Start by placing your oven racks in the upper third and center of the oven. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. This is crucial to ensure that your pies bake to perfection.
Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone mats. This will prevent the pies from sticking and create an easy cleanup.
In a small bowl, stir together the strawberry pie filling and lemon zest. The lemon zest will enhance the flavors of the filling, creating a refreshing contrast to the sweetness.
Take your first piece of prepared pastry pie dough and place it on a well-floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/8-inch thickness. The thinner you roll it, the flakier the crust will be.
Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 to 14 hearts from the rolled crust. Make sure to transfer these to a plate or baking sheet and refrigerate them for a bit to keep them firm.
Repeat the rolling and cutting process with the second crust, ensuring you have a total of 24 to 28 heart shapes.
In a small bowl, beat the large egg to create an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg wash over half of the heart shapes. This will help seal the pies and give them a beautiful golden color.
Place about 1 heaping teaspoon of the strawberry filling in the center of each heart that has been brushed with egg wash. Make sure to include a piece of fruit in each filling for added texture and flavor.
Gently stretch the remaining heart shapes with your fingers to make them slightly larger, then place them over the filling-topped hearts. Carefully press the edges together to seal the pies, ensuring no filling escapes during baking.
Using the tines of a fork, press around the edges of the hearts to create a decorative seal. This not only looks pretty but also helps ensure they stay closed while baking. Use a small knife to cut two small vents in the top of each heart for steam to escape.
Brush the tops of each pie with the remaining egg wash, then sprinkle with coarse turbinado sugar. This will add a sweet crunch to the baked pies.
Carefully place the hearts on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between them. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until they are golden and bubbling. Rotate the pans halfway through baking for even cooking.
Once baked, remove the hand pies from the oven and allow them to cool on the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your delicious Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies!
