Easier Than Apple Pie

2015-07-10
  • Servings : 8-10
  • Prep Time : 30m
  • Cook Time : 15m
  • Ready In : 45m
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Nutritional Info

This information is per serving.

  • Calories

    230
  • Calories from Fat

    65
  • Total Fat

    7g
  • Saturated Fat

    4g
  • Trans Fat

    0g
  • Cholesterol

    <10mg
  • Sodium

    60mg
  • Carbohydrates

    42g
  • Dietary Fiber

    3g
  • Sugar

    29g
  • Added Sugar

    12g
  • Protein

    2g
  • Serving Size:

    4 oz. (113 g) apple filling & puff pastry

Americans love pie. Pies are part of America’s British roots. But instead of kidney pies, Americans crave sweet fruit pies made with apples, strawberries, cherries, and blueberries, and for the holidays pumpkin and mincemeat pies.

Pies take healthy, low calorie fruit, add lots of sugar to make the filling, and then surround the filling in a high calorie, high fat crust made with refined wheat flour, shortening, or butter.

Homemade, restaurant, and high end bakery pies can be packed with fruit. Frozen and supermarket bakery pies, like the pie pictured below, are mostly crust and thickened apple flavored gel than fruit filling. It is easy to see from the photographs that this store bought pie is more crust and gelatin than apples. But, as they say, you get what you pay for. Flour, sugar, and fat cost much less than fresh fruit.

Apple Pie-9751

 

Apple Pie-9830

 

Apple Pie-9226

This recipe using a conventional apple pie filling, made with lots of fresh apples, and replaces the usual bottom and top crust, that provides more than 50 precent of the calories, with a puff pastry top. The top can be solid or latticed to further reduce calories.

This recipe is simple, it requires no pie crust making skills, and is ready to serve in less than half the time it takes to make and bake a traditional apple pie.

Nutrition Information

The nutrition information is for 4-oz. (112 g) of apple filling (about 1/8th recipe) with a 3-inch (7.5 cm) diameter puff pastry top. Subtract 65 calories when omitting the puff pastry or 30 calories for a lattice top.

Apple filled puff pastries are about 150 calories each. While two apple filled pastries have about 300 calories (dusted with powdered sugar), it is up to 50% less calories than a typically slice of apple pie.

If you like apple pie ala mode, top warm apple filling with a scoop of ice cream. A puff pastry lattice and/or slivered almonds adds crunchiness.

Cook’s Tips

  • For puff pastry top use a 2 1/2 to 3 inch diameter cookie or biscuit cutter, or food ring.
  • You can combine all dry ingredients and add them to the partially cooked apples or add them seperately.
  • For firmer apples, reduce cooking time.
  • Adjust the amount of sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to taste.

Other Apple Recipes

Apple Strudel

German Apple Pancake

Fritters

 

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb. (675 g) peeled and sliced cooking apples like Granny Smith (about 6 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons (14 g) butter or margarine
  • 1 sheet (250 g) prepared puff pastry, thawed

Method of Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine apples and lemon juice. Combine sugars, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat melt butter and add apple mixture. Cook covered, stirring occasionally if needed, until apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in sugars , flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until liquid thickens. Cool about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F (175°C).

Step 4

Cut thawed puff pastry into shapes large enough to fit serving dishes. Transfer to baking sheet lightly coated with cooking spray or parchment paper. Bake 15 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.

Step 5

Spoon apple filling into individual ramekins serving dishes, top with puff pastry and serve warm.

Step 6

Apple Filled Pastries

Step 7

Cut puff pastry into any desired shape; circles, square, triangles. Baked according to package directions until puffed and golden brown. Cool. Separate or cut into two halves and fill with apple mixture. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Comments (2)

  1. posted by robert letnick on March 26, 2017

    Is there a sugar free version?

     
    • posted by Daniel on March 28, 2017

      There isn’t a version using sugar substitutes. You can substitute Golden Delicious, Red Delicious or other sweet apples for the Granny Smith, and omit the sugar.