Fall Recipes: Handheld Apple Pies and Apple Cinnamon Rolls

As the weather gets cold and fall begins, it’s time to stock your kitchen with apples before their season comes to an end. There is no better way to spend autumn afternoons than baking these apple treats in a warm kitchen with family and friends. Here are two ways to bake apples into classic fall pastries: handheld pies and cinnamon rolls.

Apple Filling (for both pastries)

Ingredients:

• 10 Gala apples (peeled, cored and diced)
• ¾  cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin spice seasoning
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• A pinch of nutmeg

Apple Pies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• ¾ cup butter
• 5 tbsp. water
• Salt, to taste
• ½ of the apple filling

Directions:

1. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
2. Slowly incorporate small pieces of butter into the flour mixture with a dough blender. Slowly mix in the water.
3. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
4. Use a bowl or cookie cutter to cut pie crust dough into circles roughly 4–5 inches in diameter.
5. Scoop about ⅓–½ cup apple filling onto the middle of the dough.
6. Place strips of dough over the filling in lattice shape, or place a second circle over the filling and cut desired design on top.
7. Pinch and fold over the edges of the pies.
8. Brush with egg wash and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until the pies are golden brown. 
9. Rest for 5 minutes and enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

Dough

• 1 ⅓  cup milk
• ½  cup sugar
• 1 ½  tsp. salt
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 yeast packet
• 1 egg
• 4 cups flour

Cinnamon mixture

• 5 tbsp. butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon
• ½ of the apple filling

Icing

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 8 tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Whisk milk, sugar, salt and butter over medium heat until warm.
2. Whisk egg and yeast in a medium bowl, then whisk in milk mixture.
3. Add flour to the bowl and beat until it becomes a fluffy dough.
4. Roll dough into rectangles 2–3 inches wide. Melt butter and brush onto the rectangles, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon.
5. Roll rectangles tightly and place the rolls compactly in a glass tray (11 x 7 inches).
6. Pour apple filling over the cinnamon rolls and bake at 375 degrees for 15–20 minutes or until fully baked through.
7. While baking, mix the cream cheese and melted butter. Then mix in remaining ingredients.
8. Pour icing over the rolls while hot and serve immediately.