These delightful Apple Pie Cookies are like mini hand pies, featuring a soft, buttery pastry that envelops a delicious apple pie filling. You’ll want to bake these all autumn long!
Ingredients
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- 3 apples (about 1 lb), peeled and sliced into 8 slices each
- 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- A dash of nutmeg
- 3/4 cup water
For the Pie Crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into cubes and chilled
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup ice water
(Alternatively, you can use 1 package of refrigerated pie crusts—2 crusts.)
For Filling and Topping:
- 1 3/4 cups apple pie filling, chopped into small pieces
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
1. Make the Apple Pie Filling:
- Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice and set aside.
- In a saucepan, combine cornstarch, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Let it boil for 2 minutes until thick, then stir in the apple slices.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the apples are soft but not mushy. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Once cooled, chop the apples into small pieces and set aside.
2. Make the Pie Crust:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar.
- Using a pastry blender, incorporate the chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons of ice water over the mixture and blend. Repeat with another 2 tablespoons until the dough holds together (add more water if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time).
- Divide the dough into two pieces, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Assemble the Apple Pie Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out one disc of dough on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick. Spread caramel sauce over it, then layer with chopped apple pie filling.
- Cut the second disc into 1/2 inch strips to create a lattice top over the filling.
- Use a round cookie cutter (about 2.5 inches) to cut out the cookies and place them on the baking sheet.
- Brush the tops with the beaten egg and sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture.
4. Bake:
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Enjoy your delicious Apple Pie Cookies!
