Culinary Producer Grant Melton seals a rich chocolate-pecan filling into pie dough to make sweet pastry packets.
For a savory take, try Grant's Spicy Beef & Potato Hand Pies.
Place 1 egg yolk, cane syrup, melted butter and dark brown sugar into a mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Add in the cocoa powder, pecans, chocolate chips and salt and stir until combined to make the filling.
Preheat oven to 375˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place a round of pie dough on a floured work surface. Fold in 2 opposite sides of the pie dough, overlapping in the center. Flip the dough so that the folds are face down. Roll out the dough out into a big rectangle, about 20-by-4-inches. Quarter the rectangle so that you have four 4-by-5-inch rectangles. Repeat with the second round of dough.
Place 2 tablespoons filling into the center of a rectangle. Fold the bottom third over the filling to cover. Using a paring knife, trim the two corners from the remaining flap of dough so that it resembles the flap of an envelope. Fold the flap down over the covered filling. Using a fork, carefully crimp the 2 open sides of the envelope. Using a paring knife, trim the crimped edges to neaten, as needed. Place onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and rectangles to make 8 envelopes.
In small bowl, whisk the remaining egg yolk with cream. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the envelopes.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly. Serve warm dusted with confectioners’ sugar.