Tailgate Apple Pies Recipes

TAILGATE APPLE PIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter and shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in half; form each into a disk. Wrap separately in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until easy to handle., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add apples; cook and stir 5 minutes. Mix brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon; add to apples. Cook and stir until apples begin to soften and caramelize, 7-8 minutes longer. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Cool completely., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut 12 footballs with a floured 4-in. football-shaped cookie cutter., Transfer half of the footballs to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon about 2 tablespoons filling onto center of each. Brush edges of pastry with egg. Top with remaining footballs; press edges with a fork to seal. Cut three slits in top of pastry and score a curved line on each end of the footballs. Brush tops with egg; sprinkle with coarse sugar., Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. While pies are baking, repeat with remaining dough and filling. , Let pies stand 5 minutes before removing to wire racks. Serve warm or at room temperature.

FRIED APPLE PIES

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, butter and 1 tablespoon water. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubbling. Add the apples, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and lemon juice. Mix together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Add the cornstarch mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool completely. You can make this ahead of time and chill in the fridge a day or so in advance if needed.
• To make the pies, roll each biscuit into about a 5-inch circle that is about 1/8 inch thick. Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of the apple filling on each round of dough, just off center. Use your finger and run a little water around the edges to help them seal completely. Fold one half of each circle over onto the other half and seal in the apple filling, forcing out any air that you can. Press the edges together and crimp with a fork. Continue until they're all assembled.
• Heat the oil in a high-sided skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Fry the pies 2 or 3 at a time for about 5 minutes, carefully turning them halfway through. Remove them to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• When all the pies are fried, sift the confectioners' sugar over top. Serve with Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce or store-bought caramel sauce.
• Mix the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking gently, until it thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the vanilla, cinnamon and a second pinch of salt and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature before serving. Chill if not using immediately.

APPLE AND BLUEBERRY HAND PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Thaw the sheets of puff pastry as per the box instructions.
• Peel and core the apples and cut into quarters. Toss the apples in the lemon juice so they do not brown while you are dicing them. Cut each quarter into about 2 to 3 (1-inch) pieces.
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter until lightly browned. Add the apples and saute for about 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned. Add the honey and a pinch of salt and toss to mix in well, transfer to the oven and roast for about 15 minutes until apples are soft. Mash with a fork while still warm. Let the apples cool to room temperature and gently fold in the berries.
• Turn the oven down to 400 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl beat 1 egg. In another small bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar.
• Lay the thawed puff pastry sheets out flat on a floured work surface. Cut large circles out of the pastry with a ring cutter, about 4 per pastry sheet. Brush with the egg-wash on the outer edge of half of the circle. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the apple berry mixture in the center of each round of pastry dough. Fold the dough over to cover the filling, making a semi-circle and sealing the edges.
• Place pies on a buttered oven tray. Repeat with the rest of the pastry dough. When all of the pies are on a sheet tray cut air holes in the top of each pie and brush the tops with egg wash. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until puffed and nicely browned.

TAILGATE APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat over to 325 degrees. Grease a 9" x 13" glass baking dish or pan. Prepare apples and set aside.
• 2. Blend the oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; add the flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix well; stir in the apples and nuts. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 45- 55 minutes - until done.
• 3. Topping: Combine brown sugar, butter and milk in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and pour immediately over the baked hot cake. The icing will partially be absorbed into the cake leaving a caramel topping. Trim with reserved nuts. Do not cut for at least 1 hour. Yields 20 squares. Note: If canned apples are used, use 1 1/2 cans of unsweetened pie apples. Drain apples and pat with paper towels.