As Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and I am the only one in this apartment who enjoys chocolate for breakfast, I thought that making a sweet for my sweetie should be something that he is absolutely crazy about. For those who know him, apple pie is one of his favorite foods. What cake does he want for our wedding? Apple Pie. What's a healthy option for any meal? Apple Pie. I should make a special *note* on this subject--this man enjoy carrots and hummus for snacks and gets his gym on everyday. He can eat all the pie he wants!
As apple pie is my Fall go-to dessert, I knew that if I were to make it in the middle of February, it just had to be as Valentinesy as possible. Bring in the heart-shaped cookie cutters. Don't let the sight of hearts on hearts on hearts scare you, these can honestly be made in any shape you want! Heck, I should have used my giraffe cookie cutter (which will be making its debut soon!). What else is incredible about these little apple pie hearts? They are basically bite size!
Warning: because of their tininess, you may be tempted and end up eating 5+ in a sitting, but that's totally acceptable. Why? Because apples + tiny = healthy!
So, let me stop going blabbing on about cookie cutters, hearts and love, and get to the point. This deliciously simple recipe will have any apple pie/dessert/sweet lover in eternal bliss (or at least until these goodies are gone)!
Yield: 2 dozen
pie dough ingredients
Flour--6 oz, or 1 cup + 1 TBL
Salt--0.15 oz, or 1/5 tsp
Brown Sugar--0.5 oz, or 1 TBL
Cinnamon--0.05 oz, or 1/2 tsp
Butter (cold)--4oz, or 1 stick
Water (cold)--2 oz, or 1/2 cup
process
In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix.
Cut up your cold butter into small cubes (approx. 1/2").
Put the butter in the bowl with your flour mixture making sure to coat the butter very well with the flour.
Slowly add in your cold water, and mix with your hands until you have formed a ball.
*Note*: if you notice that the dough is either a little too sticky or too dry, adding either more flour or water should make for a quick fix!
Wrap in plastic and store in the refrigerator.
Filling ingredients
Apples--8 oz, or about 2 small apples
Sugar--1.75 oz, or 3 TBL
Flour--0.5 oz, or 1 TBL + 1 tsp
Cinnamon--0.05 oz, or 1/4 tsp
Salt--pinch
Butter (melted)--0.35 oz or 1/2 TBL
Egg (for eggwash)--1
process
Cut your apples to a small dice. Put in a bowl. They can really be whatever size you like, but just remember that they have to be tiny enough to fit in your little heart cutouts!
Add the sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and melted butter to your apples and mix.
Reserve this filling in the fridge while you roll and cut out your pie dough.
pie heart process
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Sprinkle flour on your work surface. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and work it a little bit so that it is covered in flour.
Using a rolling pin (or even your nonstick spray bottle works!), roll your pie dough out to about 1/4" thick. These will puff up, so the thinner, the better!
Rolling the dough out may be a little frustrating, so here are a few tips for you! When you have it in a flour coated ball, take your rolling pin and roll up then down, twice. Rotate your dough 90 degrees. Do this again. Rotate 90 degrees. Roll up then down, twice. Make sure that there is always enough flour under your dough so that it doesn't stick to your work surface. Also, by continuously rotating the dough, you should end up with a shape that resembles a circle, as well as having it be even. Now it's time to cut!
Using a heart shaped cookie cutter, or freehand if you prefer, cut out an equal amount of tops and bottoms, as you will need to cover these hearts after you put the filling in. You may have to re-roll out your dough a second time if you have leftover scraps!
Place only the bottoms of the hearts on a sheet pan sprayed with nonstick spray.
Take about a teaspoon of the filling (which should be made and in the fridge) and place it in the center of the heart.
Beat the 1 egg and add a few drops of cold water in with it to make your egg wash.
Brush the edge of the bottom heart pastry with the wash, then gently put on the top heart.
Press down the sides with a fork to not only seal your little apple hearts, but to make an absolutely adorable design. Also, you should poke the middle of your top pastry with a fork to make vents so the pastry won't explode in the oven!
Once you have done this to all of your hearts, brush the tops with the egg wash and bake for 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Bon Appétit!