Copycat McDonald’s Strawberry and Cream Mini Pies are the perfect breakfast or sweet treat! Crispy, crumbly pastry encasing a fresh strawberry and cream cheese filling makes a delicious combination.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Hand Pies
I have a slight obsession with those Strawberry Cream Mini Pies from McDonald’s. They’re hot, flaky little pockets of strawberry and cream cheese. What’s not to love?
Luckily, you can make them at home now with this recipe! This copycat version is my take on those addictive hand pies, and they came out tastier and healthier (if you ask me)!
They make the most fun and delicious desserts. The kids will LOVE being able to eat these at home, and you won’t have to make a trip to the drive-thru.
Why you’ll love this Strawberry and Cream Hand Pie Recipe:
- TASTY: This delicious copycat version of the McDonald’s pies is filled with strawberries and cream cheese. It is fruity and sweet!
- EASY: Mini pies are so easy to make, with only six ingredients.
- VERSATILE: These hand pies are great for dessert, a sweet breakfast, or even an after-school snack.
I love this strawberries and cream version, but these mini pies taste great with blueberries, apple, or cherry too!
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Ingredients
- Pre-made Refrigerated Pie Crust: I used Pillsbury, but you can make your own (see recipe card for homemade crust recipe).
- Strawberries: Hulled and chopped. You can use fresh or frozen.
- Cream Cheese: I used a low-fat cream cheese. Make sure it is softened.
- Egg: You can use a whole egg (with yolk) or just egg whites. I love Just Whites.
- Vanilla Extract
- Sugar: Divided
Trademark note: In the spirit of transparency, please note that some of these ingredients are trademarked products. McDonald’s, Pillsbury, and Just Whites are proprietary brands that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Mini Pies
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Blend the strawberries and sugar in a food processor.
- Add to a bowl with cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla.
- Cut the pie crust into rectangles and add a spoonful of the berry mixture onto half of them.
- Top with the remaining pastry rectangles and seal with a fork.
- Bake and serve.
What is a McDonald’s Strawberry and Cream Pie?
If you’ve never seen these mini pies, don’t feel bad. They’re not available all the time or in all McDonald’s locations. This sweet treat from the Golden Arches, is a hand pie, a less-familiar cousin of the classic McDonald’s Apple Pie.
It features a layer of strawberry filling alongside a layer of vanilla-flavored creme. The crust has a light layer of sugar baked on, and they are so addictively sweet, tangy, creamy, and delicious.
Since they can be hard to find, I decided to make my own, and they are awesome!
How Difficult Are These to Make?
The strawberry cream cheese filling is easy as pie! Just combine the filling ingredients and it’s ready to load into the crust. It’s so amazing and flavorful. What more could you ask for in summer, especially when strawberries are in season?
And with the pre-made pie dough, prep is super simple. Just assemble everything and bake!
Can I Use Store-Bought Crust?
You don’t have to make the crust from scratch, though there is a recipe for homemade pie crust if you like. If you use a pre-made crust, go for a refrigerated one rather than a frozen one.
The frozen crust isn’t designed to be removed from the package and rolled out as a pastry. It will crumble if you try to do that, so stick with the refrigerated type!
Serve these little strawberries and cream hand pies fresh and hot! Add a scoop of ice cream for an extra delicious dessert.
Tips!
- Let the cream cheese sit on the counter for at least 15-30 minutes to let it soften.
- Be sure to cut some sort of vent in the pastry dough. The hearts look really cut, but you can just cut slits if you prefer.
- You can use different fruits to make different flavors! Try blueberries, cherries, or raspberries instead.
- Serve them hot with a scoop of ice cream for a delicious dessert!
- Use a fork to press the two rectangles together to seal the hand pies.
- The egg wash helps to brown and crisp up the pie crust in the oven to create the deliciously flaky texture!
Be sure to try our copycat Egg White Delight too or copycat Egg White Bites!
These strawberry cream cheese hand pies are just as good as (or maybe better) than the McDonald’s pies. And baking these is almost as easy as going out to the drive-thru. The whole family is going to love these!
