Make pie dough. Combine flour, pecans, and salt until well combined. Add butter and mix using a pastry cutter or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add ice cold water one tablespoon at a time just until the dough comes together. It will look a little dry. Shape into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Let chill in the fridge for at least one hour or overnight.
Meanwhile, make cranberry pear filling. Combine cranberries, chopped pears, sugar, orange juice and zest, vanilla, and cinnamon in a heavy-bottomed saucepot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and lightly mash cranberries to release juices. Continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes or until thickened and fruits are softened. Remove from heat and stir in dried currants. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
Lightly dust a clean work counter with flour. Roll out pie dough to ⅛-inch thickness and cut out 3-inch circles using a biscuit cutter for a total of 30 circles. Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of half of the circles. Place the remaining dough portions on top and crimp edges to seal with a fork. Place hand pies on a lined baking sheet and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Use a sharp knife to cut slits on top of each hand pie. Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle turbinado sugar. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm.
Notes
Both the pie crust and filling can be prepared the day before and assembled on the day of baking.