EASY CRUNCHY APPLE PIES

These cute individual apple pies stay crunchy and you avoid a soggy pastry bottom

So quick and easy to make yet look impressive and taste so good served simply with vanilla custard

The pastry shapes can be made the day before. Store in an airtight container and assemble with the cooked apple just prior to serving to keep them nice and crunchy

Use pre-made or packaged custard for convenience

Step 1: YOU WILL NEED:

INGREDIENTS:

3 - 4 cooking apples

400g or 14oz ready made sweet short pastry

1- 2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons coffee sugar crystals

TOOLS:

peeler

small fruit knife

cutting board

teaspoon

pastry brush

pastry or biscuit cutter

rolling pin

flour for dusting bench top

baking paper

baking tray

saucepan for apples

If you don't have access to ready made sweet short pastry I have included a recipe below

SWEET SHORT PASTRY

2 cups standard flour,

150g or 5.3 oz butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 Tablespoons water

1. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl and drop in the butter cut into small pieces

2. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs

3. Stir in the sugar followed by the egg yolks and water if the mix seems too dry

4. Mix quickly to a stiff dough, using a round-bladed table knife

5. Knead lightly until smooth then shape into a rectangular block

6. Wrap well with cling wrap and chill for 1 hour before using

Step 2: PREPARE PIE CUTS:

1. Dust bench top with a little flour to prevent the pastry sticking
2. Roll out pastry to just less than 1/4 in or 3mm
3. Cut out shapes with the cutter and lay on the lined baking tray to make the tops and bottoms of the pie
4. Using the scraps, decorate half the shapes with roses & leaves or create a simple shape to put onto the top
5. Brush the pastry with a little milk
6. Using the teaspoon, sprinkle on some coffee sugar crystals to add flavor and crunch to the tops only

Step 3: BAKE PIE CUTS:

1. Pop the tray into a 350F or 180C oven
2. Bake until pastry is lightly browned, 15 - 20 minutes

Step 4: COOK APPLES:

1. While the pastry is baking, peel, core and dice the apples
2. Using a suitable size saucepan, add just a little water and if you like the apples sweeter, add sugar
3. Cook over a medium to low heat until apple is tender
4. Allow to cool a little

Step 5: ASSEMBLE:

1. Place a plain (base) pastry circle onto your serving plate
2. Spoon some apple onto the base, stacking it up a little
3. Place the decorated top onto the apple

Step 6: FINISH:

1. Add some vanilla custard on the side and whipped cream for extra panache and you are done