Halloween Ghost Pies

Get into the spooky spirit with these homemade ghost pies, crispy on the outside, warm and soft inside, and perfect for any Halloween celebration. Whether you fill them with sweet apple, fruity jam, or a savoury twist like cheese and ham, these small hand pies are a fun kitchen project for both kids and adults. Made in the Instant Air Fryer, they bake quickly and come out beautifully golden without the mess of traditional baking.

Servings: 8–10 pieces
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15–18 minutes
Total time: 35–40 minutes
Appliance: Instant Vortex Air Fryer

Ingredients

Pastry

• 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry (chilled in the fridge)
• 1 egg, whisked (for sealing and brushing)
• Flour, for dusting the work surface

Apple filling (sweet option)

• 1 apple, peeled and grated
• ½ teaspoon cornflour
• 2 tablespoons (25 g) caster sugar
• A pinch of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 knob of butter

Jam filling (simple option)

• ¼ cup jam of your choice

Optional glaze

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation method

1. Prepare the pastry

Allow the puff pastry to soften slightly in the fridge until flexible but still cool. Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the sheet. Use a ghost-shaped cutter (or a knife for circles or squares) to cut out an even number of pieces. Place the pastry cutouts back in the fridge to chill while you prepare the filling.

2. Make the apple filling
Melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add the grated apple and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar, and cornflour mixed with a little water. Cook briefly until the mixture thickens, then remove from the heat and let it cool.

3. Assemble the pies
Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Spoon a small amount of apple or jam filling into the centre of half the pastry cutouts. Be careful not to overfill. Brush the edges with egg, place another cutout on top, and press the edges together with a fork to seal.

4. Air fry
Preheat your Instant Vortex Air Fryer to 180 °C. Brush the tops of the pies with the remaining egg. Place them in the basket and air fry for 15–18 minutes until puffed and golden.

5. Add the glaze
For a sweet finish, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Once the pies have cooled slightly, dip the tops into the glaze and let them set on a lined tray.

These ghost pies make Halloween baking both fun and delicious. Looking for more festive air fryer recipes? Explore our Instant Air Fryer collection and discover creative ways to make crispy, homemade treats in minutes.