Description
Sweet, golden-brown Apple Empanadas invite culinary adventurers into a world of comforting Latin American pastry perfection. Flaky dough wraps around warm cinnamon-spiced apples, promising a delightful journey through traditional flavors that will satisfy any dessert craving you hold.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling:
- 5 large honeycrisp apples, peeled and diced
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) Mexican piloncillo (or brown sugar)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) ground cloves
Dough:
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 cup (227 g) cold butter, cut into pieces
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) cold water
Topping:
- 1 egg white
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Simmer diced apples with piloncillo, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes until fruit softens and liquid reduces.
- Pulse flour, sugar, salt, cold butter, eggs, and water in a food processor until dough coheres. Gently knead mixture into a smooth ball.
- Divide dough into 16 equal portions and roll each into thin, round 6-7 inch disks. Layer disks between parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm.
- Place a precise portion of apple mixture in the center of each chilled disk. Carefully fold dough over filling, creating half-moon shapes and firmly crimp edges to seal completely.
- Create small decorative vents on pie tops using a sharp knife. Delicately brush surfaces with beaten egg white and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until pastries transform into golden, crispy hand pies.
Notes
- Spice Customization Experiment with nutmeg or cardamom for deeper flavor complexity in apple filling.
- Texture Enhancement Chill dough thoroughly to ensure flaky, crisp pastry that doesn’t become tough during baking.
- Dietary Adaptation Substitute gluten-free flour blend and plant-based butter for vegan and gluten-sensitive diets without compromising taste.
- Storage Solution Store hand pies in airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate up to 5 days for extended freshness.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg