These mini apple pies offer a bite-sized twist on a traditional autumn dessert, making them a sure crowd-pleaser at your upcoming gathering.
Mini Apple Pies
Mini apple pies offer a fun and charming take on the classic dessert, delivering all the familiar flavors in a bite-sized, individual portion. These little pies are a great treat for any occasion and will delight your guests.
Why Choose Mini Apple Pies?
These mini treats pack the perfect mix of sweet, tangy apples and a buttery, flaky crust. Their single-serve size makes them easy to enjoy, whether you’re hosting an event or just want a quick dessert. Plus, their cute size is a hit with both kids and adults.
Ideal for Any Occasion
Mini apple pies are versatile enough to suit almost any event. Whether it’s a holiday party, casual gathering, or just a sweet snack, they’re always a great pick. They’re also convenient for picnics, potlucks, and even lunchboxes.
What Pairs Well with Mini Apple Pies
- Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop of ice cream adds a smooth, creamy contrast to the warm apples.
- Whipped Cream: Light and fluffy, whipped cream complements both the filling and crust.
- Caramel Sauce: A drizzle of caramel gives the pies an extra layer of sweetness.
- Hot Drinks: Pair with coffee, tea, or cider for a cozy experience.
- Fresh Fruit: Serve with fresh berries or apple slices for a refreshing side.
A Treat Everyone Will Love
Mini apple pies aren’t just desserts—they’re a comforting, warm experience. The blend of sweet apples, cozy spices, and flaky crust makes them a go-to favorite. Next time you’re in the mood for something homemade, give these mini pies a try—they might just become one of your most loved recipes!
Here’s a simple breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need for these mini apple pies:
- Apples: I prefer Granny Smith apples for their baking qualities, but you can use other baking apple varieties or even a mix. Remember to peel and dice them into bite-sized pieces.
- Sugar: You’ll use a combination of regular granulated sugar and brown sugar for a sweet, caramelized taste. If you prefer, you can use all white sugar or all brown sugar.
- Flour: Flour helps thicken the apple pie filling by binding the juices, preventing a watery texture.
- Cinnamon: A must-have spice for that warm, comforting apple pie flavor. You can also use ground nutmeg or pre-mixed spice blends like apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bright, citrusy note to enhance the filling’s flavors. You can use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice.
- Pie Dough: You can opt for convenient store-bought refrigerated pie dough or make your own using my homemade pie crust recipe.
Best Apples for Apple Pie:
The top choices for apple pie are firm baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, or Braeburn. You can also mix different apple varieties for a more complex flavor. These apples maintain their texture and won’t turn mushy when baked.
Tips:
- If you’re using store-bought pie crust, you’ll need one standard package with 2 round pie crusts. Alternatively, you can follow the provided recipe for homemade pie dough.
- Be creative with your top crust. Instead of a lattice pattern, you can use leftover pie dough to decorate the pies however you like. Try using mini cookie cutters to make fun shapes or cover them with a full top crust. Just ensure you add air vents for steam to escape.
- Consider making mini apple crumble pies instead by following the instructions provided in the recipe.
- Use a regular 12-well muffin pan, not a mini muffin pan, to create the desired size for these mini apple pies.
Preventing Mushy Apples in Pie:
- To avoid mushy apples in your pie, ensure you’re using baking apples, as mentioned in the ingredients section. Coating the apples with flour helps thicken the filling as it bakes, preventing the pies from becoming mushy and runny. You can also substitute 2 tablespoons of cornstarch for the 1/4 cup of flour if needed, but it’s essential to include a thickener.
Peeling Apples for Pie:
- Peeling the apples is recommended when making apple pies of any size. While peeling does remove some of the apple’s nutritional content, it results in a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture without any unexpected apple skins in the filling.
Storage:
- Store the mini apple pies at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate them for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Ensure they are completely cooled before storage. You can reheat them in the oven at 350ºF or in the microwave when ready to serve.
Freezing:
- For longer storage, you can freeze these mini pies. Once they’ve cooled to room temperature, wrap or store them airtight and freeze for 2-3 months. Defrost the pies in the fridge and reheat in the oven to crisp up the crust.
Love Pies? Be sure to check out these other great Pie recipes!
Pumpkin Pie
Boston Cream Pie
Pecan Pie
Mini Apple Pies
Mini apple pies are versatile enough to suit almost any event. Whether it's a holiday party, casual gathering, or just a sweet snack, they're always a great pick. They're also convenient for picnics, potlucks, and even lunchboxes.
Ingredients
- 5 medium Granny Smith apples peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup of light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp of lemon juice
- You can either use 2 pre-made pie dough rounds totaling 14 ounces for 2 or follow your homemade pie crust recipe.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix the diced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice until the apples are evenly coated. Set this aside.
- Roll out the pie dough on a clean surface until it's about 1/8-inch thick and approximately 11 inches in diameter. Use a large biscuit cutter or a round cookie cutter (about 3 1/2 inches in diameter) to cut out 12 circles of dough. Save the dough scraps for the lattice topping; you'll have just the right amount left.
- Press the dough circles into each muffin tin, ensuring they cover the bottom and sides.
- Divide the apple mixture equally among the pies, piling them up, as they will shrink during baking.
- Roll out the remaining pie dough and cut it into small strips slightly longer than the pie's diameter. Create a lattice crust on top of the apple filling and gently press the strip edges to secure.
- Bake the pies for 20 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Let the pies cool for around 10-15 minutes, then use a butter knife to release them from the muffin tin and transfer them to a wire rack or serving dish.
- Serve the mini apple pies warm or at room temperature, with ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce.
Notes
- If using store-bought pie dough, you'll need one 14-ounce package with two round pie doughs.
- You can also opt for a crumble topping instead of the lattice. Combine 4 tablespoons of melted salted butter, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour. Mix and create larger crumb pieces with your hands, then evenly distribute this topping among the pies and bake as directed.
- Store the mini apple pies airtight at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Pin this delicious recipe on Pinterest to save and share with your foodie friends!
Mini Apple Pies