Apple Empanadas

It's apple season! I look forward to this time of year like kids look forward to Christmas. And it's not just because I love apples. The beginning of apple season marks the transition into fall. I love everything about fall: the crisp air, the colors, and, most of all, the flavors.

There are a couple of pick-your-own apple orchards near me, and I decided to take advantage of their delicious, and inexpensive, stock by making these Apple Empanadas. I got the idea for these from Kelsey's Essentials. It's my favorite cooking show, because all of the recipes are very well done and very accessible. One of the reasons I was attracted to this particular recipe is its use of puff pastry. I love puff pastry because it's something so simple to use, yet it makes a big statement. It also tastes really good. Layers upon layers of butter... what's not to like?

These Apple Empanadas are essentially little pockets of puff pastry stuffed with an apple filling. Yum. I used a 4-inch round cookie cutter to make mine, but I wouldn't recommend this outside the need for the beautiful presentation. I wound up wasting a lot of puff pastry this way, and it's not cheap. Instead, I would cut squares, and, to make them look pretty, fold them over into triangles.


APPLE EMPANADAS

3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt
1 pkg frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
1 egg, beaten
Turbinado sugar (also called raw sugar)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples and saute for about 5 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Continue cooking apples over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Using a potato masher, break down the apples. Set aside to cool.

3. On a lightly floured surface, unfold the puff pastry sheets. Cut into circles with a 4-inch cookie cutter, or squares using a knife. Place a spoonful of the apple mixture in the center of each circle (or square). Brush the edges with the beaten egg, fold over and crimp edges using a fork. Transfer empanadas to the prepared baking sheets. Brush with the egg and sprinkle on turbinado sugar. With a paring knife, make two small slits on the top of each empanada for venting.

4. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Serve warm or allow to cool on a wire rack.

This recipe is shared with Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Craft-O-Maniac, On the Menu Monday, Made by You Monday, Tuesday Talent Show, This Chick Cooks, Full Plate Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Sweet Tooth Friday, Sweets for a Saturday, Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Cast Party Wednesday, Foodie Friday