Caramel Apple Mini Pies

These little handheld Caramel Apple Mini Pies are what dreams are made of!! They're packed full of fragrant apples and fresh, homemade caramel. The crust is so tender and flaky. If you're looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dessert, miniature apple pies are a great choice. These bite-sized treats are perfect for any occasion and are sure to please any crowd. In this post, we'll take a look at why mini apple pies are so popular, what ingredients you'll need to make them, and how to bake them to perfection.

Why Caramel Apple Mini Pies Are So Popular

Mini apple pies have been a popular dessert for decades, and it's not hard to see why. First of all, they're incredibly easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a batch of delicious mini pies in no time. Secondly, they're incredibly versatile. You can use any type of apple you like, and you can customize the filling to your liking with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Finally, caramel apple mini apple pies are the perfect size for sharing. They're small enough to eat in just a few bites, making them ideal for parties and gatherings.

Watch me make Caramel Apple Mini Pies here

Ingredients

• Pie crusts (store-bought or homemade)
• Granny Smith apples
• Sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Cinnamon
• Lemon juice
• Butter

How to make Caramel Apple Mini Pies

Here's a step-by-step guide to making mini apple pies:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2. Roll out your pie crusts and use a biscuit cutter or a small glass to cut out circles that are about 3 inches in diameter.
3. Peel and dice your apples and mix them with, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
4. Place a tablespoon of the apple filling in the center of each pie crust circle.
5. Spoon a teaspoon of caramel over the top.
6. Press the edges together and use a fork to create a seal.
7. Brush the tops of the mini apple pies with an egg wash (one egg beaten with a tablespoon of water).
8. Bake the mini apple pies for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
9. Let the mini apple pies cool for a few minutes before serving.

How to make the dough in a food processor

If you have a food processor that you can make the dough in I would highly recommend it for this stage...mainly for a couple of reasons; it will reduce the amount of time needed for you to actually hand mix these items in and will improve results. All you;ll have to do is add the ingredients for the dough into a food processor equipped with a dough blade. What a machine will do that hands won't be able to allow the butter to cut through so well that you achieve that we sand look and feel. Be sure to pulse the food processor in quick, short bursts lasting no longer than a couple seconds per pulse. Pulse the ingredients together until that "wet sand" look is achieved.

Secondly, using a food processor will ensure that each ingredient is evenly distributed. Turn the flour mixture onto a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll out thin sheets of dough. When cutting the dough, be sure to use a round cutter that measures about 3 inch circles like a round cookie cutter, glass, or biscuit cutter. Once all of the circles of dough have been created, you should have enough dough to make a couple more pies. Use the remaining dough, re-flour your surface, and roll the extra dough out again before cutting more circles.

Follow the link for my fruit dip if you'd like to learn how to make your own caramel https://belovedplate.com/fruit-dip-3-ways/

All about the apples

I used Granny Smith apples for this recipe because of their tart flavor and extra crisp texture. Cutting the apples very small is essential because these pies have a short baking time and if the pieces aren't small enough, the apples won't cook. Additionally, the pies are small so you'll want to make sure the chopped apples are small as well-they should be just a bit larger than corn kernels.

If you want to make your own caramel, that would be the absolute best bet but these would also be great using store-bought caramels. I have included very detailed directions on how to make your own caramel here. 

How to assemble caramel apple mini pies

To start, you'll want to make sure to prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Combine the apples along with cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice and mix well with a small spoon. Add a tablespoon of the apple mixture on each bottom dough round. Next, spoon over a bit of caramel and top with another round of dough. FIRMLY PRESS the dough around the edges to make each circle meet. Follow up by using a fork to gently seal the edges and create a pattern. Once all of the pies are complete, cut a couple of slits at the top with a sharp knife. Create an egg wash by beating one egg in a small bowl and by using a basting brush to gently brush the top of each pie with egg. The egg wash is optional, it is used to create a shiny, golden-brown look.  Last, the pies are ready to BAKE!!!

Tips

• For best results, use tart apples such as Granny Smith or Gala.
• You can store the mini apple pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
• If you don't want to make your own pie crust, you can use store-bought puff pastry instead.
• This recipe can also be used to make miniature pumpkin pies or cherry pies.

How to store Caramel Apple Mini Pies

You can store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. 

Substitutions

If you would not like to make the pie dough yourself or are short on time, you can always use store-bought pie crust. Additionally, if you want to save some time you can make caramel with Werther's candy and heavy cream-see measurements and instructions on the recipe card.

How to enjoy Caramel Apple Mini Pies

Enjoying them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small bowl with an extra drizzle of caramel sauce on top of each pie for an added treat!

These caramel mini apple pies are the perfect dessert for any occasion, whether it's a family gathering, a potluck, or just a special treat for yourself. With a flaky pie crust and a homemade apple pie filling, these individual apple pies are sure to impress your guests and satisfy your sweet tooth. So why not try this mini apple pie bites recipe today and treat yourself and your loved ones to a delicious dessert?

Enjoy!

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