Apple Cinnamon Tarts

Lately I have been very fond of making small versions of desserts, just so it could be easier to serve and eat. One of my all-time favorite sweet treat is the Apple Pie from The Apple Pie Company in Julian, CA. Pie slices served fresh from the oven topped with vanilla ice cream that's just beginning to melt, oh heaven!

So here's my cute little version of a classic Apple Pie. It may not be the original thing, but the flavors are there and Piano Man loved it, eating 5 pieces in one minute then deniably saying right after "hindi naman talaga masarap e" (It's really not that good). Yeah right. :)

What you need:

Tart Shells

I used the same recipe from my pecan tarts

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 package 3oz cream cheese
1 cup flour

Filling

2 apples, cubed (I used Fuji, but for more tartness you can use Jonagold or Winesap)

1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened

3 tbsp. All purpose Flour

1/2 cup White Sugar

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Water

3/4 tsp. Cinnamon

Top

1/3 cup White Sugar

3/4 cup All Purpose Flour

6 tbsp. butter, cubed (chilled)

How it's done:

Pre-heat oven to 350 F

Tart shells are made just like the ones in the pecan tarts recipe here.

For the filling, in a small saucepan melt butter and then add the flour, creating a paste.

Add white and brown sugars and water.

Let boil and then reduce temperature to low heat.

Add apples and cinnamon. Simmer for 5 minutes.

For the top crust, mix white sugar, all purpose flour and butter in your mixer using the flat beater attachment. If you don't have a mixer, you can use a dough blender or a fork.

Place dough on a floured surface and then flatten with rolling pin to around 0.5 inch thick.

Using a cookie cutter, cut dough to small circular sizes around 1.5 inch in diameter.

Set aside.

Fill unbaked tart shells with apple cinnamon filling, around 1 tbsp each tart shell.

Top with circular dough and prick little holes using a fork.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Kam's Tips:

• For the top dough, I didn't have a circular cookie cutter so I used the 1/4 cup measuring cup. It works!
• Trying to cut down sugar? Substitute sugar with Splenda, apples are the star of this recipe anyway :)
• Not enough top dough? You can scratch that and just bake it as is, still turns out great.
  
  

Kitchen Gadgets Used:

• 24-cup mini muffin pan
• Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer, flat beater attachment or if you don't have one, a handy dough blender will do
• Mini-tart shaper