The force behind May the 4th this year at our house are salted caramel apple mini pies. I wonder if Luke’s aunt on Tatooine ever made him mini pies, savoring each bite while taking in the rugged desert sunset.
If you are looking for ideas for your May the 4th Star Wars movie marathon, you’re in the right place. I have done all the “homework” for you so your mini pies will be perfect. My other Star Wars pies include: Baby Yoda, Chocolate Cream Jawa, and R2D2. Can you feel the force awakening?
Any pie filling will work, but I chose salted caramel apple as I have really been craving that lately. You can bake the cutouts right onto the mini pies as they bake, but I decided to bake them separately to make them more uniform.
I used a sugar cookie recipe that does not have any leavening in it as I wanted the cookie cutter imprint to stay intact. I tried using pie crust, but my crust has leavening in it and, well, they were not pretty…kind of like Darth without his helmet/mask on.
To further help you in your Star Wars themed mini pies, I did 4 different egg washes vs. non-washes on the cookie cutouts (see below). I personally like the plain ones the best. The egg wash do puff a little and lose some of the definition. However, this is where you get to choose your personal favorite.
Chop the apples into 1/2-inch pieces; they will bake better and easily fit into the muffin tins. Here is a link to the salted caramel sauce recipe; it’s included it in the recipe instructions below too.
One salted caramel apple mini pie might be enough to satisfy your salted caramel apple needs. However, your jedi powers may need re-charging again for the May the 5th (Sith), save the last one for yourself!
May the 4th: Salted Caramel Mini Pies
Equipment
- 12-count standard muffin tin
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Mini Pies
- 4 large tart apples (peeled, sliced and chopped 1/4 to1/2-inch pieces)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Clearjel (cornstarch)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1 recipe Grandma's Pie Crust
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup 1/2 cup pure cane brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup 1/2 cup pure cane granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugar Cookie Dough for Cutouts
- 1 cup salted butter (room temp)
- 1 cup pure cane sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large whole egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-1/2 cups cups all-purpose flour, sifted
Grandma's Pie Crust
- 2 Cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pure cane sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup 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.***
