How to Make and Gift Mini Caramel Apple Pies

Creating and gifting mini caramel apple pies is a delightful way to share your love of baking with friends and family. These bite-sized treats are not only delicious but also make charming, homemade gifts. Follow this easy guide to bake these mini wonders and gift them in a beautiful presentation.

Ingredients

For the Pie Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 6-8 tablespoons ice water

For the Apple Filling:

• 6-7 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well), peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup caramel chips or vegan caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Pie Crust

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:

• • In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar.
  2. Cut in Butter:
  • Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Add Ice Water:
  • Gradually add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing just until the dough comes together.
  4. Form and Chill:
  • Divide the dough in half, form each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

  Step 2: Make the Apple Filling

  1. Prepare Apples:
  • Peel, core, and dice the apples into small pieces.
  2. Combine Ingredients:
  • In a large bowl, mix the diced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, flour, and lemon juice until thoroughly combined.

  Step 3: Assemble the Mini Pies

  1. Preheat Oven:
  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Roll Out Dough:
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough disks to about 1/8-inch thickness.
  3. Cut and Fit Dough:
  • Cut the dough into circles slightly larger than your mini pie pans. Gently fit the dough circles into the pans, pressing them into the bottom and sides.
  4. Fill Pies:
  • Spoon the apple filling into each mini pie crust, leaving a small gap at the top.
  5. Add Caramel:
  • Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple filling in each pie.
  6. Top Pies:
  • Roll out the second dough disk and cut into strips for a lattice top or into circles to cover each pie. Place the dough strips or circles over the filled pies and crimp the edges to seal.

  Step 4: Bake the Mini Pies

  1. Bake:
  • Place the mini pies on a baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
  2. Cool:
  • Allow the pies to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

  Step 5: Gift Presentation

  1. Prepare Gift Boxes:
  • Use a cookie box to hold the mini pies.
  2. Wrap:
  • Place each mini pie in the box, and wrap the box with ribbon or twine.
  3. Add Gift Tags:
  • Attach a gift tag to the ribbon or twine with a personalized message for the recipient.

  Mini caramel apple pies that are perfect for gifting! These charming treats are a wonderful way to show your love and appreciation. Your friends and family will delight in receiving such a thoughtful, homemade gift.

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