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Apple Empanadas cut in half to see the apple filling.
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Baked Apple Empanadas Recipe

Baked Apple Empanadas have a warm, cinnamon, sweet apple filling inside a flaky, golden brown empanada pastry crust in a delicious handheld dessert!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword apple empanadas, apple pie empanadas, baked apple empanadas, How To Make Apple Empanadas
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 230kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Equipment

Ingredients

Empanada Dough:

  • 3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup ice water
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • Cajeta or caramel sauce for serving optional

Apple Pie Filling:

Instructions

Make The Empanada Dough:

  • In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
    adding dry ingredients for empanada dough.
  • Add the butter and using a pastry cutter or a fork cut the butter into the flour. It should resemble sand.
    Cutting butter into flour mixture for empanada dough.
  • Add the egg, water and vinegar and stir until combined.
  • Knead in the bowl for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth. This dough will be very soft but it will not get elastic and you don’t want to overwork it.
    knead empanada dough
  • Wrap it well in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    ball of empanada dough wrapped in plastic

Make The Apple Pie Filling:

  • Place the apples, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and salt in a pan.
  • Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes. The apples will release juice and should be nice and soft.
    apple pie filling for apple empanadas
  • Combine the water and cornstarch and stir into the apples. Cook for another minute, stirring continually until the apples thicken.
  • Remove from the heat and cool until ready to use.

Make The Empanadas

  • Preheat the oven to 375°.
  • Roll out the dough.
  • Cut out circle shapes of dough with a 3-4 inch cookie cutter
    Circes cut in the dough for the empanadas.
  • Place a large spoon of the apple filling on half of the dough.
  • Fold the dough over and press the seams closed. Use a fork and press around the edges well.
  • Place the empanadas on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
    Uncooked empanadas placed on a parchment covered baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12 minutes.
  • Serve with caramel or cajeta sauce.
    Apple empanadas on a serving tray with a small bowl of cajete (caramel.)

Video

Notes

  • Use cold ingredients for the dough to ensure flakiness.
  • Don't overwork the dough; it should be soft but not elastic.
  • For extra flavor, consider using a combination of apple varieties.
  • Experiment with different spices like cardamom or cloves.
  • Freeze any leftover dough for future use.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 471mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 5mg
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