Description
Spicy-sweet caramel apple empanadas blend Mexican pastry traditions with classic dessert comfort. Latin American bakeries inspire this delectable handheld treat where you can savor crisp pastry edges and warm cinnamon-kissed apple filling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 11.6 oz (328 g) 5-inch empanada dough
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small chunks (about 4 cups)
- 1 ½ – 2 cups (355-475 mL) vegetable oil for frying
- 1 ½ cups (355 mL) water
- ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
- ⅔ cup (133 g) sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar (for coating)
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 2 tbsps cinnamon
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Create a glossy apple sauce by gently whisking water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice over low heat until the mixture reaches a smooth, consistent texture.
- Filling Development: Incorporate chopped apples into the sauce, allowing them to simmer and soften while absorbing the aromatic spices, transforming into a rich, flavorful filling.
- Cream Cheese Blend: Whip cream cheese into a light, airy consistency, blending sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla until the mixture becomes silky and uniform.
- Empanada Assembly: Lay out dough discs and strategically layer cream cheese mixture and spiced apple filling at the center of each, preparing for precise folding.
- Sealing and Shaping: Moisten dough edges with water, carefully fold into half-moon shapes, and crimp borders with a fork to create secure, elegant pastry pockets.
- Frying Technique: Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet to the optimal temperature, carefully frying empanadas until they achieve a uniform golden-brown exterior.
- Finishing Touch: Drain fried empanadas on paper towels, then immediately coat with a blend of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar while still warm, ensuring complete coverage.
- Presentation: Artfully drizzle caramel sauce over the empanadas, creating a luxurious final flourish before serving the delectable dessert.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Filling: Pat chopped apples dry before mixing to avoid excess moisture that can make empanadas collapse during frying.
- Master Sealing Technique: Press fork edges firmly and evenly to create a tight seal, preventing filling from leaking during cooking.
- Oil Temperature Control: Maintain consistent 350-375°F oil heat for perfectly crispy, golden-brown empanadas without burning or undercooking.
- Cream Cheese Consistency: Ensure cream cheese is room temperature for smooth blending and easier spreading inside empanada dough.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 301
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 165 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg