Mini Apple Pies With Puff Pastry
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Just in time for the fall season, my mini apple pies with puff pastry are the perfect combination of sweet apples baked in warm spices and wrapped in a golden-brown and flaky puff pastry. These little bites of heaven are simply irresistible and ready in just 45 minutes.
Pumpkin pie and vegan apple crisp are two of my favorite comfort food dessert recipes during cold season. They ooze with fall spices of cinnamon and nutmeg and have a wonderful, crunchy pastry that makes those cold evenings all the more enjoyable, snuggled under a blanket.
However, sometimes I just want something handheld, like a vegan apple muffin or teacake that I can walk around with and enjoy on the go. So, I decided to turn my favorite dessert into perfectly sized, individually portioned, mini apple pies with puff pastry.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
My miniature apple pies are healthier than traditional apple pies that are overly sweet because I use a small amount of brown sugar to create the perfect balance of sweet, spiced apple mixture in flaky puff pastry. Using store-bought puff pastry also saves me a ton of time compared to making a homemade pie crust, which is ideal for when I throw house parties during the winter. I can whip up three batches in less than an hour using a handful of basic pantry staples, and the recipe is so easy to make, it’s basically foolproof!
There’s no need to cook the apples prior to baking with my simplistic mini apple pie recipe. Just chop and fold those delicious, fresh apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, slivered almonds, and cornstarch in a bowl, and spoon the mixture into muffin trays layered with buttery puff pastry rounds. It’s that simple, you’ll have these mini pies ready in no time! The smell of baked apple pie is enough to attract anyone in the house to the kitchen for a taste of warm, yummy apple mini pies. My kids and husband gather around me before they’ve even had time to cool!
I made three dozen of these healthy mini apple pies a while back for my friend’s son’s birthday party, and to my surprise, not one of them was leftover. I even had mothers asking for the recipe. That’s when I knew I had created a winner! Whether you enjoy apple pies warm or cold, on their own or with a scoop of ice cream, these mini apple pies are sure to impress.
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🥘 Ingredients
To create my mini apple tarts with puff pastry recipe, you will need the following simple ingredients:
Puff Pastry Sheets: While you can use homemade puff pastry dough, I like using pre-made puff pastry sheets because they’re ready in a fraction of the time and effort, and the buttery, flaky crust tastes amazing. Just make sure to thaw the sheets as directed on the packet to unleash their full potential.
Apples: Apples are the star of the show with this mini apple pastries recipe. I chose sweeter apples, but you can use tart apples too (see my substitutions recommendations below).
Brown Sugar: It adds a touch of richness and balances out any tartness from the apples. Go ahead and adjust the amount based on your sweetness meter. I won’t judge if you sneak an extra spoonful or two.
Spices: Any of your favorite apple pie spices work well in this recipe! I chose cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can try allspice, cloves, ground ginger, or even cardamom!
Slivered Almonds: These crunchy wonders bring a whole new dimension of texture to my mini apple puff pastry pies. They add a delightful little crunch that’ll make you go “Mmm!”
Cornstarch: This humble ingredient helps bring my delicious apple filling together, making it thick and gooey, creating a luscious and velvety blend of flavors. It’s like a culinary superhero, making sure your pies stay intact and easy to eat.
Powdered Sugar (optional): This is the finishing touch that I lightly coat the mini apple pies with for a nice touch.
Substitutions
Apple Varieties: While Pink Lady apples are my choice and work wonderfully in this simple recipe, feel free to try Gala apples, Granny Smith apples, Fuji apples, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Jonagold apples for their unique flavors and textures.
Homemade Puff Pastry: You can always make your own puff pastry dough for a more ambitious baking project instead of using store-bought sheets of puff pastry. Or make this gluten-free pie crust for a slightly different texture.
🔪 How To Make
Here’s how I make these super simple individual apple pies with puff pastry in just a couple of steps!
Thaw Pastry, Prep Apples: First, I thaw the puff pastry pie dough as directed on the package. Then, peel, core, and finely dice the apples with a sharp knife.
Sweet Apple Filling: I make the homemade apple pie filling by placing the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, slivered almonds, and cornstarch into a large bowl and mixing until well combined.
