We love mini versions of everything, including mini apple pies and our five varieties of mini pretzel bags. For this pretzel-tastic dessert, we used a pretzel crumble topping instead of the more traditional dutch apple crumb topping. We think it has a better crunch and the hint of spice from the Sweet & Spicy OMG! Pretzels take things to another flavor level.
You’ll be saying OMG! because…
- They’re so cute! They are mini apple pies, so what else is there to say?
- They’re so delicious! These mini apple pies have the perfect mix of textures and thanks to the soft apples and crunch from the pretzel crumble topping.
- They’re sweet and spicy! The filling and topping are sweet, but the hint of spice warms up these mini apple pies and makes them more unique.
Premium Ingredients = Recipes that WOW
The dough. From scratch pie dough only requires a few ingredients - butter, flour and cold water. There are also a lot of quality premade pie dough options available in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Happy Belly and Wholly Wholesome all offer good options without a lot of added ingredients you don’t need or want.
The filling. For this pretzel-tastic dessert, we used granny smith apples for a touch of tartness. Always choose the freshest produce you can find and wash it well before using. We also used butter, brown sugar and some spices for the filling of these mini apple pies. Opt for organic when you can.
The topping. Some pies are topped with cream, others with more crust. For these mini apple pies, we thought a Sweet & Spicy pretzel crumble topping would be delicious. Obviously, OMG! Pretzels are made with only premium ingredients. We also used some chopped organic walnuts and a little bit of butter to hold the crumble together.
How to Make Mini Apple Pies
1. Make the pie dough. If you want to know all about pie dough, read this. You can combine the ingredients in a food processor or by hand. Be sure to let it chill for an hour or so before you roll it out.
2. Cook the apple pie filling. While the dough is chilling, you can make the mini apple pie filling on the stovetop. It takes about 15 minutes to cook and then you have to let it cool, about another 15 before you add it to the pie crust. Also, be sure to dice the apples small enough to fit in the mini apple pies.
3. Once the mini apple pie dough is rolled out - about ⅛ inch thick - it’s time to cut it into small circles. You can use a biscuit cutter or a drinking glass for this part. Once the circles are cut, place each one in the well of a muffin tin and poke holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork
4. Blind bake the mini apples pie crusts for about 3 minutes to prevent a soggy pie.
5. Add the filling to the pie crusts and bake the mini apple pies in muffin tins for about 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
6. In a separate bowl, make the Sweet & Spicy pretzel crumble topping. Crush the OMG! Pretzels, chop the nuts and mix in the butter. Then, bake on a sheet tray for about 5 minutes to toast the nuts and melt the butter.
7. Top the mini apple pies with pretzel crumble topping.
8. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on the side.
Mini Apple Pie Recipe
Mini Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 premade pie crust sheets
- Tools - biscuit cutter or drinking glass
For the mini apple pie filling:
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 granny smith apples, peeled and diced
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- Pinch of salt
For the pretzel crumble topping:
- ½ cup Sweet & Spicy OMG! Pretzels, crushed
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray muffin tin with nonstick spray.
- Cut 4-inch diameter circles in pie dough sheets and place one circle in each well of the muffin tin. Poke holes in the bottom of each crust with a fork.
- Bake for 5 minutes.
- While pie crust is blind baking, make the mini apple pie filling. First, peel and dice the apples. Heat butter on low heat until melted and add in apples, sugar, cayenne pepper and salt. Cook for about 5 minutes or until apples become tender.
- Spoon mini apple pie filling into the pre-baked crusts with a slotted spoon so the crust won’t get soggy. Return to oven and bake for another 8-12 minutes or until the apples are soft and the crust is golden brown.
- While the mini apple pies are baking, make the pretzel crumble topping. In a bowl, combine crushed OMG! Pretzels with chopped walnuts and butter. PRO TIP: You hands work best for this mixing job.
- Spread pretzel crumble topping on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 3-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle pretzel crumble topping over the mini apple pies.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce or ice cream on the side. Enjoy!
