Description
Sweet, golden “caramel apple empanadas” blend Mexican pastry traditions with rich autumn flavors. Crisp pastry shells cradle warm cinnamon-spiced apples, promising a delightful dessert journey you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling Ingredients:
- 2 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 pinch salt
Dough Ingredients:
- 1 package refrigerated pie crust (2 rounds) or empanada dough
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- Extra caramel sauce (optional)
- Powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Craft the luscious apple and caramel infusion by gently melting butter in a skillet, then introducing diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a delicate pinch of salt.
- Simmer the mixture over medium heat, allowing apples to transform into tender morsels, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Incorporate a cornstarch slurry to enhance the filling’s velvety consistency, continuing to cook until the mixture thickens and develops a glossy sheen.
- Remove from heat and fold in decadent caramel sauce, then allow the filling to cool and settle, intensifying its rich flavors.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, or prepare a deep fryer if preferring a crispy alternative cooking method.
- Unroll pie crust and transform it into elegant circular canvases using a round cutter or bowl rim.
- Carefully position a generous spoonful of the apple-caramel filling at the center of each delicate dough circle.
- Gracefully fold the dough, creating a crescent shape that encapsulates the fragrant filling.
- Secure the edges with gentle fork pressings, creating a decorative and secure seal.
- Whisk an egg with water to create a golden-brown wash, then delicately brush the empanada surfaces.
- For baking, arrange on a parchment-lined sheet and roast until the pastry achieves a beautiful amber hue, approximately 18-20 minutes.
- Alternatively, for frying, submerge in 350°F oil, cooking until each side develops a crisp, golden exterior.
- Allow empanadas to rest briefly, then embellish with an additional drizzle of caramel and a light dusting of powdered sugar for a touch of elegance.
Notes
- Select firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for the best balance of sweetness and texture in your filling.
- Keep filling cool before adding to dough to prevent soggy empanadas and ensure clean sealing.
- Create a gluten-free version by using alternative pie crusts made from almond or coconut flour.
- Refrigerate assembled empanadas for 15 minutes before baking to help maintain their shape and prevent filling leakage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg