Teenie Cakes™

| food, photography, edible gardening & more!

Individual and Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies


Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies - TeenieCakes.com

Isn’t it always the right time for a slice of homemade pie? Although I missed pie day this month (March 14th = 3.14 = π), I’m still managing my fair share of pies these days. I’ve been testing out pies…starting with these individual and mini apple and cream cheese pies…


When I was a teen living at home, I made pumpkin pies like there was no tomorrow. I’d make my own homemade crust, use Libbey’s canned pumpkin and bake up pies. Lots of pies. I was so burnt out making pies!

These days I try to be about portion control for our meals, both at home and when we eat out. Admittedly, that “portion control” idea is conveniently forgotten when it comes to certain food like pasta! I like the idea of mini and individual sized desserts and dishes (see the Individual Chicken Potpie post – a favorite on Pinterest!). I have a collection of 4-inch pie pans and small tart pans that were purchased with the idea of making a mini desserts. Good intentions but little action.

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies - TeenieCakes.com

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies

A couple of years ago while flipping through a catalog of one of my favorite “premier specialty retailers of gourmet cookware” (can you guess which one it is?), I read a full two-page introduction to a newer appliance making mini pies. “OH PLEEZ” I’m sure I said out loud while my eyes rolled to the back of my head. This is about the time when mini pies were ascending a trend and tales that it was replacing the cupcake craze. Mini pies can just as well be made in muffin tins or with smaller sized pie pans. My feelings on the subject and the novelty of it all stayed firm, that is until about a month ago.

I was looking for inspiration on mini pies, clicking through books on Amazon when this red pie maker appliance popped up as a suggestive item (They’re good at that, aren’t they? They know my spending habits and weaknesses even better than I do!). What caught my eye about the appliance, even before reading the product description was the rating and reviews. Rave reviews over all the designer and big named brands. I thought there must be some mistake because these pie makers usually come with a big price tag that I couldn’t or wouldn’t consider. However, this mini pie maker was under $20.00! Still skeptical, but my curiosity was piqued. ADD TO CART!

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies - TeenieCakes.com

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies

Last weekend I made time to test this little gadget. Hopeful, but without expectations, I made my first batch. Takes some getting used to with how to work with it, finding your pace and realizing too that it’s forgiving when you’re prepping the pie dough in the individual pie wells.

It took a mere 10 minutes to bake/cook! The texture of the crust was fantastic and the filling was piping hot. Pleasantly surprised. I made a second batch earlier today, this time adding pie crust cut-outs in the shape of apples from leftover pie dough (see the indentations and lighter streaks on the pie crust?). The cut-outs didn’t keep their shape, which was understandable since the little pies are pressed or make direct contact with the iron.

So why a convert now?

  • I love the size of the pies. Portion control.
  • I’m making and baking for two.
  • No need to turn on and preheat the oven for four or even eight pies!
  • Each batch only takes 10 minutes (or less) to cook/bake (this does not include prep time).
  • Not JUST FOR desserts, making savory pies or tarts can be done too.

As I’ve only just made my second batch of pies, I’m thinking:

  • What a quick and fun idea for food gifts. Packaging a set of four or so pies to give as gifts.
  • A quick idea for guests or entertaining.

If I’m entertaining for many or in need of more than just a gift or two, it would be more time efficient to make these in the oven using a regular sized muffin tin. But for regular everydays…

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies - TeenieCakes.com

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies

NOTE: I was excited to share this post before also testing a version baked in the oven using a muffin pan. I’ll update this post with that version. For now, this is for those that have the appliance already – maybe you received it as a gift and don’t know what to do with it or you have one already and its collecting dust! 😉

ABOUT THESE MINI APPLE AND CREAM CHEESE PIES

For this feature and since I was just playing with my new found maker, I used store-bought pie dough. The cream cheese layer was a nice touch that tastes even better with the flavors coming through when it’s served at room temperature.

These are mini apple pies with vanilla cream cheese in a nicely textured crust – what could be better for a pie lover?! Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or not (portion control!).

