These fried sweet potato pies are the ultimate hand-held dessert: flaky golden crust on the outside, silky sweet potato filling on the inside and a dusting of confectioners' sugar to tie it all together. A personalized twist on a classic southern treat, they're sure to be a hit wherever you serve them.
Instructions
1
Create the dough
2
In a large bowl, combine the flour and sugar, then cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the eggs and milk in a small bowl, then add that to the crumb mixture. Mix it with a fork until a dough ball forms. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
3
Form and fill the pies
4
In a large bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, egg, 2% milk, melted butter, all-purpose flour and vanilla extract, then stir until smooth. Divide the dough into 25 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into a 5-inch circle. Spoon 1-1/2 tablespoons of filling onto one half of each circle. Moisten the edges of the circle with water, and fold the dough in half over the filling. Press the edges together with a fork to seal.
5
Fry the pies
6
In a cast-iron or electric skillet, heat 1 inch of oil to 375°F. Fry the pies in small batches until they're golden brown, about one minute. Remove them from the oil and drain them on paper towels. If desired, dust the pies with confectioners' sugar.
