These adorable mini apple pies are easy to make using a refrigerator pie crust. Cute little desserts are always fun, but secretly they are portion control!
Why this recipe works
There’s something about mini desserts that people just can’t resist. We just love how adorable these mini apple pies are, plus they’re really quite easy to make!
Using a pre-made pie dough helps these little cuties come together quickly. Your guests will think you slaved for hours.
Ingredients you will need
How to Make Mini Apple Pies
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
Make the Apple Filling
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Lightly spray muffin tin cups (or mini tart pans) with cooking spray.
- Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add flour and stir quickly until combined.
- Add 3 tablespoons water and sugar and mix well. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until it becomes a caramel sauce.
- Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
- Meanwhile, dice the apple and toss with ground cinnamon.
- Combine caramel sauce and apples, mix well.
Prepare the Pies
- Cut 12 circles from the pie dough using a 3.5-inch round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter. We actually used the tart pans!
- Tuck the pie dough circles snugly into the cups.
- Divide the apple filling evenly among the cups. Fill them full, but flush, not mounded.
- Cut the rest of the pie dough into thin strips. Layer the strips on top of the mini pies by weaving over and under and alternating each one.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg and a teaspoon of water until frothy.
- Brush the tops with the egg wash. If you would like to add handles, please see the instructions below.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Allow pies to cool in pan on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove from tart pans or muffin tin and cool completely on wire rack.
Make a Basket Handle
- To add a basket handle, cut strips of pie dough and twist. Bend those twists into a curve, the opening between the ends should fit over the diameter of the pies.
- Bake these following the instructions above, they may need to come out a little sooner, so keep on eye on them.
- Carefully insert toothpicks into each open end and poke the other end of the picks into the mini apple pie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freeze mini apple pies! If you would like to freeze them before baking, be sure to wrap them as air tight as you can. I suggest lining the muffin cups with strips of parchment paper before placing the dough into the tins. Assemble pies per the instructions.
Freeze like this for a few hours, then lift the pies out with the parchment strips. Wrap partially frozen pies in plastic wrap. Place wrapped pies into an airtight container or zipper freezer bag.
When ready to bake, remove from the freezer, unwrap while frozen and place frozen mini pies into muffin tin. Let the pies defrost at room temperature before baking.
You can also freeze the baked mini pies. Follow the same wrapping instructions (after they’ve cooled completely) as above.
Yes, you can use canned apple pie filling, but likely will not use a full can of filling for 12 muffin sized pies. If that’s the case, you could always make our crockpot apple cobbler.
Yes, if you have a favorite pie dough that you make from scratch, you can certainly use that. We also have a pie dough from scratch that you can use, grab it from our blueberry pie recipe.
I hope you enjoy these cute little mini apple pies, perfect for the holidays!
More Pie Recipes
- Banana Cream Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Strawberry Pie
- Mini Key Lime Pies
- Apple Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Apple Hand Pies
- 3-Ingredient Apple Pie Cupcakes
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Mini Apple Pies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons water
- â…“ cup PLUS 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 90 grams
- 3 medium apples peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 14.1-oz boxes refrigerator pie dough sheets
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon water
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- To add a cute basket handle, cut strips of pie dough and twist. Bend those twists into a curve, the opening between the ends should fit over the diameter of the pies. Bake these following the instructions above, they may need to come out a little sooner, so keep on eye on them. Carefully insert toothpicks into each open end and poke the other end of the picks into the mini apple pie.
- You can add a dusting of powdered sugar for decoration if you like.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Lightly spray muffin tin cups (or mini tart pans) with cooking spray.
Make the Apple Filling
- Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add flour and stir quickly until combined.
- Add 3 tablespoons water and sugar and mix well. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until it becomes a caramel sauce.
- Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
- Meanwhile, dice the apple and toss with ground cinnamon.
- Combine caramel sauce and apples, mix well.
Prepare the Pies
- Cut 12 circles from the pie dough using a 3.5-inch round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter.
- Tuck the pie dough circles snugly into the cups.
- Divide the apple filling evenly among the cups. Fill them full, but flush, not mounded.
- Cut the rest of the pie dough into thin strips. Layer the strips on top of the mini pies by weaving over and under and alternating each one.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg and a teaspoon of water until frothy.
- Brush the tops with the egg wash. If you would like to add handles, please see “notes” below.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Allow pies to cool in pan on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove from tart pans or muffin tin and cool completely on wire rack.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Temple says
I love this idea!
However, I do have a question. Are the tart pans you use to cut the dough 3.5″ in outside diameter? If correct, what size tart pans do you use to cook them in?
I have found 3.5 x 3.5″, 2.75 x 2.75″, and 2.5 x 2.5″. I do not believe the one shown when you demonstrate cutting the dough looks like it is 3.5″ deep.
Could you share a link for where to get the cups?
Much appreciated!