Begin by peeling and dicing about three tart apples into small cubes. In a mixing bowl, combine the diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out your pie crust to about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 5-inch round cutter, cut out circles from the dough.

Spoon a tablespoon of apple filling onto one half of the dough circle, fold over, press edges to seal, and crimp with a fork. Repeat with remaining rounds.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat to about 350°F (175°C). Test with a small piece of dough to check temperature.

Carefully place filled hand pies in hot oil; fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Remove fried hand pies with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to cool for 5 minutes before serving.