These Mini Apple Pie Bites are quick, cozy treats made with refrigerated pie crust, warm cinnamon apples, and a sweet glaze. Perfect for fall baking, holiday parties, or an easy dessert in under 30 minutes!
If you love the warm, comforting flavors of classic apple pie but want something quicker and easier, these Mini Apple Pie Bites are the perfect solution. Made with store-bought refrigerated pie crust, tender cinnamon-sugar apples, and a buttery, golden finish, they deliver all the flavor of traditional pie in a fun, bite-sized form.
Whether you’re hosting a fall gathering, prepping for Thanksgiving, or just craving a cozy treat, these little apple pies are simple, satisfying, and always a hit.
It’s such a fun recipe to make for Thanksgiving and more. You will also love it for one of the Best Brunch Desserts along with Texas Sheet Cake Bites.
Table of contents
Why We Love This
- Quick and easy: Made with refrigerated pie crust for fast prep. No rolling or fussing with homemade dough.
- All the flavor of classic apple pie: Warm cinnamon apples, brown sugar, and buttery crust in every bite.
- Perfect for any occasion: Great for fall parties, Thanksgiving dessert tables, or casual snacking.
- Kid-friendly and fun: Their small size makes them easy to serve, eat, and pack in lunchboxes.
- Customizable: Add nuts, drizzle with caramel, or serve with a scoop of ice cream for an extra-special treat.
- Bakes in under 20 minutes: Great when you need a last-minute dessert that still feels homemade.
Ingredients
Apple Pie Filling
- Granny Smith Apples – Peeled and finely diced. These tart apples hold their shape when cooked and balance the sweetness of the filling beautifully.
- Water – Helps cook the apples down and creates a saucy base for the filling.
- Cinnamon – Adds warm, cozy spice that’s classic in apple pie flavor.
- Nutmeg – A little goes a long way; adds depth and enhances the cinnamon.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the apples and creates that signature pie filling glaze.
- Lemon Juice – Brightens the filling and prevents the apples from browning.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the filling to a perfectly gooey, spoonable consistency.
Apple Pie Bite Assembly Ingredients
- Refrigerated Pie Crust – A convenient shortcut that bakes up flaky and golden. Roll it out and cut into rounds for quick mini pie shells.
- Ground Cinnamon or Apple Pie Spice – Sprinkle on top before baking for extra warmth and flavor. Use store-bought or make your own blend.
- Whipped Cream – A light and fluffy topping. Reddi-Wip or any store-brand works great for easy serving.
- Salted Caramel Sauce – Drizzle over baked pie bites for a rich, buttery finish with a hint of salt that complements the apples perfectly.
Variations
- Use Canned Apple Pie Filling: To save time, substitute homemade apple filling with canned apple pie filling. It’s a quick and easy shortcut with delicious results.
- Swap in Phyllo Shells: For a lighter, crispier bite, use pre-made phyllo shells in place of pie crust. No rolling or cutting required. Just fill and bake.
- Try Crescent Roll Dough: Roll out refrigerated crescent dough and cut into small circles as an alternative to pie crust. It adds a buttery, flaky texture that pairs perfectly with the apple filling.
- Add Nuts for Crunch: Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the apple mixture for extra texture and a nutty flavor that complements the warm spices.
- Experiment with Other Fruits: Not a fan of apples? Try using canned peach, cherry, or blueberry pie filling for a different twist. Each one offers a fun variation on the classic mini pie.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Preheat the oven. It needs to be set to 450 degrees F.
- Step 2. Prepare the muffin pan. Spray a mini-muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 3. Combine the cinnamon and sugar mixture in a large saucepan over low heat.
Step 4. Bring the water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice to a low boil stirring frequently. Allow the sauce to thicken. It will take about 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 5. Then add in the diced fresh apples and let the mixture simmer for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until the apples are slightly soft. Allow to cool.
Step 6. Cut circles in the refrigerated dough on a floured surface. I like to use a ⅓ cup measuring cup to cut out the circles.
Step 7. Place each of the circles in the mini muffin tin.
Step 8. Finally, spoon the apple mixture into each of the mini muffin cups in the pan. Bake the mini pies until the edges of the pie crust are slightly golden brown.
Step 9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for approximately 10 minutes in the pan. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 10. Garnish with toppings. When serving, drizzle the mini pies with the salted caramel sauce. Then top with the whipped cream and ground cinnamon. Serve at room temperature and enjoy!
Topping Suggestions
- Whipped cream. We like to make homemade whipped cream. It is very simple to make.
- Reddi Whip. This is an easy topping if you need to grab something fast.
- Cool Whip. Try this in vanilla flavor.
- Honey. Drizzle honey all over the mini pies for a tasty glaze.
- Caramel Sauce. This is so decadent drizzled on top.
- Powdered Sugar. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of each mini pie.
- Ice cream. A scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream is delicious on the apple pie bites.
Storage
Place the mini apple pies in an airtight container. Separate the layers with parchment paper. Place in the fridge up to 4 days.
Pro Tips
- Prepare Ahead: You can make the apple pie filling a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then assemble and bake the bites fresh when ready to serve.
- Freeze the Filling: Let the cooked apple filling cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 5 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
- Mix Apple Varieties: Using more than one type of apple adds depth to the flavor. Granny Smith apples provide tartness, while Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples offer natural sweetness. Mixing them gives a great balance of taste and texture.
- Chill Your Dough: If using homemade or refrigerated pie crust, keep it chilled before assembling. Cold dough is easier to handle and helps create flakier, crisper results.
- Don’t Overfill: Avoid overstuffing each pie bite to prevent leaks during baking. A small spoonful of filling is enough for a perfect bite.
- Reheat Gently: If making the mini pies in advance, reheat them in a 300°F oven for 5–7 minutes to refresh the texture before serving.
- Add a Glaze or Drizzle: A simple powdered sugar glaze or warm caramel drizzle can elevate these bites and make them feel extra special for parties or holidays.
More Easy Apple Desserts
Give this easy recipe a try for a decadent dessert in minutes. Once you do, please come back and leave a comment and star rating.
Mini Apple Pie Bites
Ingredients
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- 4 Granny Smith Apples peeled and diced into small pieces
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 Lemon juiced
- 1/4 cup Cornstarch
For the Apple Pie Bites:
- 2 pkgs Refrigerated Pie Crust
- Whipped Cream I used Redi-Whip
- 1/2 cup Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and spray a mini-muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan over low heat, bring the water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice to a low boil stirring frequently.
- Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens (3-5 minutes).
- Then add in the diced apples and let the mixture simmer for approximately 8-10 minutes until the apples are slightly soft.
- Then remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.
- Roll out the refrigerated pie crust onto a floured surface. Use a ⅓ cup measuring cup to cut out circles from the pie crust and place each of the circles in the mini muffin pan.
- Spoon approximately 1-2 tsp of the apple mixture into each of the mini muffin cups in the pan.
- Then bake for 15-18 minutes until the edges of the piece crust is slightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven. Allow the apple pie bites to cool for approximately 10 minutes in the pan. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When serving, drizzle the mini pies with the salted caramel sauce. Then top with the whipped cream and ground cinnamon. Serve and enjoy!
