A warm apple pie fresh from the oven is one of my favorite desserts ever – the flip side is that I’m really bad at making pies. The crust gives me trouble every time. Then the filling overflows in the oven and sets the oven on fire, I freak out and nearly have a heart attack before remembering that we own a fire extinguisher, and this is why we don’t eat homemade apple pie at our house.

This recipe takes care of all those issues. Imagine all the deliciousness of a homemade apple pie, but with half the work. No crust issues; no filling overflow; no fire extinguisher. That’s what these mini apple pies are. 

These are the perfect size. You can eat them in one bite, which makes them so much easier to eat than a regular pie. The small size of these little apple pie bites make them an easy way to impress at potlucks and parties!

Why you want this recipe: 

• super cute mini dessert
• easy recipe
• bite-sized, perfect dessert
• tart apple 
• flaky pie crust
• sweet and smooth caramel
• simple and elegant!

What do I need to make Easy Apple Pie Bites?

For the Filling

Time hack: Want to make your pie bites faster? You can cut some corners by using a can of apple pie filling instead of the traditional homemade apple pie filling. In that case, you can skip all the peeling, cutting, and mixing!

Apples

The best apples for apple pie are going to be slightly firm, and have a sweet-tart flavor. These can hold up to the heat of the oven without becoming weirdly mushy. Some of the best varieties include Granny Smith apples, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, and Braeburn. 

Butter

Unsalted butter at room temperature is recommended for this recipe, but salted butter will work. It will change the flavor of the finished product, though. Margarine also works in the filling, but with the same caveat!

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar gives a lovely, deep molasses flavor to this, which is the perfect complement for the brightness of the apples. You can sub white sugar here, if you need too!

For the Crust

Time Hack: While this pie crust recipe is super easy, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of pastry, you can simply use a pre-made pie crust from the store. Store-bought pie crust will taste great, and save you some work. 

Flour

This recipe was developed using all-purpose flour. I can’t speak to any other types of flour or how they would work in the recipe. If you give something else a try, we’d love to hear how it went in the comments!

Salt

A small amount of salt can bring out the rest of the flavors in the pastry crust. 

Butter-Flavored Shortening

This is the secret to making easy, buttery pie crust. Shortening is much easier to work with and creates a lovely flaky crust. However, just tossing Crisco into the mix doesn’t give you that gorgeous buttery flavor you love in your pastry. Butter flavored shortening gives you the best of both worlds — rich flavor, and easy to work with pie dough!

Cold Water

Make sure that your water is as cold as your tap will allow. This helps with the flakiness of the pie crust.

How do I make Mini Apple Pie Bites?

Step 1 | Peel and Chop Apples

Start by peeling your apples, then chopping them into very small pieces. You want your apples chopped very fine so that they fit neatly into the cups. If you’re using store-bought traditional apple pie filling, you can skip this step and the next one!

Step 2 | Make the Filling

In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, melt the butter and brown sugar, then mix the chopped apples into the microwaved mixture. Mix the apples in so that all of them are covered with that buttery, sugary goodness!

Step 3 | Make the Pie Crust

​In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, shortening, and salt. You’ll get a very dry dough. You can add water in 1 tablespoon amounts until you get a shaggy pie dough. Once you’ve reached this stage, you can knead the dough just enough to get it smooth. 

Step 4 | Roll and Cut the Dough

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then roll it out to 1/4″-1/2″. You can use the lid to a mason jar or small cookie cutter to cut rounds. You can get about 18 from this recipe. 

Prep the muffin tin using cooking spray or more shortening and flour to make sure your pies don’t stick. Then press the dough rounds into the tin to create your mini pie crust. Use your fingers to press the dough into the shape of a cup. 

Step 5 | Fill the Cups

Take your apple filling and spoon it into the cups. You want to fill them about level — don’t overfill, or the sugar will burn and stick to the muffin pan. 

Step 6 | Bake

Heat your oven to 400°, then bake your mini pies for 25-30 minutes, or until the apples and pastry are golden brown. 

Step 7 | Serve

Let your apple pies cool slightly, then you can drizzle them with the caramel sauce. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or some flaky salt for salted caramel!

More Delicious Apple Desserts

Blue Ribbon Apple Crisp

Apple Walnut Spice Cake

Easy Apple Fritter Quick Bread

How to Serve Your Bite-Sized Pies

• With a scoop of vanilla ice cream 
• With a dollop of whipped cream
• With some flaky salt – Turn your pies into salted caramel pies with the addition of a few salt flakes. It’s an easy addition that elevates these simple pies into something elegant!

Storing, Freezing, and Thawing

• Storing: You can store your leftover pies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week. It helps to hold off on putting the caramel drizzle if you know you’re going to store your little pies — the extra moisture from the drizzle can make the pies soggy. 
• Freezing: You can freeze apple pie either baked or unbaked. If you want to freeze your pies unbaked, you can form them in the muffin tin, then cover the entire thing with a double layer of foil and freeze it for up to a month. For baked pies, you can place them in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and freeze them for up to a month. 
• Thawing: You don’t have to thaw unbaked pies — just pop them in the oven and add 10 minutes to the baking time. For baked pies, you can take them out and thaw them in the fridge overnight.