Puff Pastry Sheet Prep: Next, I lay a sheet of puff pastry flat on a baking sheet and cut it with a pizza cutter or sharp knife into small squares large enough to cover the holes of the mini muffin tin.
Create Mini Pies: Then, I line the muffin holes with the puff pastry pieces, pressing down into the cavity to make room for the filling. Repeat with the remaining puff pastry in muffin tins until 32 holes have been lined. When all holes have been lined, I fill each hole with ¾ apple filling.
Bake: I bake the puff pastry mini apple pies in the oven for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden brown.
Allow to Cool: Once baked, I cool the puff pastry apple pie bites on a cooling rack and lightly dust them with powdered sugar.
Serve and Enjoy! Enjoy the mini apple puff pastry tarts either warm or cold.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making these mini apple pies with puff pastry is to use an apple corer. It saves me so much time because I can core and slice the apples in just a few seconds, instead of cutting around the middle by hand. I also get more even pieces, which means the apples cook evenly and the filling tastes right. This one little tool makes the whole recipe faster and easier, especially when I am baking a bunch for family or friends.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Quick Cooking Time: I dice the apples into small cubes to ensure they cook quickly and evenly in the puff pastry mini pies and add a squeeze of lemon juice to keep the apples from going brown.
- Handling the Puff Pastry: I ensure the store-bought puff pastry is soft and flexible before using it to prevent tearing when lining the muffin holes. Simply remove the puff pastry from the fridge 10 minutes before using.
- Don’t Overfill: Make sure not to overfill the puff pastry, as this will cause the pies to break while baking, and all of that delicious filling will ooze out.
- Preventing Sticking: I lightly spray the mini muffin tray to prevent the apple pies from sticking.
- No Need to Peel: Feel free to leave the apple peels on for added texture and nutritional value if you prefer.
- Freshness: These individual apple puff pastry pies are best enjoyed within 24 hours for ultimate freshness.
📖 Variations
The variations with apple pies are limitless! I have tried so many different variations over the years, and here are three that I found to be the best with these cute kid-friendly apple pies.
Apple Turnovers: To create a hand-held mini apple turnover, I cut the puff pastry around a small serving plate and place a small amount of apple filling on one side and fold the other half over to create a semi circle, pressing down the edges so the filling doesn’t seep out during baking.
Apple Streusel Mini Pies: For a crunchy topping, I create a simple streusel topping and sprinkle it on top of the apple filling before baking. Try this 5-minute streusel topping from my cinnamon apple muffin recipe.
Apple Raisin Pies: For extra sweetness, I add 1/2 cup of raisins to the apple mixture. I love the combination of apples and raisins, and they soak up the delicious spiced juices.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I love eating these delicious mini healthy apple pies in winter with a drizzle of caramel sauce or in summer with a scoop of ice cream. They pair well with coffee, too! Here are a few of my favorite serving suggestions:
Rich Toppings: I serve these individual puff pastry apple pies with a drizzle of luscious chocolate sauce or homemade vegan caramel sauce over the top of each pie for an indulgent treat. Or top each mini apple pie with a dollop of freshly whipped heavy cream.
Coffee: A cup of freshly brewed coffee or a creamy latte makes my mornings even more enjoyable with a yummy apple pie! My favorite is this Biscoff latte made with almond milk, espresso, and Biscoff spread. It pairs so well with the spices in apple pie. Or for a quick pick-me-up drink, perfect for the soul, a golden latte. I make it with turmeric, cinnamon, and nutmeg in 5 minutes, and it’s so creamy and delicious.
Serve With Ice Cream: Nothing beats a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of caramel nice cream. These little miniature handheld apple pies are perfect for holding a ball of ice cream on top without even needing a plate, and caramel and apple are simply the perfect combo.
🧊 Storage Directions
Room Temperature: I store these handheld apple pies with puff pastry at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Refrigeration: To chill them, I store any leftover apple pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: To last even longer, I wrap them in foil or plastic wrap and then place them into an airtight container. They will last for 2-3 months in the freezer and can be thawed in the fridge.
Reheating: These mini apple pies with puff pastry can be enjoyed warm or cold. For a warm apple pie experience, I simply pop the individual pies in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F / 180 C for a few minutes until gently heated or in the microwave for 30 seconds.
