Muffin Tin Mini Apple Pies

Most bloggers have a super cute story as to why they decided to make something. Well, for this recipe, I realized that I had a bunch of apples that were going to go bad and I needed something to do with them. I didn't want a large pie since I just won't eat it all. Quick search for mini apple pies in pinterest and I got nothing! Lots of tarts and turnovers but no muffin tin mini pies. So google to the rescue! This recipe came from food.com. I found a few recipes that used pre-made pie dough, so I went to kroger to pick one up. But there was lard in both options. I know lard is nothing to worry about but when I thought about lard vs butter, I decided to make my own. ... now I want to see the ingredients on the croissant rolls...

The crust isn't super tasty. I think I'm used to buttery crust. I might add more butter to the dough next time...

Pie dough start. Cutting butter into flour is hard. 

After four tablespoons of water. For my final dough, I needed 8 tablespoons - it's dry here. 

Rolled out dough! 

Four inch diameter - what would be four inches? Apparently most sport drinks!

Pressed into the muffin tin. As per directions, I didn't pre-grease. I stuck it in the fridge while I made the other stuff.

Apples! 

Cut up - had to shoo the hubby away from the cut apples. 

Filling ingredients. I only had fuji apples, so I used just one cup of sugar ... it was still pretty sweet. 

Even pre-baked...this was yummy!

Muffin tin size takes a good amount of filling! 

I am not a pastry chef - this is as good of a top that I could do

So cute! Once cooled, they came out easily!

You can see how small they are by the knife

I tried to take a "slice" of mini pie but it didn't work

Delicious! 

Recipe from Food.com (for 12 mini pies):

Crust
2 cups flour
2/3 cup butter (chilled)
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons water
Filling
5 medium apples (peeled and chopped up into small pieces)
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter (chilled)

Directions:

1 Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get muffin pan out. No need to grease it.
2 In food processor blend flour, salt and butter until it looks like little peas.
3 Add in water and blend just until it looks like it's sticking.
4 Take out and combine it by hand until well blended.
5 Roll out on lightly floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick.
6 Cut 12, 4 inch circles with cup or bowl.(You will need to roll out twice).
7 Note: you can use the rest of the crust for anything you may want to do on top of the pies.
8 Press each circle in muffin tins until all the way up each side, to form little bowls.
9 Mix by hand all filling ingredients and spoon into muffin bowls.
10 Cut up butter into 12 little pieces and place one piece on each pie.
11 You can decorate them anyway you like with extra crust, or just leave plain.
12 Bake at 425 degrees for 16-18 minutes. (Until crust is light brown and apples are bubbling).
13 When cool, just loosen with a spoon and they'll come right out!

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/mini-apple-pies-so-easy-not-much-hassle-286704?oc=linkback