Guilt Free Apple Pie… in an Apple!
Looking for a unique Apple Pie recipe? No need for fancy pie dishes or pie servers here… all you need are the apples themselves! These delicious Apple Pies are served in the apple. They’re so adorable and creative, you have to make them for yourself!
Thanks to Immaculate Baking Co. for sponsoring this post, and thank YOU for supporting the brands that keep Desserts With Benefits going! All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Who wouldn’t want apple pie served inside the apple it’s made from? How cool is that?!
I think it’s about time that Apple Pie is made a lil’ better for you, yes?
Let’s start with the crust. Instead of making pie crust with bleached flour and hydrogenated shortening, I used Immaculate Baking Co.’s Ready-to-Bake Rolled Pie Crust, which is made with unbleached, unbromated wheat flour.
Instead of sweetening the filling with white sugar or brown sugar, I used stevia extract. Everyone who tried these pies had no idea they were made without any added sugar. These little cutie pies were delicious and devoured immediately!
I am so glad I finally made these guilt-free, wholesome Apple Pies. These individual-serving pies are perfect for parties and get-togethers. And, let’s be real, this is the answer to those in need of some portion control 😉
*raises hand*
I’m right there with ya.
Guilt Free Apple Pie... in an Apple!
Ingredients
Pie Crust:
- 2 Immaculate Baking Co. Ready-to-Bake Rolled Pie Crusts (thawed 30 minutes)
Apples:
- 7 Granny Smith Apples
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice
Apple Pie Filling:
- 1 Granny Smith Apple
- 1 tbs Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Liquid Stevia Extract
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp Ground Cardamom
- ⅛ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp Salt
Instructions
For the Pie Crust:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Unroll the pie crusts onto your counter. Using a 4" circle cookie cutter, punch circles out of one pie crust. With the other pie crust, slice 4x¼" strips using a sharp knife. You'll need about 5 strips per apple, so make at least 35 of these strips.
- Firmly press the pie crust circles into ungreased muffin tin cups. Bake for 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the baked pie crusts to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
For the Apples:
- Slice the tops off of the apples. Discard the tops. Core the apples, being careful not to puncture the bottom of the apple. Discard the cores.
- Hollow the remaining apple flesh with a grapefruit spoon (leaving about ½" of apple flesh around the skin). Brush the hollowed apples with the lemon juice.
- Place the apples in the muffin tin cups so they stand upright. Bake for 20 minutes.
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- Peel and core the apple, then chop into small chunks. Add to a small bowl.
- To the bowl, add the lemon juice, stevia extract, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt. Stir together until completely combined.
Assembly:
- Gently press the baked and cooled pie crusts into the baked apples. Fill the pie crusts with the apple pie filling.
- Arrange the pie crust strips in a lattice fashion over each apple. Gently press the lattice ends on the apple to seal. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the lattice is golden brown.
- Let cool slightly, then serve warm!
Recipe Notes
Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, natural whipped cream, a dusting of powdered erythritol (or powdered sugar), or totally on its own. This will be great no matter how you serve it.
This 100% guilt-free recipe is incredibly unique — a definite show-stopper and crowd-pleaser!
It’s. Absolute. Deliciousness.
Enjoy!
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With love and good eats,
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– Jess
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Indulge − no strings attached!
So cute, and it looks amazing 🙂 Great for Spring!
Hi! Once again, you are an absolute genius. I really don’t know how you manage to come up with such brilliant recipes, but thank you! Do you think I could ask that you continue to upload nutrition facts for your recipes? It was very helpful! Thank you so much, keep it up! 🙂
Found you via foodgawker – such a delightful discovery! Loving your recipes. Very creative idea to serve apple pie in an apple. Must try it 🙂
Love, love, love this blog! I’m MAKING thise today!
Anyone who thinks microwaving food is a healthful idea has lost my attention.
Adrien are you truly that worried about melting organic shoting for what a minutte?
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I wonder what it would be like if you actually baked the apple too? I’m wondering if it would be soft and you could eat the entire thing like an apple pie. (more apple than crust but yes, healthy!!)
What do you think?
Selina- Wow, I never thought about that! I’m sure baking the apple would make this recipe sooo much more like apple pie. I should try that soon, maybe I’ll wrap the apples in foil kind of like baked apples and bake it at 350 for 20-30 minutes, or until they’re soft, take them out of the oven and then bake the crusts, then assemble them once they’ve cooled a bit… I think the moisture from the apples would prevent the crust from baking.
Sorry for rambling, I’m just thinking out loud. Such a good idea!!
Oh, and do you have any of the nutritional facts on this one? What would you think of adding some protein powder to the crust? (to boost protein macro) Maybe substituting the protein powder with the brown rice flour????
Oh, and I didn’t calculate them because the amount of apples you use depends on the size of your apples and how much you fill them (I had a bunch of diced apple chunks leftover). This is the nutrition label program I use, I love it:
http://www.shopncook.com/nutritionFactsLabel.html
I think the protein powder crust is a really good idea. I would use SunWarrior brown rice protein powder because it acts somewhat like flour. I hope you like the recipe!
I am DEFINITELY making these this Thanksgiving! Thanks Jessica!
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That’s great, more eating of apple daily .Thanks
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How long does it take to make this recipe approximately? This dessert looks great and I would like to make it but would like to know how long preparation and actual baking time takes. Thank you. It looks great. 🙂
Kate-
Hmmm, I’d say about 1.5 hours total? 30 minutes to prepare/bake the crust, 50 minutes for the apple filling, 10 minutes for plating. I hope you like the recipe Kate! 😀
-Jess
Thankyou. Absolutely delicious. I made this for one of my home economics classes. Truly fantastic!!!
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I love it when people get creative with cooking!! These look amazing, and the photos just make me crave for those sweet apples, YUM!
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I’m LOVING this idea! The perfect healthy fall treat!
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This looks amazing! What an ingenious idea. Is one apple enough to fill 7 little pies? not too doughy?
Thank you, I plan to do this for book club.
Jason and I were looking for fancy hand pies for an event we are doing and in the image search these pulled up. I went “these are so cute! I’ll link you to them!” So excited to see they’re yours. Beautiful and scrumptious looking job.
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we’re going to a party. can any of this be made ahead of time?
You can definitely make this ahead! Just be sure to assemble the pies before the party so the crust doesn’t get soggy 🙂
Have a super fun (and tasty) party!!
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