In The Kitchen - Dessert
June 7, 2021

Mini Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pies

A taste of home in every bite with these bite-sized apple pies.

10 min read

Few things evoke home and memories of summer like homemade apple pie. With pool parties BBQ's, and picnics just around the corner, I'm whipping up mini pies to bake and take - they're delicious, simple, and individual sized, making them ideal for parties.

One of the first things my husband asked me to bake him when we were dating was apple pie, and it’s made several appearances since then.  This recipe is a bite-sized variation, combining elements of cinnamon rolls, caramel apples, and apple pie.  Hungry yet?  You can bake these flat like a cookie on a baking sheet or place the crust rounds into a muffin tin for a deeper mini pie.  Either way, you’re friends and family will love them!

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Mini Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pies

Servings
12
Prep Time
~25 min
Cook Time
~25 min
Ingredients
Total Time
~50 min

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Equipment

Ingredients

For the crust  (makes 2 crusts for the bottom and top layers)

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup Crisco shortening
  • ~10 Tablespoons cold water
  • Sanding sugar (optional for sprinkling on top of pies)

Note:  For ease, you can use 2 store bought crusts .You will roll only one with  cinnamon filling.  The second is for the criss-cross  crust topping.

For the crust cinnamon roll filling

  • 3/4cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
  • 6 Tablespoons cup butter, melted

For the pie filling

  • 3 cups apples peeled, sliced (recommend Granny apples)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

Note:  For ease, you can use store bought apple pie filling .

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Instructions

  • In a small bowl, mix the spices and sugar for the cinnamon roll filling together and set aside.
  • Mix  together the flour and salt.  
  • Remove 1 cup of this mixture and set aside.  
  • Cut shortening into the first mixture.  
  • Mix cold water with the reserved mixture that was set aside.  Stir to combine.
  • Add the reserved mixture to the Crisco mixture and combine.
  • Once a ball of dough forms, divide into two balls of dough (one ~1/3 of the dough, the second with the remaining 2/3 of the dough.  Refrigerate the first ball, wrapped in plastic.
  • Note: you will use the refrigerated dough for the decorative pie crust top.
  • Roll the larger ball of dough to desired thickness (~ 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick) on a floured surface, rolling from the center of the crust to the edge.
Mini Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pies dough
  • Brush the rolled dough with the 2 Tablespoons of butter and sprinkle it with the cinnamon roll filling mixture.
  • Roll up the crust into a cylinder (as if rolling cinnamon rolls) starting from the longest side of the crust.
  • Once rolled, cut the cylinder into segments every ~ 2 inches (just as if cutting cinnamon rolls).
  • Lay each piece on it’s side, so the cinnamon swirl faces up. Place them side by side so they touch, then roll the pieces flat to form a swirled crust.
  • Drizzle caramel onto the cinnamon swirled crust, then cut the crust to desired mini pie size using a biscuit cutter or the mouth of a mason jar.
  • Place each round on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Note: You can also bake these in  greased muffin tin for a deeper pie.
  • Mix together the apple pie mixture by combing the ingredients by hand in a medium bowl.
  • Add the prepared apple mixture to the center of each circle of crust.
  • Remove the refrigerated dough ball  and roll it to desired thickness (~ 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick).
  • Using a pastry cutter (I used a fluted pastry cutter for a wave effect, but you can create any design using cookie cutters and styled pastry cutters), cut crust strips to interweave across the top of your mini pies.
  • Place the crust strips on top of the apple filling on each of your mini pies, interweaving the strips and pressing the edges into the bottom crust layer to seal.
  • Lightly  brush the  top of each pie with melted butter and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
  • Bake at 425 degrees F for ~18-22 minutes or until lightly golden.
Mini Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pies Cooked dough

A taste of Americana in each bite, these pies add charm and gooey deliciousness  to any party table.  And since they easily fit in one hand, they’re a perfect finger food for picnics and BBQs.  Whatever the summer brings you, I hope it brings you joy, good food, and good memories with those you love,

Enjoy!

XOXO,

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