an evenly golden-brown crust is to rotate your baking sheet every 5-7 minutes during baking. This simple method has consistently worked wonders for me, helping to avoid over-puffed or unevenly browned pies and resulting in beautifully golden, perfectly flaky hand pies every time!
Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies
Print
Pin
Rate
Ingredients
crust
- 1 box (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator – do not thaw at room temperature
- egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 2 teaspoons milk or water
- coarse sugar, for garnish
pie filling
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tablespoon room temperature water
- 12 oz frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup sugar – granulated or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces goat cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
Instructions
-
Make the filling: Mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until combined and milky. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine the frozen strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula, cook over medium heat until the berries begin to release their juices, about 4-6 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch mixture, then bring to a boil while stirring often. Once boiling, remove from heat then stir in the vanilla. Allow to cool completely at room temperature.Filling should be thick, and sweet.
-
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one pastry sheet. Using a sharp paring knife, cut sheet into 6 rectangles. 3 of these rectangles will be the bottom pastry pie crust, 3 will be the top. Transfer the 3 bottom rectangles to the prepared baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the edges of the bottom rectangles with the egg wash. Divide the goat cheese evenly among half of the squares, then top with a heaping tablespoon of strawberry filling. Sprinkle each with thyme, reserving some for the tops. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal shut.
-
Repeat this entire step with 2nd pastry sheet so you have a total of 6 pastry pies. Slice 3-4 slits in the tops for air vents (use a super sharp knife to do that – the better the vent, the less each pie will puff up). Brush the tops of the pastry pies with remaining egg wash, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Chill the pies in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
-
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375F. Bake the pastry pies for 30 minutes. At 5-7 minutes into baking, check on pies and rotate baking sheet. Do this 2-3 more times, for a total of 30 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Once golden brown, remove pies from the oven. Transfer to a cooling grid after 2 minutes; allow to cool until ready to handle and serve.
Notes
This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them help support this website. Please see the disclaimer here.