The first time I tasted an apple pie ring, I was blown away! Not only are these little pastry rings picture-perfect for fall, but they’re also incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re looking for a quick and effortless dessert to impress at a holiday party or a cozy treat to enjoy on a crisp autumn night, these apple pie rings are your new go-to.
These apple pie rings are flaky, sweet – but not too sweet, and cinnamon-y. All you need are a few key ingredients of a deconstructed apple pie, and you’ve got yourself a handheld mini apple ring pastry for everyone to enjoy.
Something I always believe is that homemade is always better, with the right recipe. These pastries are best when the pie crust is made from scratch. And it’s even better when the recipe is foolproof and easy to whip up! Trust me, this pie crust recipe is simple and easy, and always comes out perfect.
Do I need to say anything more to convince you to try this apple pie ring recipe?
Table of Contents:
- Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Rings
- What You’ll Need for this Fall Recipe
- How to Make Apple Ring Pastry
- FAQ: Storing, Reheating, Alternatives
- Apple Pie Ring Recipe
Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Rings
I’ll start by sharing that as soon as my husband tried his first bite, he shared an audible and enthusiastic “mmmmm!” and immediately reached for another apple pie ring. I mean, what’s better than a deconstructed apple pie than apple slices wrapped in pie crust, covered in cinnamon sugar and baked to perfection?
Trust me friends, you will absolutely LOVE this apple pie pastry recipe, and you’ll be making it over and over until winter comes!
What You’ll Need for This Recipe
To make these apple pie rings, you’ll need just a few staple ingredients:
- Apples – you want to get apples that will hold their shape and taste amazing in pastry form. My favorite are honeycrisp apples, but view the FAQ’s for other varieties that work well too.
- Pie crusts – for convenience, buying a few store-bought pie crusts is a good idea, but if you have some flour, butter, salt, and sugar laying around in your home, you can whip up some homemade pie crust easily!
- Sugar – to give the pastries some added sweetness, you’ll need a sugar of choice. I’ve tried this recipe with coconut sugar for a healthier alternative and it turned out great.
- Cinnamon – you can’t have a perfect Fall dessert without some added cinnamon, am I right?
- Salt (optional) – I love to add a pinch of salt to give the pastry some added flavor and balance, but this is totally optional.
If you love this recipe, you may also like my homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe and my pumpkin molasses cookie recipe!
How to Make Apple Ring Pastry (VIDEO)
FAQ: Storing, Reheating, Alternatives
For apple pie rings, you’ll want apples that hold their shape well when baked and provide a balance of sweetness and tartness. Here are the best varieties to use:
Granny Smith – These tart, firm apples are a classic choice for baking. They maintain their structure, providing a nice contrast to the sweet pie crust.
Honeycrisp – Sweet, crisp, and juicy, Honeycrisp apples offer a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making them ideal for both flavor and texture.
Braeburn – With a mix of sweet and tart, Braeburn apples hold up well when baked, delivering a robust flavor in each bite.
Golden Delicious – Slightly sweeter and softer than Granny Smith, these apples add a mild, sweet flavor while still keeping their shape.
Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) – These apples are both crisp and sweet with a slight tartness, and they hold their structure beautifully in baking.
Using one of these varieties will give your apple pie rings a perfect texture and flavor.
One of the ways you can make this apple pie ring recipe a bit healthier is by substituting the sugar for your favorite sugar alternative. You can use coconut sugar, maple syrup, monk fruit sugar, etc. and this recipe will still turn out great!
You can absolutely substitute the pie crust for puff pastry for an equally flakey dessert!
If you plan to eat them within 1-2 days, you can store the apple pie rings at room temperature in an airtight container. Place a sheet of parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. For longer storage (up to 4-5 days), store the rings in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Again, separate layers with parchment paper to maintain their shape and texture.
If you’d like to keep them for up to 1-2 months, freeze the rings in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Be sure to remove excess air before sealing.
For the best texture, reheat the apple pie rings in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), place the rings on a baking tray, and heat for 5-10 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the crust is crispy again. For a quicker option, microwave the rings for 20-30 seconds. This will warm them but won’t restore the crispness of the crust as well as the oven does. You can also use an air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for about 3-5 minutes to get a crispy exterior while reheating them.
Apple Pie Ring Recipe
Apple Pie Ring Recipe
Equipment
- 1 cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- pizza slicer optional
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 2 pie crusts
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Peel the apples and slice into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch thick. You should be left with 5-6 rings per medium sized apple.
- Using a small round cutter (or a bottle cap), punch a hole in the center of each apple slice to create a ring.
- On a cutting board, roll out the pie crust and slice into thin strips, approximately 3/4 inch wide.
- Wrap each strip of pie crust around an apple ring, threading it through the center hole and wrapping around the edges to cover.
- Place the apple rings on a parchment-lined baking tray. Brush the tops with olive oil, then dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture so the tops are coated.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the pie crust is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Allow the apple pie rings to cool completely before serving. Serve and enjoy this perfect twist on a classic dessert!
Video
Notes
- Homemade pie dough is always preferred over store-bought.
- If using store-bought pie crust, let the pie crust thaw completely before handling to avoid breakage, sprinkle water to moisten it, and if necessary, make it into a ball and roll it out to renew it.
- If you’re in a time crunch or want an easy substitute for pie dough, you can also use puff pastry.
- Be tender as you wrap the dough around each apple rings. Depending on how fragile your apple is, they can break easily.
Let me know in the comments below if you liked this Fall Dessert Recipe!
Other recipes you may enjoy:
Apple & cinnamon is one of my favorite fall combos and this recipe brings it together so well. Light, sweet, & tasty!! I’d recommend making the crust from scratch if you can, but if not, a splash of water on the pie crust can help with the shaping. Excited to make this again for Thanksgiving!