Homemade APPLE PIE recipe like McDonald’s– but better!
You have to try this homemade Apple pie recipe! It is so delicious and easy to make. I don’t know about you but sometimes I crave some dessert from McDonald’s and I have to stop myself. I used to love the mini Apple Pies, especially during the cold season. Nothing like a hot hand pie with a cup of hot chocolate or hot tea! Mini Apple Pies or Turnovers are also enjoyable in the spring or summer with a cold drink. How about taking them on a picnic or making some for your next tea party?
While experimenting with my mother using some leftover apples to make a topping we added an unexpected ingredient ( see below) and I realized it tasted just like the McDonald’s Apple Pie filling! I was so excited and knew I had to recreate and update the recipe once I got home. Not only did I make pies using regular flour for my children and husband, but I also made a gluten-free version for myself. See part of the reason I had stopped eating most fast food wasn’t just because I was trying to lose weight and eat healthier – which I should- but also because I could no longer tolerate wheat products and a gluten-free version of the Apple Pie was not available at McDonald’s.
Below is the homemade Apple pie recipe specifically for the filling and basic flaky pie dough. Use whatever dough you prefer. Ideally, it should contain butter and result in a flaky pastry.
You can make the dough in advance and refrigerate it so that your dough is cold when you roll it out.
You can bake the pies or even fry them.
To save on time you can also make the pies in advance and freeze them if you have an occasion coming up.
Ingredients you will need for the pie filling
4 apples
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons of butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
Juice from 1 lemon
1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
2 tablespoons of water
To make the Apple Pie filling: Peel and dice the apples into about 1-inch cubes.
As you cut the apples place them in cold water containing a tablespoon of lemon or lime juice to keep them from going brown.
Drain the apple pieces and then add the white and brown sugar. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes.
After the apple cubes have been soaking in the sugar add the lemon/lime juice, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and allspice. Mix well.
Pour everything into a heated pan containing melted butter and simmer for 5-7 minutes until apples are soft. You will notice a lot of liquid/juice which is expected.
Mix the cornstarch with the water until there are no lumps and then pour into the cooked apples. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes until pie filling thickens and then turn off the stove.
Allow filling to cool down and then spoon unto rolled out dough.
Ingredients for basic Flaky pie dough
1 cup ice-cold water
1 stick of cold butter
3 cups of all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of white sugar (optional)
To make the flaky pie dough: sift the flour, add the salt and sugar then mix well. Once the dry ingredients have been mixed add the cold butter that has been cut into cubes. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers while mixing but keep the butter pieces large so that the pastry will be flaky.
Add the ice-cold water a little at a time to the ingredients a help combine them. Don’t add too much water and don’t over mix or else the dough will not be flaky and instead dense or hard.
Combine the dough which may appear to crumble and that is ok. Place in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or ideally overnight before rolling out.
When ready cut the chilled dough into about 4 portions and roll each portion onto a well-dusted surface forming a thin large circle. Cut the rolled dough into a rectangle that when folded can make a pie that is about 2 ½ inches wide and 4 ½ inches long.
Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the pie filling onto the cut pieces of rolled-out dough and apply egg wash along the borders if needed before sealing.
If you prefer you can make small circular pies instead. Try not to overfill.
**** As I stated above using the same pie filling you can make a gluten-free version if you choose. I use the ready-to-use gluten-free flour to which I like to add almond flour, butter, water, sugar, and a pinch of salt. The pastry in this case is not as flaky as when using the traditional all-purpose flour but it is just as delicious!
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius.
Serve it hot, at room temperature, or cold.
Enjoy and let me know how yours turned out! Feel free to save or share this recipe.
Sincerely Habiba Tunau
P.s here is another blog post you may enjoy : https://www.habibatunaumd.com/healthfoodinspiration/tea-party-essentials-recipes-hosting-tips/
