I'm a lover of homemade apple pie, like this apple pie with graham cracker crust, and these Apple Pie Bites are just as good, if not better than the traditional version! The homemade filling has plenty of warm spices and is perfectly thick and gooey. The crust is the best part! It's like cinnamon-roll style, but the outside is golden and flaky. My mouth is watering already!
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 25 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 12
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet, warm, and spiced with tender apples and buttery pastry.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, or as a handheld dessert.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, assemble ahead and bake just before serving, or reheat easily.
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You don't need a special occasion to make these adorable apple bites. I enjoy the classic fall flavors, but there are no rules that say you can't make them for Christmas or in the summer. There are a lot of elements, but I promise it's worth it. The result is a true labor of love that everyone will appreciate.
If you enjoy mini apple desserts, you will love apple wraps and muffin tin apple pies.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to serve: These mini apple pie bites are formed into individual desserts, so there's no slicing required!
- It's a crowd pleaser: Everyone adores these apple pie snacks! They are great for gatherings, potlucks, bake sales, and more.
- It's completely homemade: All the elements of this recipe are homemade, including the crust and the icing.
Ingredients
All the essential ingredients for this apple pie bites recipe are listed below. Many of them are used in multiple components!
- Butter: Every component of this recipe uses unsalted butter. The only butter that needs softening is for the frosting, so the rest can come straight from the refrigerator, as it will be melted.
- Apples: Some of my favorite apples for baking are Granny Smith and Honey crisp. They are both firm, and the Granny Smiths are tart, so they help to offset the sweetness in desserts.
- Sugar: The filling uses white and brown sugar for flavor balance, the dough uses white sugar, the cinnamon coating uses brown sugar, and the icing needs powdered sugar. I don't recommend any substitutes if you want a successful result.
- Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg are key to adding spiced flavor to the apples, which makes these pie bites taste like classic apple pie.
- Lemon juice: This provides subtle acidity for balance and also prevents the apples from browning.
- Cornstarch: I use cornstarch to help thicken the apple pie filling because it doesn't create lumps like flour would.
- Milk: This goes in the dough and frosting. I prefer whole milk, but 2% works just fine.
- Yeast: Instant yeast will help the dough rise quickly. I prefer Saf Instant Gold, but you can use a packet of whatever brand you like.
- Cream cheese: I use it as the base for the frosting to keep it rich and creamy, and it adds a tangy flavor that balances the sweetness. Ensure it softens in advance so your frosting isn't lumpy.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Maple pecan: Add maple syrup to the apple filling (and maybe a splash in the frosting) and then garnish the finished apple pie bites with spicy candied pecans.
- Chai spice: Use your favorite chai spice blend in the apple pie filling for a fun twist.
- Chocolate caramel: Add a little cocoa powder to the cream cheese frosting and then drizzle the apple pie bites with caramel sauce for an extra-rich version.
If mini recipes like this are your thing, you just have to check out my mini pecan pies and these chocolate chip cookie dough brownie bites. Both their flavors are out of this world.
How to Make Apple Pie Bites
Below are the steps needed to make these easy apple pie bites. Ensure that you grease your muffin pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 1: Prepare the pie filling. Combine the diced apples with butter, sugar, spices, and lemon juice in a skillet over medium heat. Allow them to cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the apples soften, then stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Step 2: Combine dry dough ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer.
Step 3: Warm milk and butter. Combine the milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and warm them to 90-110 degrees F. Once the butter is melted, stir in the yeast until it dissolves.
Step 4: Form the dough. Now you can add the yeast mixture and eggs to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Knead by hand for 3-5 minutes or with a paddle attachment for 3 minutes. The dough should be tacky but not wet. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes, until it doubles in size.
Step 5: Punch down the dough. When the dough has doubled in size, gently punch down the dough ball to release the air.
Step 6: Roll it out. Now you can roll it out on a floured surface into a 12 x 16-inch rectangle.
Step 7: Add butter and cinnamon sugar. Brush the dough with melted butter and then sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar evenly over the top. Then, cut it into 12 equal squares.
Step 8: Fill the dough. Place one square into the bottom of each cavity in the muffin tin, forming a cup. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the apple pie filling into each one.
Step 9: Bake it. Pop it in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the dough is fully cooked and golden along the edges.
