Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe

If you’re looking for the perfect blend of cozy flavors and unbeatable simplicity, this Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe will steal your heart and wow your taste buds. Imagine flaky, golden pastry wrapped snugly around juicy apples and sweet, gooey caramel—each bite a celebration of fall flavors that’s irresistibly warm and comforting. Whether you’re sharing with family, impressing friends at a potluck, or sneaking one as a midnight snack, this recipe plays all the right notes for dessert happiness.

Ingredients You’ll Need

All you need are a few convenient, everyday ingredients that work together to create show-stopping results. Each item has its moment to shine, ensuring these empanadas are bursting with flavor, texture, and classic appeal.

• Refrigerated pie crusts: These save you time and fuss but bake up beautifully crisp and flaky every single time.
• Granny Smith apples: Their tartness stands up to the sweet caramel and adds a lovely tender bite inside.
• Sugar: A simple addition for just the right touch of sweetness to highlight the apples.
• Ground cinnamon: This brings warmth and that craving-worthy, cozy fall spice.
• Lemon juice: Just a splash keeps the apples bright and prevents them from browning too quickly.
• Butter: Helps soften the apples as they cook and enriches the whole filling.
• Caramel sauce: Store-bought or homemade, it’s the luscious, sticky secret to pure dessert bliss.
• Egg: A quick egg wash gives your empanadas a tempting golden sheen.
• Additional sugar: A sparkly sprinkle on top that adds the perfect finishing crunch.

How to Make Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling

Start by peeling, coring, and dicing your Granny Smith apples into small, bite-sized chunks. In a medium skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter and add your diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook gently, stirring now and then, until the apples are just tender and coated in a syrupy, fragrant sauce. This takes about 3-4 minutes—enough time for all the flavors to meld together and smell completely irresistible.

Step 2: Roll and Cut the Dough

While your apple mixture cools, unroll the refrigerated pie crusts on a lightly floured surface. Use a round cutter (about 4 inches across works best) to press out circles from the dough. If you have any scrappy bits leftover, press them together and roll out to get one or two extra empanadas in the bargain. The result: plenty of golden shells for hugging that dreamy apple-caramel filling.

Step 3: Fill and Shape the Empanadas

Spoon a generous tablespoon of the cooled apple mixture onto one half of each dough circle, leaving a little border around the edge. Drizzle a teaspoon of caramel sauce over the apples for an extra hit of sweetness that melts as it bakes. Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape, then press the edges firmly with a fork to seal in all that goodness—and to give each empanada those classic crimped edges.

Step 4: Brush and Sprinkle

Arrange your filled empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Whisk the egg in a small bowl, then brush the tops of each empanada lightly with the egg wash. Sprinkle them with a bit of extra sugar to create a sparkly, crisp top that looks every bit as good as it tastes.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into a preheated 400°F oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe has puffed and the crust turns golden brown. The aroma wafting from your oven will have everyone gathering in the kitchen before you even have a chance to plate them!

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy Warm

Let the freshly baked empanadas cool on a rack for five minutes—not only does this keep eager hands from burning, but it also gives the caramel a little time to thicken in the middle. Serve warm for the ultimate treat: bite through that crispy, sugared pastry and enjoy the tender, caramel-soaked apples within.

How to Serve Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe

Garnishes

You can elevate your Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe with a dusting of powdered sugar or a light drizzle of extra caramel sauce right before serving. A dollop of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side adds a creamy, dreamy contrast to the warm, crispy pastry.

Side Dishes

For a special occasion, pair your empanadas with a scoop of cinnamon or dulce de leche ice cream—those subtle flavors really amplify the apples and caramel. A hot cup of coffee, spiced tea, or even warm apple cider makes the perfect beverage pairing, balancing out the sweetness of the dessert.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re serving these at a party, arrange them on a wooden board or cake stand, stack at different angles, and tuck in a few whole apples or mini caramel pots for a rustic, inviting look. For a personal touch, tie each empanada in parchment and kitchen twine for a grab-and-go dessert that feels extra special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, place cooled empanadas in an airtight container. They’ll keep on the counter for a day, or in the fridge for up to three days. Just remember: the crust stays crispest when stored at room temperature.

Freezing

The Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe is a freezer-friendly treat! Freeze either baked or unbaked empanadas on a tray, then transfer them to a bag or container for up to three months. To bake from frozen, simply add a couple of extra minutes in the oven.

Reheating

For that fresh-from-the-oven magic, warm leftover empanadas in a 350°F oven for about 8-10 minutes. Microwaving works in a pinch, though the crust will be softer compared to reheating in the oven or an air fryer.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of apple?

Absolutely! While Granny Smith apples add a tart bite that pairs beautifully with caramel, feel free to try Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Fuji for a sweeter, softer filling.

Can I make the filling ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the apple filling up to two days ahead. Store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble—just make sure it’s cooled to room temperature before filling your empanadas.

What can I use instead of store-bought caramel sauce?

If you have homemade caramel on hand or even apple butter, both make delicious substitutes in the Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe. Even a handful of soft caramel candies melted in with the apples works wonders!

How do I prevent the empanadas from opening during baking?

Be sure to seal the edges well—press firmly with a fork all around the edge of each empanada, and avoid overfilling. For extra insurance, you can brush a little beaten egg along the edge before pressing to help everything stick together securely.

Are these empanadas good at room temperature?

Definitely! While they’re at their most irresistible warm, the Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe is still tender, flavorful, and a delight even once completely cooled. They’re just as lovely for picnics, bake sales, or lunchbox treats.

Final Thoughts

I hope you fall in love with the Easy Caramel Apple Empanadas Recipe as much as I have. From cozy family nights to holiday platters, these sweet little hand pies bring pure happiness with every bite. Give them a try, share them generously, and watch smiles appear all around—this is one recipe you’ll crave again and again!

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