Home Plate: Back-to-school slices
The kids are back to full-time in-class sessions this fall. We know when they come walking through the door after school, they are going to be looking for a sweet treat to hold them over until dinner.
To that, I say the best offense is a great defense. Having a healthy, yet sweet, snack ready and waiting for them, you can steer your children, even when they are not in your presence, toward reaching for a healthier option. After all, who can resist a bite of sweet, delicious homemade apple pie?
Given that we are all short on time, and some days patience, I reached out to fellow food friend Lori Taylor, a Midwest mom. She is founder and CEO of The Produce Moms, an effort that works to increase fresh produce access and consumption.
Taylor has an outstanding recipe for petite apple pies, with simple ingredients, able to be prepared in an air fryer. So if you allow your children to use this appliance, they can put together these treats for themselves when they get home. Especially if you prep all the ingredients and leave them clear instructions.
“These hand pies can be made in just a few minutes,” Taylor said. “If you don’t have an air fryer, don’t worry, because they can be baked in a regular oven too.”
Kids love them even more when brown sugar and cinnamon are sprinkled on top, she said.
“We prefer to not have the added sugar, but a little goes a long way," Taylor said. "The kids say they taste like the McDonald’s apple pies and prefer to top theirs with vanilla ice cream and drizzle caramel sauce over the top. Adults usually prefer to dunk it straight in the caramel sauce.”
Warm, flaky and a perfect dessert recipe the entire family can enjoy making together, this is a recipe you will want to pin to the inside of a cabinet door.
Taylor said it is a breeze to make these, whether in an air fryer or oven, simply by preheating to appropriate temperature. Then, after following her directions below, place the apple hand pies in an air fryer basket that has been greased so the dough doesn’t stick to the basket. If prepared in the oven, place parchment paper on a baking sheet before putting pies on it to prevent sticking and to make clean-up easier.
Baking time will vary, so watch toward the end of baking time and remove them the moment they turn a golden brown.
Online: theproducemoms.com
Air-fryer apple hand-pies
2 bags of Crunch Pak Apple Slices (28 ounces)
3 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
2 pre-made refrigerated pie crust
Egg wash
1. Chop the apple slicees and add them to a medium-size bowl.
2. Add brown sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch.
3. Mix together ingredients until the apples have absorbed the dry ingredients fully.
4. Lay out refrigerated pie dough. Roll out a bit so it is easier to work with. Lay down 1 teaspoon of the apples onto the pie dough, leaving enough space for edges for each pie. Place the second pie dough over the top of the apples.
5. Using a pizza cutter, slice each pie. Be sure to leave enough room so you can seal the hand pie in the next step.
6. Press down the dough with your fingers to seal and use a fork around the edges. This ensures the juices will remain in the hand pie and won’t leak. After you’ve secured the pie dough, use a fork, and go around the edges to completely seal the pie.
Air fryer method: Grease the basket to avoid dough sticking. Set temperature to 350 degrees and cook the apple hand pie for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Oven method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake the hand pies for 25-35 minutes, until golden brown.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Cool Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes. Servings: 10 servings.
Nutrition: Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Home Plate: Back-to-school slices
