Apple Pie Cookies (aka: 4-Bite Apple Pies)

September 5, 2024
Loaded with flavorful homemade apple pie filling, Apple Pie Cookies are the perfect fall sweet treat. They're like eating a mini 4-bite apple pie! Whip up a tasty batch for tailgating, game day nibbling, after school snacking, or toss them in lunchboxes as an extra special treat. 

Apple Pie Cookies Image

One of my favorite fall activities is going apple picking. While we don't do it every year, fall apple picking has always been a fairly regular activity for our family.

Now a-days, we head for a day trip to the North Carolina mountains to get our stash of fresh apples.  But as a kid? -- Apple picking meant just a quick little pop through the woods from our house to the local apple orchard.

And admittedly on occasion, us kids would make a quick little sneak attack on one of the back apple trees to grab a snack, running a mad dash back into the woods to enjoy it so we wouldn't get caught.  Thankfully, I never got caught -- but I do remember hearing the orchard farmer yell at my brother a time or two!

Over the years, I've decided these adorable little Apple Pie Cookies are a fantastic way to enjoy some of our apple picking haul.

Filled with a chunky homemade apple pie filling and made in hand-held size, Apple Pie Cookies are like eating a 4-bite mini apple pie. And believe me, that's an enjoyable experience, indeed.

Keep in mind the crust-to-filling ratio on these mini pies is higher than for a traditional apple pie. So, for all you crust lovers out there, here's an apple pie that's got an added bonus for you!

Filled with a chunky homemade apple pie filling and made in hand-held size, Apple Pie Cookies are like eating a 4-bite mini apple pie.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

  • Homemade apple pie filling - These 4-bite beauties are filled with a chunky homemade apple pie filling spiced just right with a little ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  • Hand-held size - No forks are needed to enjoy these apple pies! Enjoying an Apple Pie Cookie is like eating a 4-bite mini apple pie, with hold-in-your-hand convenience.
  • Perfect fall treat - Despite their tiny size, Apple Pie Cookies deliver up big apple pie flavor that makes them a perfect sweet treat for fall.
  • VersatileWhip up a tasty batch of Apple Pie Cookies for tailgating, game day nibbling, after school snacking, or toss them in lunchboxes as an extra special treat.

Apple Pie Cookie Cut to Show Inside Filling Image

Apple Pie Cookie Ingredients:

Fortunately, it doesn't take a ton of ingredients to make a batch of Apple Pie Cookies.

For the homemade apple pie filling, you'll need:

  • Fresh apples - The star of the show! You'll need about 2 ½ cups of peeled chopped fresh apples to prepare the filling. Choose your favorite apple, or a combination of a couple of varieties. Personally, I prefer McIntosh or Granny Smith best.

  • Butter - Used to coat the pan for cooking the apples to keep them from sticking, and brings a bit of richness to the filling's flavor.

  • Water - Help create the syrupy character of the apple filling.

  • Granulated + brown sugar - The filling's sweeteners. Using a little bit of brown sugar, rather than simply granulated sugar on its own, brings a little depth of flavor to the finished filling.
  • Cornstarch - Thickens the apple filling as it cooks.


  • Salt - Enhances the flavors in the filling.

For assembling the Apple Pie Cookies, you'll need:
  • Pie crust for a two-crust pie - Use store-bought prepared pie crust or your favorite homemade recipe. I use store-bought crust for ease.

  • An egg + water - To create an egg wash for brushing on the cookies before baking. This is an important ingredient for developing the pie-like look of these cookies. Since these "mini pies" won't be in the oven for as long as a full-size pie, they don't develop a nicely browned crust without the egg wash.

  • Sanding sugar - For sprinkling on top of the cookies before baking. While this ingredient is optional, it adds a nice look and little bit of crunch to the finished baked cookies. Regular granulated sugar can be substituted instead.

Whip up a tasty batch of Apple Pie Cookies for tailgating, game day nibbling, after school snacking, or toss them in lunchboxes as an extra special treat.

How to Make Apple Pie Cookies:

Making a batch of Apple Pie Cookies is pretty much just like assembling an apple pie -- only smaller.

Start by preparing a chunky apple pie filling on the stove top. In a saucepan, combine and gently simmer some chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cornstarch, and a bit of water. It'll only take about 10 minutes of simmering until the filling is nicely thickened.

Making Homemade Apple Pie Filling Image

Next, cut rounds from prepared pie crust. You can use store-bought pie crust or use your favorite homemade recipe. -- I always use store-bought prepared crust for ease.

Put some of the pie crust rounds on a baking sheet and place a dollop of apple filling in the middle of the rounds.

Filling Apple Pie Cookies with Homemade Apple Pie Filling Image

Top each filled round with another pie crust round. To help seal the dough rounds and get them to adhere well to each other, brush the edges of the bottom rounds with a little bit of water before placing on the top round.

Then, crimp the edges of the dough rounds with the tines of a fork to seal the cookies.

Crimping Edges of Apple Pie Cookies with a Fork Image

Once sealed, brush each pie cookie with egg wash, being sure to get some egg wash over the entire surface of the cookie -- even the crimped edges.

The egg wash is an important step for developing the pie-like look of these cookies. Since these "mini pies" won't be in the oven for as long as a full-size pie, they don't develop a nicely browned crust without the egg wash.  

Once baked, the egg wash gives the cookies a nice golden brown color.

