Who doesn't love bite sized treats? These mini apple pies are perfect for any occasion and are so simple to make!
I love mini desserts, especially mini pies! They are so cute and perfectly portioned for when you just need a little something sweet. Some of my favorites are my mini ganache pies and mini strawberry tarts.
These mini apple pies are not just small versions of apple pie, they are bite sized! I used a mini muffin pan to make these adorable treats. Many other mini apple pie recipes use regular sized muffin tins, but these are truly bite sized.
I like bite sized desserts because I can easily make them part of a larger dessert buffet. I love offering choices, especially when entertaining.
How to Make Mini Apple Pies
You basically have two options for making these pies. You can buy ready made pie crusts that usually come in packs of 2 or you can make your own pie crust. Use my flaky pie crust recipe or your own favorite recipe. (If you use my recipe, you will have to double it.) It all comes down to your preference and available time.
To make bite sized apple pies, you will need to cut out circles of pie dough to fit your mini muffin pan. A circular cookie cutter or anything you can trace around such as a glass or jar lid will do for you to measure the circles.
I have suggested a 2.5 inch diameter sized circle but you may need to adjust. Because the diameter of pans might vary, I suggest cutting one out and testing the size in your pan. It should sit in the bottom and reach right up to the top edge.
For the apple pie filling, I like to use gala apples or granny smiths. I let the chopped apple pieces macerate with all the spices first and then saute it with butter until the apple pieces are soft but still hold a shape.
The reason for half cooking the apples is because these pies are so small and bake quickly. Basically, the crust might burn before the apples finished cooking because they are so tiny compared to a full sized pie.
Once the apple filling is ready, you can fill your crusts. Any leftover dough can be re-rolled and used to decorate the top. I used a star cookie cutter on these because I was going for a patriotic theme. You can also use hearts or any other shape. You can even cut strips and lay down a traditional lattice top!
Make the Ahead Instructions
Mini apple pies can be prepared a day in advance. Follow the recipe all the way up to the baking step. Wrap the whole prepared muffin pan in plastic and store it in the freezer. Unwrap and bake straight from the freezer!
Mini Apple Pies
Who doesn't love bite sized treats? These mini apple pies are perfect for any occasion and are so simple to make!
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts
- 4 gala apples, peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbs lemon juice.
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- In a medium sized bowl, toss the apple pieces with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, granulated sugar, brown sugar and lemon juice until well coated. Set aside.
- Roll out the pie crust dough to ⅛ inch thickness. Using a circle cutter (or a jar lid or rim of a glass) cut out 24 circles approximately 2.5 inches wide. (You may need to re-roll the dough to get enough circles)
- Place the circles in each mini muffin tin compartment, lightly pressing the dough onto the bottom and sides. Refrigerate while you cook the apples.
- In a small skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter. Add the apple mixture, cover and gently and frequently stir over medium to low heat. Cook until the apples are tender but still hold their shape. Let the apple mixture cool completely.
- Fill each dough lined muffin tin with the apple pie filling.
- Re-roll the excess dough and cut out shapes to place on top of the apples. Try stars, hearts, leaves or strips to make a lattice.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pie crust is a golden brown. Let the pan cool for 10 minutes and then remove the pies from the pan.
Notes
Prep Time: Time noted above is based on using ready made crusts.
Make Ahead: These pies can be prepared a day in advance. Wrap the whole prepared muffin pan in plastic and store it in the freezer. Unwrap and bake straight from the freezer!
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