McDonald's Copycat Apple Pie

Up close shot of apple pies on a baking sheet with parchment.

5 from 5 votes

Craving that classic McDonald's apple pie? This homemade McDonald's Copycat Apple Pie version brings all the crispy, sweet goodness right to your kitchen. With a flaky crust + spiced apple filling, it's the perfect treat for satisfying your apple pie cravings without the drive-thru! Vegan Option.

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Total Time50

Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Keyword: apple, baked, breakfast, cinnamon, dessert, easy, fall recipe, hand pies, pie, puff pastry, sweet, vegan

Servings: mini pies

Calories: 71kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

APPLE FILLING:

3 cups apples, peeled + diced (I love to mix together Honey crisp + Granny Smith apples; That's about 4 large apples)
2 Tbsps unsalted butter
3 Tbsps organic brown sugar
3 Tbsps organic cane sugar
1 ½ tsps ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup water
2 Tbsps cornstarch + 2 Tbsps warm water

CRUST:

2 (14 oz.) packages premium puff pastry sheets (You'll need 2 sheets, thawed)
3 Tbsps light brown sugar, organic
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg wash (1 egg whisked + 1 tablespoon milk)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

COOK THE APPLE FILLING:

In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add the butter and heat until melted. Add the brown sugar, cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt and stir until combined and everything begins to bubble a bit, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the apple chunks, lemon juice, water, and vanilla and stir everything until apples are well coated. Also, add in cornstarch mixture and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until apples are tender and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.

TO MAKE THE PUFF PASTRY CRUST:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove pastry sheets from packaging and roll out unto a floured surface. Cut the pieces into 8 squares total (per package; 16 squares total for both). Place about 2 Tbsps of cooled cooked apple filling unto one square and lightly brush the edges with egg wash to create a nice seal and then cover with another square, gently pressing the edges down. Using a fork, carefully “crimp” around the edges and place on the baking sheet.
Repeat until all squares are topped and you've made 8 hand pies.
Once all hand pies are laid flat on the baking sheet, gently prick a set of holes on the tops using a fork, lightly brush the tops with egg wash, and sprinkle with the tops with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice until fully covered.
Bake in the oven 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and the filling bubbles at the sides.
Once done, remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes (10 minutes or so) before serving.
Bon Appetit!
In a bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Unfold thawed puff pastry and place it onto a lightly floured and roll it out onto squares (about 12 x 12). Spoon a few tablespoons of the apple pie filling and brush the edges with egg wash.
Top with remaining puff pastry squares. NOTE; You my find it easier to stretch the dough with your hands.
Crimp the edges with a fork and add 4 slits into each mini pie using a knife on the tops. Brush the tops with egg wash for a nice finish. Repeat until all mini apple pie are made!

BAKE THE PIES:

Bake the mini apple pies for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve immediately (once safe to handle) on it's own or with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream.
Bon Appetit!

Notes

STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 1-3 days. To serve warm, simply re-heat in the oven, microwave, or a toaster oven.
FREEZE: For longer storage–leftovers can be stored in the freezer. After they have baked and are completely cooled, simply place your hand pies onto a baking sheet (spaced apart) and freeze them for 2-3 hours. Once frozen, transfer them to a zip loc bag and reheat when ready to eat!
VEGAN OPTION: To make these hand pies entirely vegan and dairy-free, simply ensure that the puff pastry brand used is vegan-friendly and melted vegan butter (w/ 1 tablespoon of Agave or maple syrup mixed together) in place of the egg wash.
APPLES: Best apples to use for these hand pies are: Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, etc.
EQUIPMENT: To see the equipment that I used for these hand pies, see my Baking Essentials list!

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