Cinnamon Apple Empanadas in the Air Fryer (or Oven)

air fryer apple empanadas on tray in overhead view

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These amazing cinnamon apple pie empanadas are the perfect air fryer fried pies. This recipe combines homemade apple pie filling for pies with pre-made pie dough for delicious fried apple pies. To save time, you can also use canned apple pie filling.

Prep Time20

Cook Time48

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer pies, apple empanadas

Servings: pies

Calories: 196kcal

Cost: $10

Equipment

air fryer

Ingredients

Cinnamon Apple Pie Filling

3 Apples chopped into small pieces; mixed variety of Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, etc.
½ cup Brown sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tbsp Lemon juice
1 tsp Vanilla

Pie Dough

2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts thawed and at room temperature
1 container Cooking spray

Topping

1 Egg white Optional
1 tbsp Turbinado sugar Optional

Instructions

Homemade Apple Filling

In a small saucepan, heat the apple pieces, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves over low heat. Stir occasionally and continue to cook for approximately 15 minutes. Apples should be tender but not too soft. Allow to cool while you prepare the dough.

Pie Dough

Allow two refrigerated or frozen store-bought pie crusts to come to room temperature as instructed on package.
Once dough is at room temperature, roll out on clean surface.
Using a four-inch round cookie cutter (or drinking cup), cut circles out of dough. (My two pie crusts usually yield 12 four-inch circles.)

Filling Apple Empanadas

Using a small to medium sized cookie scoop, scoop one leveled scoop into the center of one circle of dough. Or you can add two measured tablespoons. (This is something you will have to judge for yourself depending on the size of cookie cutter/cup you used and the size of scoop you have.)
Carefully fold over the top half of the dough circle to form a perfect half-moon shaped pie.
With a fork, crimp the edges. (If filling starts to ooze out, you have too much filling. Remove some filling and proceed from there. Going forward, put a bit less filling in the other pies.)
Continue to fill, fold over dough, and crimp the rest of the pies. Add 2-3 small slits into the top of the pies.
Using a pastry brush, brush the egg white over each empanada. Sprinkle with the Turbinado sugar, if desired.

If Using an Air Fryer

Spray both sides of dough lightly with a cooking oil spray such as Pam.
Carefully, place four pies into the basket of your air fryer. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might be able to squeeze in fewer or more.) Do not allow the pies to touch or overlap.
Cook in the air fryer for 6 minutes at 375°.
Flip and cook for 6 minutes longer or until pies are nicely browned.
Repeat with remaining pies.

If Using an Oven

Spray two large cooking sheets with a spray oil such as Pam.
Place 6 pies in each pan, ensuring pies to not touch.
Bake each pan in 375° preheated oven for 6 minutes.
Flip pies and cook for 6 minutes longer or until pies are nicely browned.

Topping Cinnamon Apple Empanadas

Store leftover pies in an air-tight container. (I recommend storing them in the refrigerator for added freshness.)

Notes

Note: In place of homemade apple pie filling, you can use canned pie filling instead.

Nutrition