Brushing Apple Pie Cookies with Egg Wash Image

Finally, cut small slits in the top crust of each cookie.

The slits allow steam to escape from the inside of the cookies as they bake, just like slits do for a regular-sized pie. They also add a little touch of decoration to the cookies, making them look extra adorable.

Pop the cookies in the oven and bake them up, and in about 15 to 20 minutes you'll have warm hand-held 4-bite apple pies!

Loaded with a simple homemade apple pie filling, these tasty little cookies are the perfect fall sweet treat. Whip up a batch for tailgating, game day nibbling, after school snacking, or toss them in  the kids' lunchboxes as an extra special treat.

Check out these other tasty little-bite dessert recipes:
Stack of Apple Pie Cookies Image
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Cookies & Bars
Yield: about 12-15 cookies

Apple Pie Cookies (aka: 4-Bite Apple Pies)

Loaded with flavorful homemade apple pie filling, Apple Pie Cookies are the perfect fall sweet treat. They're like eating a mini 4-bite apple pie! Whip up a tasty batch for tailgating, game day nibbling, after school snacking, or toss them in lunchboxes as an extra special treat.
prep time: 40 Mcook time: 20 Mtotal time: 60 M

ingredients:

For the Filling:
For Assembly:
  • Pie crust for a two-crust pie, store-bought or use your favorite homemade recipe
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 tsp. water
  • sanding sugar or granulated sugar for sprinkling on top (optional)

instructions:

How to cook Apple Pie Cookies (aka: 4-Bite Apple Pies)

For the Filling:
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. 
  2. Add chopped apples, water, sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, salt, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Stir to combine.
  3. Gently simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, or until apples are tender and "saucy" but still have some tender chunky pieces. Set aside to cool slightly.
For Assembly:
  1. Roll out the pie crust on a lightly floured surface until about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Use a 2 1/2 to 3-inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to cut out as many rounds as possible from the dough (you'll need two rounds for each cookie).
  2. Transfer half of the rounds to a baking sheet and brush the edges with a tiny bit of water (this helps seal the rounds).
  3. Place about 2 measuring teaspoons of apple filling in the center of each round (do not over-fill). Top each with one of the remaining rounds. Press the edges to seal each pie cookie, and then use a fork to crimp the edges.
  4. Prepare an egg wash by lightly beating together the egg and 1/4 teaspoon of water.
  5. Brush each pie cookie with egg wash, being sure to get some egg wash over the entire surface of the cookie. (Since these mini pies won't be in the oven for as long as a full-size pie, they don't develop a nicely browned crust without the egg wash. The egg wash gives them a nice golden brown color.)
  6. Sprinkle the tops with a pinch of sanding sugar or granulated sugar, if using. Use a small knife to cut slits in the top of each pie cookie.
To Bake:
  1. Bake at 350℉ for about 15 to 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
  2. These are delicious warm or cold, and freeze very well.
Created using The Recipes Generator

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This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.

25 comments

  1. My mom used to make something similar with raisins instead of apples...I was in love with them! The dough was sweet and heavenly...

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  2. How perfect for lunches. Love it.

    #27 on today's list.

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  3. Oh these look so good. I LOVE apple pie. What a great concept! :)

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  4. Those are really cute! Great for little hands too! Jen #16

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  5. Adorable! I don't think I could eat just one!

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  6. I'd love to make these to freeze and keep on hand for lunch boxes...or just when I need a midnight snack :-) Thanks for sharing! #32

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  7. Thies pies, wow, they look original like the ones on the package-pictures in the supermarket. Wow, and not very complicate to make...

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  8. Those are so cute! Perfect for on the go! And a great way to help with portion control! #1

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  9. Looks Yummy! The crust is the best part!

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  10. Your apple pies are so mouth watering! This is a nice for picnics, outdoor activities, lunch boxes etc. There’s nothing wrong with deviating from the traditional shape and size of the apple pie. Sometimes, you just have to make something like this one for an easy grab!

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  11. your cute little pies looks delicious!

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  12. These are the perfect little hand pies...love the homemade pie filling too!!!

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  13. Your Apple Pie Cookies are a great idea and look delicious! Hope you have a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  14. These are the cuties little pies... thanks so much for sharing them on foodie friday.

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  15. Thanks for sharing this. I've been fooling around with a savory version.... Now I'll have to try yours.

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  16. Congratulations!
    Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  17. miniature brilliance is what this is! We went apple picking last weekend, and after making applesauce, I still have a bunch of apples that needed a good recipe to go into :) Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday last week, I'm featuring it this week!

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  18. This recipe looks so good!!!! Totally going to do this... Great blog :)

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  19. Wow these look so good! I was just thinking of making mini-pies, and these fit the bill!

    Pinning!

    Found you on Gooseberry patch!

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  20. I love this idea! I have to try it this year.#InspiremeLink

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  21. Love these apple pie "cookies" of yours - my husband loves apple pie - but my faves are the blueberry ones we featured not to long ago at Inspire Me Monday! :-)

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  22. Those little mini apple pies look fabulous.

    Mollyx

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  23. I scrolled down to leave a comment and found about eight other recipes! This is a feature on my blog for Inspire Me Monday! Thank you! laura

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  24. These look so cute and delicious! What a great way to use fall apples. I'm happy to let you know that I'll be featuring this post today at Thursday Favorite Things. :)

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