Cheesecake Apple Pies (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Apple Filling
01 -
2 tablespoons butter
02 -
2 apples, finely chopped and peeled (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
03 -
Half a teaspoon of cinnamon
04 -
A pinch of nutmeg
05 -
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
06 -
1 teaspoon of cornstarch stirred into 1 tablespoon of water
→ Cheesecake Filling
07 -
4 ounces of softened cream cheese
08 -
Half a teaspoon of vanilla
09 -
2 tablespoons of sugar
→ Assembly
10 -
Cinnamon sugar (mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon with a quarter cup of sugar)
11 -
Optional: powdered sugar or caramel sauce for topping
12 -
Oil for frying
13 -
One package of ready-to-use empanada wrappers, dough, or pie crust
# Instructions:
01 -
Stick butter in a small pan and warm it over medium heat. Toss in the chopped apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Keep cooking and stirring until the apples soften, which takes around 5–7 minutes. Add your cornstarch and water mix, then stir until the sauce thickens in a minute or two. Let it cool down.
02 -
In a mixing container, blend cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla till it's super smooth. Chill it for a bit so it firms up and is easier to handle.
03 -
Roll your dough out thin or flatten pre-cut rounds to be around 4–5 inches wide. Add a dollop of the cheesecake mix, then spoon some apple filling in the center. Fold your dough over to make a semi-circle and press the edges closed with a fork. If it won't stick, a little water or egg wash will seal it up.
04 -
Heat up oil (about 1 or 2 inches deep) in a skillet till it's 350°F (175°C). Fry pies, flipping them halfway, for 2 or 3 minutes on both sides until they're a deep, crispy golden color. Set them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
05 -
While they're warm, roll the pies in cinnamon sugar. Top them with a caramel drizzle or sprinkle of powdered sugar if you'd like, then enjoy.
# Notes:
01 -
Save time by using store-bought cream cheese dip and canned apple filling.
02 -
To air fry instead, brush them lightly with butter and cook at 375°F for about 8–10 minutes.
03 -
You can freeze the assembled pies ahead of time and fry them straight from frozen, just cook a bit longer.