Ingredients
Units
- 12 oz. granny smith apples, chopped (about 3 apples)
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- tiny pinch of ground cloves
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp lemon zest
- 1/tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed (see note below)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400 degrees, middle rack in place. In a bowl, mix the apples, cranberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla together until evenly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let this mixture sit for 20 minutes. The sugars will pull out the moisture from the apples so that they don’t make our pies soggy later.
- Microwave the macerated apple-cranberry mixture for just 5 minutes to par-cook the apples and cranberries (you’ll hear them pop) and give them a head start. More liquid will be released. Carefully strain the apple juice mixture into a measuring cup or bowl for 5 minutes. You should have at least 1/2 cup of juice. Whisk an egg for about 15 seconds into a small bowl and set aside.
- Pour the apple juices into a small saucepan and bring to a steady simmer over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until thickened and syrup’y, and reduced by half — 1/4 cup. This can take anywhere between 2-5 minutes, depending on your stove. Add it back to the apples and cranberries, and toss to combine. It may harden just a bit, and that’s ok because it will melt again once it’s in the oven. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the apple-cranberry mixture and toss to coat. This will help thicken our filling just slightly.
- Meanwhile, roll both puff pastry sheets out just a bit to smooth and seal the 2 lines going down the middle of each sheet. Flour both sides lightly to prevent sticking. Cut both puff pastry sheets into 6 even squares, for a total of 12 squares total. Cut a small vent hole into 6 of the 12 squares. Scoop about 1/2 cup of the apple-cranberry mixture into the center of the remaining 6 squares. With a pastry brush or your index finger, paint a thin border around each edge of the puff pastry square that has the apple mixture on it. Place a square with a vent hole on top, gently stretching if you have to — be careful not to tear it, and press the edges together with your fingers. With a sharp knife or pastry cutter, trim the very edges of each pie to clean them up and further seal. You should have 6 pies. Brush each pie with a thin layer of the egg wash, and sprinkle a thin layer of sugar all over the surface.
- Bake the pies on a parchment lined baking sheet on the middle rack for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Thaw puff pastry on your kitchen counter, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until pliable. It should be good to go by the time you’re done with the apple-cranberry prep. Puffy pastry should stay cold enough so that the butter in it doesn’t melt while handling. If you notice your pastry dough is getting too warm, throw it back into the fridge or freezer until it’s cold again, about 10 minutes. Make sure you keep it lightly floured while working with it to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: dessert