❓Recipe FAQs
Can I precook apples for this apple pie recipe?
Yes! If you want to precook the apples with the spices, sugar, and cornstarch, you can. However, to save time, I didn’t do this for this recipe, and they turned out perfect. The cornstarch will prevent the mixture from becoming watery during baking and create a thick apple filling just like it would be if it was precooked.
Do I need to brush the apple pies with egg wash?
No. A lot of recipes for small apple pies with puff pastry use a pastry brush to brush an egg wash over the tarts, but there is no need for that in this recipe, as they will become golden brown inside the cookie tray.
Why is my puff pastry wet at the bottom after baking the pies?
If the mini apple pies come out soggy after baking, it is usually caused by too much liquid in the filling, cooking at a low temperature, or underbaking. For best results, I recommend baking at 350 degrees F / 180 °C for 20-25 minutes until you see the edges are golden brown and add the cornstarch to thicken the apple filling.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Mini Apple Pies With Puff Pastry
Just in time for the fall season, my mini apple pies with puff pastry are the perfect combination of sweet apples baked in warm spices and wrapped in a golden-brown and flaky puff pastry. These little bites of heaven are simply irresistible and ready in just 45 minutes.
Servings: 32 servings
Calories: 114kcal
Ingredients
- 17 oz prepared puff pastry sheets
- 5 apples
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- Thaw the pastry as directed on the packet.
- Peel, core and finely dice the apples.
- Place the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, slivered almonds and cornstarch into a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C.
- Lightly spray a mini muffin tray with spray oil.
- Lay a sheet of puff pastry flat and cut into squares large enough to cover the holes of the mini muffin tray.
- Line the muffin holes with the puff pastry pieces, pressing down into the cavity to make room for the filling. Repeat with all remaining pastry until 32 holes have been lined.
- When all holes have been lined, fill each hole ¾ of the way with apple filling.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
- Cool on a cooling rack. Lightly dust with powdered sugar if using.
- Enjoy either warm or cold.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for making these mini apple pies with puff pastry is to use an apple corer. It saves me so much time because I can core and slice the apples in just a few seconds, instead of cutting around the middle by hand. I also get more even pieces, which means the apples cook evenly and the filling tastes right. This one little tool makes the whole recipe faster and easier, especially when I am baking a bunch for family or friends.
- Quick Cooking Time: I dice the apples into small cubes to ensure they cook quickly and evenly in the puff pastry mini pies and add a squeeze of lemon juice to keep the apples from going brown.
- Handling the Puff Pastry: I ensure the store-bought puff pastry is soft and flexible before using it to prevent tearing when lining the muffin holes. Simply remove the puff pastry from the fridge 10 minutes before using.
- Don’t Overfill: Make sure not to overfill the puff pastry, as this will cause the pies to break while baking, and all of that delicious filling will ooze out.
- Preventing Sticking: I lightly spray the mini muffin tray to prevent the apple pies from sticking.
- No Need to Peel: Feel free to leave the apple peels on for added texture and nutritional value if you prefer.
- Freshness: These individual apple puff pastry pies are best enjoyed within 24 hours for ultimate freshness.
Nutrition
Serving: 1mini apple pie | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g
Made these bad boys today loved them!
Aw yay! So happy to hear that May!
If only I could eat these apple pies via my phone, that’s just how fantastic they look. Good job!
Haha! Wouldn’t that be nice 🙂 Thanks Charla!
It was a huge hit at my house! A great way to enjoy apples!
So happy to hear that Toni!
What a delicious recipe, my family loved it! Thank you so much!
Thanks Shadi!! 🙂
These little pies are as pretty as they are tasty!
Yay! Thanks so much!
I love the idea of using egg roll wrappers for a lighter alternative to puff pastry! I never would have thought of that one. Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much Danielle! I’m sure you will love this recipe!
I love, love, LOVE turnovers but like you said they’re still a dessert. Never thought about making them with egg roll wrappers. What a great idea!
Thank you so much Nart! You’ll love this recipe!
These apple turnovers remind me of childhood! My grandma would make these for all of us kids. They’re easy to make and so delicious!
Yay!! So happy to hear that Denay!