Easy Mini Apple Pies

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
• 4-6 tbsp ice water
• 3 medium apples (e.g., Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp butter, for dotting
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• Granulated sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Make the Pie Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the diced butter and mix with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
2. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough comes together. Aim for a moist but not sticky dough that holds together without falling apart.
3. Form the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Prepare the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the diced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch.
5. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Roll Out the Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the chilled pie dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Use a round cutter to cut out circles, ensuring even thickness.
7. Assemble the Mini Pies: Place a dough circle in each cavity of a muffin tin. Fill each crust with about 1 tablespoon of the apple filling and dot with a small piece of butter.
8. Cover the filling with another dough circle, crimping the edges to seal securely. Cut a small slit in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape.
9. Apply Egg Wash: Brush the tops of each mini pie with the beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
10. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

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