Indulge in the delightful taste of homemade mini apple pies. These individual-sized treats are filled with a spiced apple filling and encased in a flaky pastry crust. Perfect for parties or afternoon snacks, these mini apple pies will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
- 6 tablespoons ice water
- 4 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (for topping)
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the cold, diced butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until the dough comes together. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a separate bowl, combine the diced apples, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and lemon juice. Mix until the apples are evenly coated.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out circles using a round cookie cutter or a glass.
- Place the dough circles into a greased mini muffin tin, gently pressing them to fit the bottoms and sides.
- Fill each dough-lined muffin cup with a spoonful of the apple mixture.
- Roll out the second portion of dough and cut out smaller circles to create lids for the pies. You can also use a lattice pattern if desired.
- Place the lids over the apple-filled cups and press the edges to seal. Cut slits on the top for steam to escape.
- Brush the tops of the pies with beaten egg wash and sprinkle turbinado sugar on top for a nice crunch.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Allow the mini apple pies to cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Interesting Facts
Mini apple pies are a popular dessert during fall and winter seasons in the United States.
The Granny Smith apple variety is preferred for its tartness and firmness, which holds up well when baked into pies.
The addition of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves enhances the flavor profile of the apple filling.
The use of an egg wash gives the mini pies a beautiful golden color.
Turbinado sugar adds a lovely caramelized crunch to the pie crust.