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies

 print

Mini Apple and Cream Cheese Pies
Note: This recipe can be adapted to bake in regular-sized muffin tins. The directions outlined here is for use with Mini Pie Maker appliance
Makes about 8 small pies
Ingredients
  • APPLE FILLING
  • 3 Granny Smith, Pippin or Golden Delicious Apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch diced
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  •  
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt, not coarse salt
  •  
  • CREAM CHEESE FILLING
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  •  
  • 4 9-inch pie crusts, thawed and at room temperature for 10-15 minutes
Method
    APPLE FILLING
  1. In a medium saucepan, add apples and butter. Cook over medium heat until apples are just softened.
  2. Add sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt. Stir to combine and stir constantly until it thickens and the apple/sugar sauce starts to coat the apples. Remove from heat.
    3. CREAM CHEESE FILLING
  3. In a medium sized bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. With a fork, break up and cream the mixture. Set aside.
    4. PREPARE THE CRUST
  4. With either homemade or store-bought pie crust, cut out 4 rounds for the bottom and 4 rounds for the top.
    5. ASSEMBLE
  5. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of cream cheese filling and gently spread on bottom of crust pie dough pieces that have been fitted for your pie maker.
  6. Measure out a 1/3 semi-heaping cup of apple filling and layer on top of the cream cheese filling.
  7. Place the top crust on top of prepared filled pie crust, trimming any excess crust.
  8. Do this for the remaining 3 pies. Close the lid and cook for 10 minutes OR ACCORDING TO YOUR PIE MAKER MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS.
  9. Carefully remove from your pie maker with a wooden spatula and wooden spoon to lift out and place on a cooling rack.
  10. Filling will be very hot. Use caution if serving quickly thereafter. Store leftovers in a air-tight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. © Images & content: Cristina A-Moore for TeenieCakes.com.

source

DISCLOSURE: THIS IS NOT A PAID PRODUCT REVIEW. The mentioned pie maker appliance was purchased by me and in my enthusiasm for its performance and novelty, I am sharing my experience about it with my readers. Opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated, obligated to write a review, or write a favorable review. Links to the appliance contain an Amazon.com affiliate link where, if clicked and a purchase is made from that click, I may earn a tiny percentage of the sale that is applied for TeenieCakes.com operating expenses. Read more here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. Christina @ Christina's Cucina says

    Oh my goodness! I have one of these mini pie makers (I thought the same thing with the eye rolling, but my mother bought one and sang it’s praises like you)! I made a chicken pot pie last night and now that you’ve reminded me, I should have made individual ones!! I completely forgot I had it!

    Your apple and cream cheese pies look absolutely perfect, and I’m sure it’s a sort of cheesecake flavor happening, which I’d love! Thanks for the reminder on the mini pie maker! It’s time to break it out! 🙂

  8. TheGamesterBoy says

    They look really good. My mom was excited when she saw his post and wants too try to use a pie maker.

  10. Nessa says

    Beautiful and delicious looking pies! I was tempted to purchase one of these mini-pie makers several months ago at a department store, and after reading your post, I wish I didn’t talk myself out of it back then, lol.

    • Cristina says

      Not too late, Nessa! Hmmmm…keep me updated if you get one or maaaaybe a birthday gift like this may be coming your way soon! 😉

  11. ray says

    I have always hesitated buying gadgets like this in the past because a lot of them didn’t work as advertised. Now that you made these beautiful pies, I will definitely go for it. The price is very reasonable too! Wow, you bake beautiful pies, Tina. I hope you are having a good week my friend. 🙂

    • Cristina says

      Hello, Dearest Ray! It’s a gadget, to be sure. Not one that’s absolutely necessary, but as I mentioned was so intrigued by the raving reviews on this one that after much thought and consideration about energy saving (turning on the oven and waiting for it to heat up for a couple of mini homemade pies), this seemed like a conservative alternative. Happiness!

    • Cristina says

      It’s a fun gadget, Greg. The one I inadvertently added to our repetoire is a space saver in that it stores upright and takes little room. Too fun!

  19. Jas DeVera says

    Beautiful perfect little pies. Great idea…love the size portion and only 10 minutes to bake. Don’t have a pie maker appliance so I’ll have to try it in a muffin pan. Thanks for sharing a beautiful idea.

  20. samantha says

    I could and would eat the picture alone, Christina. I dont have a pie maker but would try to make it in a muffin pan. Yummy!

[instagram-feed]