Cooking With Kids: Mini Apple Pies Recipe

Not only did momstown Oakville get a group of Junior Chefs together last week, but they were Junior Pastry Chefs!  Our theme of the month is apples and so apple pie was a natural choice for our cooking with kids program.  But since momstown's Junior Chef program likes to give kids the chance to participate as much as possible, this mini apple pie recipe was a better fit than just one big pie.  Oakville kids were rolling and cutting out dough, peeling and cutting apples and having a great time.

This recipe was a big hit! Here is what you need to make your own Mini Apple Pies at home.

Ingredients:

3 large granny smith apples
1/2 cup + 1tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
3 tablespoons of chilled butter cut into 18 equal pieces
2 boxes of tender flake puff pastry (found in the freezer section). Make sure you thaw it in the fridge overnight.

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 400F and generously grease a regular size muffin pan with butter.
2. Mix together the cinnamon and flour in a small bowl.
3. Peel and cut apples to into small pieces.
4. Pour the sugar over the apples, then the cinnamon flour mixture. Mix well.
5. Use a rolling pin to roll out the puff pastry and cut 12 circles with a mason jar lid or drinking glass
6. Use fun cookie cutter shapes to cut from the remaining crust, these will top the pies
7. Line the muffin pan with the cut out pastry circles.
8. Fill each muffin tin with a small spoonful of apples.
9. Lay a piece of butter on each pie and cover with the cut out shapes.
10. Bake for 14-16 minutes.

momstown Oakville has monthly Junior Chef events on the weekends and weekdays.  Purchase your membership here for just $45 a year.  This includes not only our Junior Chef program but ALL of our monthly programs, lots to do for little ones from new babies to toddlers, preschoolers and more!  And did we mention you get a 12 month subscription to Today's Parent magazine too?!

Apple Kuchen Recipe - Easy Fall Dessert

I first made this recipe years ago and it was a hit!  It is easy and is a delicious way to welcome Fall into your kitchen.  This is a great recipe to make with kids as well as there are only a few simple steps (aside from peeling and slicing the apples) that little ones can easily help with.

Apple Kuchen

What You Need:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 1/2 cups peeled and sliced baking apples
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sour cream
1 egg or 2 egg yolks

Pre-heat oven to 350F.  Mix butter into dry cake mix until you get a crumbly mixture.  Add in coconut.  Pat mixture into a 13 x 9" pan (build up the edges a bit to keep in the apples).  Bake for 10 minutes.

Arrange the apple slices on the warm crust.  Mix the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle on top of the apples. Mix the sour cream and egg or egg yolks and drizzle over the apples.  The mixture will not cover all of the apples.

Bake 25 minutes (do not overbake).  Serves 12-15 people.  Best served warm.