Tart crisp apples and luscious salted caramel sauce, delish!!! Harness your Jedi baking powers for your intergalactic party in galaxy not so far away.
Author: Portlandia Pie Lady
Equipment
12-count standard muffin tin
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Mini Pies
4largetart apples (peeled, sliced and chopped 1/4 to1/2-inch pieces)
1/3cupbrown sugar
3tablespoons Clearjel (cornstarch)
1tablespoonlemon juice
1/2teaspooncinnamon
3/4cupsalted caramel sauce
1recipe Grandma's Pie Crust
Salted Caramel Sauce
1/4cupbutter
1/2cup1/2 cup pure cane brown sugar, packed
1/2cup1/2 cup pure cane granulated sugar
1/2cup cup heavy whipping cream
2tablespoonscorn syrup
1teaspoonsea salt
1teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugar Cookie Dough for Cutouts
1cup salted butter (room temp)
1cuppure cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1largewhole egg
1teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2cups cups all-purpose flour, sifted
Grandma's Pie Crust
2Cups flour
1teaspoonsalt
1tablespoonpure cane sugar
1/8teaspoon baking powder
1cup shortening
1/2cup cold water
Instructions
Apple Filling
In a sauce pan add brown sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice,and the chopped apples.
Over medium-high heat bring to a simmer and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat while preparing the other components.
Salted Caramel Sauce
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat butter, sugars,whipping cream, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally with silicone spatula or whisk.
Whisk in vanilla (it will bubble up) and simmer about 1 more minute. Pour caramel into bowl to cool, set aside. Store in refrigerator when done using. Makes about 1 cup.
Sugar Cookie Cutouts
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and salt until thoroughly combined. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
Stir in flour and beat on low until well-combined.
Sprinkle your work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into the desired shapes and set aside.***
Grandma's Pie Crust
With a large fork mix all dry ingredients together.
Add the shortening and cut in with large fork until crumbly.
Add the cold water all at once and stir just until it forms a ball (do not kneed or over mix).
Mini Pies Assembly
Preheat Oven to 350 F.
Roll out pie crust dough 1/4-inch thick and use a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cutting one for each tin. Gently fit and press into each tin.
Scoop about 1/3 cup apple filling into each tin. Add 1 tablespoon salted caramel sauce into each tin with apple filling.
Place one cookie cut out onto each mini pie.
Place a parchment lined baking sheet on rack underneath to catch drips and bake mini pies 20 minutes.***
Notes
***If you prefer to bake the cookies and then place them on the baked mini pies, place the cut outs on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone liner. Bake for 10-12 minutes @ 350 and then place on each baked mini caramel pie.