Check out these other sweet treats
- Apple Pie Cupcakes
- Oatmeal Cream Pie Bars
- Blueberry Pop Tarts
- Cookies and Cream Cookie Butter
- Quick and Easy Pear Tart
- Blueberry Pie Bars
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Copycat McDonalds Strawberry Cream Pie
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Ingredients
- 15 ounces refrigerated pre-made pie crust 425 grams (1 package), or make your own! recipe HERE
- 2 cups hulled and chopped strawberries 334 grams, fresh or frozen
- 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese 227 grams, room temperature (1 brick)
- 1 large egg 50 grams, whisked
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 3½ tablespoons granulated sugar 44 grams, divided
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a food processor, process the strawberries with ½ tablespoon of sugar. Set aside.2 cups hulled and chopped strawberries, 3½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the egg, cream cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, and vanilla. Blend until fluffy.8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, 1 large egg, 3½ tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Unroll the 2 pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 12 rectangles (6 per sheet of dough).15 ounces refrigerated pre-made pie crust
- Cut a small slit or heart into 6 of the rectangles (to allow steam to escape).
- Place a spoonful of cream cheese filling next to a spoonful of the strawberry mixture onto each of the other 6 rectangles (without the slits), leaving room along the edge. (You can also put down the cream cheese first, and top with the strawberries.)
- Cover each filled rectangle with a layer of dough (the pieces with the slits) and use a fork to secure the edges well.
- Brush lightly with egg and sprinkle with a little extra sugar if desired.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly browned. Let cool before enjoying.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Let the cream cheese sit on the counter for at least 15-30 minutes to let it soften.
- You can use a store-bought crust. It works great!
- You can use different fruits to make different flavors! Try blueberries, cherries, or raspberries instead.
- Make sure you lightly flour the surface you’re rolling your pastry on, to avoid sticking.
- Use a fork to press down the top pastry layer into the bottom. Besides sealing the crust, it makes a lovely rustic edging.
- Use a fork to press the two rectangles together to seal the hand pies.
- The egg wash helps to brown and crisp up the pie crust in the oven to create the deliciously flaky texture!
- If you’re looking to REALLY take them up a notch, top with some vanilla bean ice cream.
- Be sure to cut some sort of vent in the pastry dough. The hearts look really cut, but you can just cut slits if you prefer.
- Nutritional information is calculated using refrigerated pie crusts, not a homemade recipe.
Nutrition Information
Had some extra filling, could I use it to make a regular pie?? Or any other recommendations for the extra cream cheese filling would be greatly appreciated
Sure! This filling would work for a regular pie.
Since I am allergic to eggs, is there anything I can replace eggs with please?
The egg just helps the pastry brown in the oven. You can omit it entirely or brush the pastry with heavy cream instead!
Tried today for first time. Didn’t use enough filling in each one. I think I will add more sugar and a teaspoon of lemon juice to the strawberries.
Modify to your liking!
I to love the McDonald’s Strawberry Cream pies but was wondering has anyone ever tried to make a whole pie instead of individual one
I haven’t, but maybe someone will come through!
Yes. Using slightly different ingredients. Like a homemade glaze for the strawberries & the cream used heavy cream and cream cheese. Delicious! Never have leftovers.
Made these tonight and loved them! Definitely a close enough match to substitute for the fast food version and fix that craving. I ended up making some in tarts and actually liked that better than the hand pies. The only other thing I learned is that the taste of fresh strawberries is strong enough that I prefer a 2:1 ratio of the cream cheese filling to the strawberry filling or the “cream” gets a bit lost.
Oh I bet that was so yummy! I’ll have to try that!
What you mean it gets lost so you saying more 🍓 less cream cheese or vice versa?
So… with summer just starting mcdonalds brought back the strawberry cream pies… and I’m pregnant….well for some reason this time around a high sugar content isn’t working for the tiny growing baby lol. Thank God you posted this recipe. I would have way over complicated a recipe to make them myself. Now I have to convince myself to wait till tomorrow to send my husband to the store for the ingredients lol. Wish me luck :).
This is so awesome. I’m glad you found it too. Congrats on the baby!! :)
Hi becky! Omg are these so good! My daughter and i used to ask how many they had a few times a week and buy them all and Freeze them. I came across this looking for soMething a little different for thanksgiving dessert and used Strawberries(the only fruit i really like) mine are in the oven now! Hope they survive in my house until tomorrow! Thanks for sharing! Great recipe idea!
Yay! SO happy to hear that!
I know I’m a little latest to the game lol! These look scrumptious & I can’t wait to try this recipe! I was wondering if you have tried freezing them after you make them & ifor so, how did they turn out.