Caramel Apple Mini Pies

Course Dessert, Pie

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword apple-pie, caramel-apple-mini-pies

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 38

Cooling time 2

Total Time 2 58

Servings mini pies

Calories 385kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

8 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored & cut into small chunks [to equal 8 cups]
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2-3 tsp ground cinnamon [more or less to your taste]
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar packed
1/4 cup cornstarch [*see cook's note]
water
2 tsp pure vanilla
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 [9] inch pie crusts refrigerated or homemade
Topping:
2 Tbsp butter melted
1 cup pecan-shortbread cookie crumbs [i.e.Pecan Sandies]

Instructions

Filling: Peel, core and chop the apples into small 1/2 inch chunks.
Place into a medium mixing bowl. Toss with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, sea salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a heavy bottomed saucepan melt together the butter and brown sugar. Allow to bubble for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
To the pot add the apples. Simmer on medium-low uncovered for 15 minutes until the apples are fork tender and the apples have released their juices. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
in a small bowl mix the cornstarch with just enough cold water to allow it to completely dissolve to make a slurry.
Increase the burner temperature and bring the apples to a boil. Drizzle the cornstarch slurry into the apples. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Remove from the heat and stir in pure vanilla and heavy cream. Cool completely.
Assemble: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spritz 16 wells of standard size cupcake pans with baking spray.
On a lightly floured surface roll out the pie crusts. Use a cookie cutter to cut the pie crusts into 4 1/2 inch rounds. Re-roll the pastry as needed.
Press one round into each muffin tin.
Divide the caramel-apple filling between the pastry shells. [May vary, depending on how the filling is divided. May yield as 18 mini pies.]
In a small bowl mix together butter and cookie crumbs. Sprinkle on top.
Bake for 35-38 minutes until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly. Cool in the pan for 1 hour before attempting to carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely. [Tip: These pies are deliciously "juicy" so place onto aluminum foil or a cookie sheet to catch drips.]
May serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

When making these pies, the amount of cornstarch needed to thicken the filling can vary. It depends on the apples themselves, or how vigorously you allow the mixture to boil and how much liquid evaporates while cooking. Start with 2 Tbsp of cornstarch using more as needed to thicken the caramel sauce depending on the amount of juice left in the pan.

Nutrition