Let’s talk apple pie. Despite being heralded as America’s dessert darling, I have a bone to pick with this classic dessert.
First off, the filling to crust ratio - the buttery, flakey pastry was always so underrated in my book.
Second, portability. It is really hard to pick up a slice of apple pie with your hands and chow down. Not to mention that without the requisite plate and fork, it can be hard to eat. And is a slice of apple pie really complete without ice cream?
But I only use these criticisms to highlight an apple pie that DOES check all the boxes for me. A hand pie, actually. Hand pies will answer your prayers if you bemoan the low crust-to-filling ratio and lack of portability of regular pie.
Now picture a McDonald’s Apple Pie. Warm, cinnamony, and apple-filled. The filling is surrounded by flakey pastry so that each bite is a perfect ratio of crust, apple, and cinnamon flavor. Better still, it all comes wrapped in its own little cardboard package, ready to eat.
For many Americans, myself included, these little pockets of warmth represented the first time we would try a hand pie. Actually, it’s safe to assume that for a decent portion of the nation the introduction to the classic pastry came in that famous McDonald’s paper box.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that my love for Mcdonald’s Apple Pie sparked my eventual culinary career. More so, my minor Mcdonald’s pie obsession led me to spend weeks trying to recreate it perfectly in my own kitchen. Fueling this quest was my desire to create a version of the classic pie with simple, identifiable ingredients.
After all my testing, I have found a way to capture the classic look of the pies. And, dare I say, even gave the apple pie filling a flavor upgrade with my secret ingredient. These babies are not only EASY to make, but they are also portable, freezable, and made with ingredients you may have in your house already.
Buttery pastry, spiced apple filling, and a dusting of cinnamon sugar and salt come together to create a hand pie so good, it doesn’t even need ice cream. So, grab some apples and go find your cinnamon - you’ll want to make these ASAP.
