Did anyone else just realize that Thanksgiving is less than a week away? How did this happen? What was I doing all year?
I feel as though I haven’t even gotten to be properly excited about Thanksgiving and it’s going to be gone in a few short days. I know everyone gets really excited for Christmas, but we are overlooking a holiday that is about nothing but FOOD! I mean it’s about pilgrims and being thankful for what we have blah blah blah, but there’s food and lots of it. Why would we ever willingly overlook such a joyous day?
For me, the best part of Thanksgiving is dessert. I love sugar and sweets and just couldn’t live without dessert. I usually make your standard pumpkin pie and some sort of apple pie or tart to take. I’ve been thinking about making something different this year, but it’s just hard to beat how good pie is.
While looking for some new inspiration, I tried out my new mini-tart dishes over the weekend. I made mini apple pies that are perfect if you’re going to have a variety of desserts or if you are like me and live alone and absolutely cannot eat an entire pie by yourself. I mean I could, but health reasons, society standards, blah blah blah.
These are actually pretty quick and easy to make.
Mini Apple Pies
1 small apple per pie – I prefer golden delicious or pink lady apples for baking
4 tbsp sugar
Cinnamon
For Pastry:
2 cups flour
1 cup crisco
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp salt
First things first, preheat your oven to 400.
I usually make my pie dough the night before I want to use it to let it chill in the fridge. I definitely let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge before using. it just helps it stay together better.
My full instructions on this same pie crust and how amazing it is are here. It’s the easiest pie dough ever.
Mix your flour and salt together. Work in the crisco. Add the cold water until it sticks together, this may be more or less than the 1/2 cup.
See? Wasn’t that easy?
Next you’ll want to slice your apples. I suggest using a corer and then slicing them extra thin. You can use a mandolin for this, but I just used a paring knife. Disclaimer I did cut my finger once doing this but I constantly am cutting my finger when I cook so that doesn’t count.
I also sprinkled some sugar over the apples and some water to get the slices coated in sugar.
To make your pie tarts, just tear off some dough and press it into the tart tin. You have a few options for mini tart tins that I think are best. I use these tins, but I also have this pan which makes much smaller tarts. This is the non-stick version of the tins I use, but I’ve never had a problem with mine sticking. These are a little bit deeper version of mine.
I just arranged the apples however, you can make them look fancy or not, depending on if you want to cover your tarts. I used these woodland creature mini cookie cutters to make tops for my pies. To do a standard basketweave, just roll out a piece of dough, then cut the edges so it’s square. Then you can cut it in strips to make your basketweave.
Bake them for 30-40 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. And you have individual pies ready to be devoured!
Serve these up with some ice cream or whipped cream, but definitely eat them straight from the oven. Everyone knows that is when apple pie is at it’s best.