Step 10: Top with frosting. While the bites are baking, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Then, add milk to thin it out. Add a drizzle over the warm apple pit bites when they come out of the oven and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Add milk to the icing if needed: If the frosting is too thick to drizzle over the top of the apple pie bites, add milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Go light on the cinnamon sugar: Don't pack on the cinnamon sugar, or it will burn on the edges of the dough.
- Cool the filling before baking: The pie filling must be cooled before you add it to the dough, so I like to make it before the dough, so it can cool while it rises.
If you love these adorable pie bites, you should try these mini key lime pie bites.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store your apple pie bites covered or in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or 4 days in the refrigerator. Freeze them for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: If you like, you can pop one in the microwave for 20 seconds, or place them on a sheet pan in a 300-degree oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Allow the dough plenty of time to rise. I like to prepare the components a few hours in advance so they're ready to assemble and bake when I need them.
Serving Suggestions
- A scoop of ice cream with an apple pie bite is heaven! Use your favorite store-bought flavor or try rhubarb ice cream and homemade banana ice cream.
- Enjoy a hot beverage made with these hot chocolate truffles or a simple cup of coffee.
- Prepare a festive adult beverage, like an apple pie shot or a cold glass of milk, for those not drinking.
- Sometimes, a little whipped cream is just what you need, and it's perfect with these apple pie bites.
Recipe FAQs
This can be caused by excess flour when kneading the dough or by not allowing the butter to fully melt into the milk. The dough must be nice and elastic before you move on to the rising step, or it will be dry and tough.
Allow the apples to cook long enough to help cook out the moisture. It's also important to let the cornstarch slurry cook to help it thicken properly.
If your bottoms are browning too fast, reduce the oven temperature by 15-20 degrees. I also recommend using a lighter colored muffin tin because dark pans brown food faster.
More Delicious Apple Recipes
Do you like apple recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Apple Pie Bites
Ingredients
FILLING
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 medium apples about 550g, peeled, cored, and diced small (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith recommended)
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
DOUGH
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into slices for easier melting
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast 1 standard packet
- 1 large egg room temperature
CINNAMON SUGAR COATING
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
FROSTING
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract use clear for a whiter frosting
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk as needed to thin
OPTIONAL FINISHING
- ⅛ - ¼ cup caramel sauce warmed slightly for drizzling
Instructions
- For the filling, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring gently with a soft spatula every few minutes, until apples soften and release juices. In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and water, then add to the pan and mix to combine. Cook 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and cool completely.
- For dough, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a stand mixer bowl if kneading by machine or standard medium bowl if kneading by hand. Set aside. Add milk and butter to a small microwave safe bowl. Warm to about 90-110°F (32-43°C) on an instant read thermometer. Stir until butter is melted. Milk mixture should not be higher than 110°F (43°C) before adding the yeast. Whisk in the yeast until it's dissolved.
- Add milk mixture and egg to dry ingredients. Mix to combine using a sturdy spoon or paddle attachment. Switch to dough hook attachment and knead in a stand mixer for about 3 minutes or by hand on a floured surface for 3-5 minutes. When ready, dough should feel wet but not stick to your hand. If dough is very too tacky, add 1-2 tablespoons more flour. If too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons water. Knead for another 30-60 seconds. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until dough is doubled in size.
- Grease a muffin pan and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Punch dough down gently. Then turn it out onto a floured surface. Press with your fingertips or use a rolling pin to shape it into a 12 x 16 inch (30 x 40 cm) rectangle.
- Combine brown sugar and cinnamon (coating) in a small bowl. Brush dough with melted butter, then evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the surface. Cut dough into (12) 4" squares.
- Press each square into a greased metal muffin tin cavity, allowing the dough to come up the sides to form a cup. Leave corners hanging over the top or shape them along the walls of each cavity to create a smooth top.
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the pre-cooked apple pie filling into each dough cup. Press apples down gently to pre-settle before baking. It's okay to heap apples up if you have enough as they will shrink in baking. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the dough is golden and fully cooked through. While baking, make the frosting.
- Beat cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Thin with milk as needed for a thick drizzling consistency. Drizzle cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls, then finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce just before serving.
Notes
- If the frosting is too thick for drizzling, add small amounts of milk until it reaches the right consistency.
- Ensure that the apple pie filling cools completely before you add it to the dough.
- If you notice that the bottoms of the apple pie bites are burning, reduce the temperature of your oven by 15-20 degrees.
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