Who doesn't love the delicious, crispy apple pie found at McDonald's? This iconic dessert is known for its crispy crust and sweet, spicy filling. Fortunately, you can make an equally delicious version at home that will impress your family and friends. It is ideal as a dessert at a family lunch or as a quick dessert when you want something sweet.
McDonald's apple pie is one of the most popular sweet dishes on their menu and has a long history. It was first introduced in 1968 when McDonald's was looking for a way to offer a dessert that would be simple to prepare, yet tasty enough for customers to fall in love with. Originally, the pie was fried, giving it a crispy and greasy crust that was extremely popular with customers. Despite its popularity, they decided to switch to a baked version in 1992 to meet the demand for healthier meals, but fans still swear by the original fried recipe.
Today, this pie has become a real classic. What separates McDonald's apple pie from traditional American pies is its convenient size and method of preparation. Instead of one big pie, it's hand pies that you can easily take with you. They are filled with a mixture of sweet and sour apples, enriched with cinnamon and sugar, and surrounded by a thin crispy crust that melts in your mouth. Fortunately, this iconic dessert can be easily made at home with simple ingredients and a few tricks that will conjure up a nostalgic McDonald's-like taste.
Apple pie like McDonald's
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry (thawed)
- 3 cups apples (peeled and diced)
- 3 spoons of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (dissolved in 2 tablespoons water)
- 1 egg (beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water)
- 3 tablespoons sugar for dusting
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon for sprinkling
Directions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sliced apples, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and water. Cook for about 10 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Add the cornstarch dissolved in the water and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.
- Heat the oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Roll out the puff pastry into 12×12 cm rectangles. Add a spoonful of the cooled apple filling to half of the rectangles, brush the edges with beaten egg and cover with another piece of dough.
- Pinch the edges together with a fork to seal the pie and brush with the remaining egg. Sprinkle each pie with the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
- Using a sharp knife, make a few slits in the top of each pie and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve warm or cold.
You can use a combination of Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples for the preparation, as they give the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.
