Mini Apple Pies

Mini Apple Pies

Tradition is a funny thing. You don’t mess with it, that’s how something becomes a tradition. You do it over and over. It is rituals that are handed down from one generation to the next. Thanksgiving is the most important and revered tradition in my family. It’s been an American tradition for a couple hundred years, but  for my family in particular, it began with my grandparents. It’s a day that my whole family now waits for all year, and it’s all about the food.

In my house I’m known as the CEO of Thanksgiving, the Titan of Turkey and the Potentate of Potatoes. I rule this holiday with an iron fist. I make the same meal year after year. So, after 27 years of making this particular meal, I have in fact perfected it. My turkey is worthy of any glossy food magazine, my potatoes glisten in buttery goodness, and my cranberry sauce has just the right amount of tart and sweetness. My mother however is the VP of stuffing. For 27 years that has been her contribution, and she nails it every time.

However, sometimes traditions have to change. In with the new, and out with the old. In this case, I’m the old. My son graduated culinary school over 2 years ago, and he has been working as a chef in a fine dining restaurant. Last night he approached me and said that he would like to make the turkey and mashed potatoes this year for our dinner. I was stunned at first. Was he trying to yank control of this holiday out of my hands? When I gained my composure I realized that it may be time to hand the baton over to the next generation. Yes, I guess it was time to pass the tradition on.

Mini Apple Pies

So, now that I didn’t have to worry about the main course, I could focus on the really important aspect of the dinner; dessert. I decided to go very traditional, and serve a trio of desserts. I’m going to do mini pumpkin cheesecakes with praline topping, vanilla bean ice cream and these mini apple pies. Here’s to tradition.

Mini Apple Pies

Mini Apple Pies

Apple Filling

• 2 pounds tart apples, (I used Granny Smith, Jonagold & Fuji) peeld, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices small enough to fit into each cupcake opening)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or ground if that’s what you have)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. In a large pot or a Dutch oven, stir together the apples, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cornstarch.
2. Cook covered over medium heat stirring occasionally until apples are tender, about 18 minutes.
3. Uncover and cook until the liquid has thickened, about 4-6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

The pies will be perfectly delicious if you use store-bought pie crust. I prefer to make the dough myself and below is the recipe I use to make a light, flakey pie crust.

Piecrust

From the Silver Palate Cookbook

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, chilled
• 6 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled
• 5-6 tablespoons ice water, as needed

Directions

1. Sift flour, sugar and salt into a mixing bowl. Add chilled butter and shortening. Working quickly and using your fingertips, rub or cut the fats into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
2. Sprinkle on ice water, 2-3 tablespoons at a time, and toss with a fork. Turn dough out onto your work surface and using the heel of your hand, smear dough away from you, about 1/4 cup at a time. Scrape it up into a ball and wrap in wax paper. Chill for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
4. Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured work surface. Lightly spray the cavities of the cupcake pan. Cut circles, using a round cookie cutter or glass larger than the size of the cupcake opening. 
5. Gently fit the circles into the cupcake cavities. Spoon in the apple mixture, mounding it in the center. (the mixture will shrink so you’ll need to fill it generously). Dot the top of apple mixture with a small piece of butter.
6. If you want a top crust, you can create a lattice top or another circular piece of crust on top. Using a fork I made sure that the top crust was connected to the bottom crust, trying to seal the two together so when they came out of the pan it did not separate.
7. Brush the top crust with an egg wash – 1 egg and a tablespoon of cold water whisked together.  Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top of each crust.
8. Bake until crust is lightly golden brown and apple mixture is bubbling. (Place a cookie sheet under the cupcake pan to catch splatter).
9. Let cool for 5 minutes, then run a sharp knife around the edges of cupcake cavities to loosen pies and using a spoon gently ease pies out of pan. 

Makes 8 mini pies

Recipe: Intermediate

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