Description
Homemade caramel apple pie pop tarts combine flaky pastry with sweet cinnamon-spiced apples and rich caramel. Bakers can easily recreate this nostalgic treat that promises delightful comfort in each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 cups apples (peeled and cubed)
- 7 tbsps butter (4 oz/113 g chilled, cut into small pieces; 2 tbsps; 3 tbsps)
- ¼ cup (57 g) chilled shortening
- ¼ cup (57 g) brown sugar
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ¼ tsps salt
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp flour
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Blend flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut cold butter and shortening into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Introduce ice water until the dough comes together, then divide into two disks and refrigerate for 30 minutes to relax the gluten.
- Caramel Apple Filling: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add diced apples, lemon juice, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Simmer and stir for 20 minutes until apples caramelize and soften. Remove from heat, fold in vanilla, and cool completely.
- Dough Rolling and Assembly: Flour a surface and roll out each dough disk into a 10 x 13-inch rectangle. Cut nine 3 x 4-inch rectangles. Place six rectangles on parchment-lined baking sheets, center the cooled apple filling on each, leaving a half-inch border.
- Sealing and Preparing: Brush dough edges with egg wash, top with remaining rectangles, and seal by crimping with a fork. Apply another layer of egg wash. Chill for 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Baking and Glazing: Bake pop-tarts for 15-16 minutes, rotating midway for even browning. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Prepare glaze by heating brown sugar, butter, and milk in a saucepan until boiling. Cool slightly and brush over pop-tarts.
- Finishing Touch: Optional decorative toppings can be sprinkled over the glazed pop-tarts for added visual appeal and texture.
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerating the pie crust for 30 minutes helps relax gluten and firm up butter, ensuring a flakier, more tender pastry.
- Control Apple Cooking: Simmer apple filling slowly to prevent burning and achieve perfect caramelization, stirring frequently for even texture.
- Maintain Precise Borders: Leave a half-inch border when adding filling to prevent leakage and ensure clean, neat pop-tart edges.
- Egg Wash Technique: Apply egg wash twice – once to seal edges and again before baking – for a glossy, golden-brown professional finish.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg