Description
A hand-held twist on the classic apple pie, these apple pie empanadas feature warmly spiced apples wrapped in tender, golden pastry. Perfect for dessert, brunch, or a cozy snack, they’re easy to make and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup (120 ml) tepid water
- 3 large sweet or semi-sweet apples (about 680 g), peeled, cored, diced
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- Sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add olive oil and water, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Knead briefly until smooth. Cover and rest while preparing filling.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced apples, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook 5–10 minutes until apples begin to caramelize. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon zest. Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each into a 5-inch (12–13 cm) circle on a floured surface. Add apple filling to center.
- Fold dough over to form a half-moon and seal edges by crimping with fingers or a fork.
- Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl. Brush each empanada with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Arrange on baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use a mix of apple varieties (e.g., Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) for more depth.
- Ensure apple filling is cool before sealing empanadas to prevent soggy dough.
- Seal edges tightly to prevent leaks—use water to moisten if needed.
- Try drizzling with caramel sauce or serving with vanilla ice cream.
- Empanadas can be fried instead of baked for a crispier crust.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
