New to making empanadas? Don’t be intimidated, caramel apple empanadas are simple to make! Follow these easy instructions for some tasty pockets of heaven you and your company will enjoy! These are similar to the Taco Bell empanadas you are familiar with.
What are empanadas?
Empanadas are crescent-shaped pastries with a filling inside. A popular food in Latin America, southern Europe, and The Philippines, an empanada’s filling can be either savory or sweet. Fun fact: the word “empanada” comes from the Spanish word “empanar”, which means “breaded”.
How to Make Empanada Dough
This empanada dough recipe I based off of one I found here with one added ingredient: sugar! Combine and mix the dry ingredients of three cups of flour, one teaspoon of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a mixing bowl.
Next, add in 10 Tbsp of butter, one tablespoon at a time and pulse (or mix in three-second intervals). Slowly add one egg and 1/2 cup of milk. Mix until one big clump of dough is formed.
Unlike other dough recipes, this one is ready to use right away. Split the dough into two pieces and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough evenly. Use a round dough cutter to cut circles out of dough. I prefer to use either a 4″ or 4.5″ cutter. Lay on a sheet of parchment paper to keep dough circles from sticking.
How to Make the Caramel Apple Empanadas Filling
In order to make your filling for the caramel apple empanadas, preheat your grill to 425 degrees over indirect heat. While the grill is preheating, start peeling, coring, and dicing six apples. I prefer to keep the pieces of apple about 1/2 inch in size.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the following dry ingredients: one cup sugar, three tablespoons corn starch, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Mix the dry ingredients together and fold in diced apples. Mix with a wooden spoon until dry ingredients become moist due to the natural juices from the apples.
Spoon mixture into a 6″ cast iron skillet, drizzling a tablespoon of maple syrup on top. Place on grill and remove after 25 minutes. Let filling rest for at least five minutes before spooning into cut circles of dough.
How to Make Caramel Apple Empanadas
Now that the dough has been made and the baked apple pie filling has rested, Spoon apple pie filling into the center of the dough circle. Drizzle caramel syrup on top of the filling.
Wet fingers with water and rub the edge of the dough circle. Doing this will help seal the empanadas together and prevent filling from leaking out.
To seal the empanadas, fold in half as a crescent. Pinch edges together and seal by either using a fork and pressing down the edges. To make them look fancier, pinch and fold the edges, overlapping each other. I’ll upload a video to better show what I’m describing.
To Bake or Fry Empanadas?
Empanadas can be cooked by either baking or frying. Baking would be the healthier alternative, but takes longer to cook. Frying is quicker and makes for a crispier pastry.
For baking, preheat grill to 375 degrees over indirect heat. Use whichever smoking wood flavor you like, but I prefer hickory. Place caramel apple empanadas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, create an egg wash of one beaten egg and a teaspoon of water. Brush onto the tops of the pastries and put on the grill for 20-25 minutes.
For frying, pour about a half gallon of vegetable oil into a 12″ cast iron skillet and place over direct heat, reaching 350 degrees. Slowly place empanadas into oil and cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping once during the cook. Remove and place on board lined with paper towels to help absorb excess oil.
Caution: the filling will be hot, so let the caramel apple empanadas (baked or fried) rest about five minutes before eating.
Note: Taco Bell empanadas will be dusted with a cinnamon sugar mix on top. Simply make an egg wash with one egg and a tablespoon of water, mix. Brush egg wash on empanadas, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar combo on top.
Can Empanadas be Cooked Inside?
Empanadas and their filling can be cooked inside using your stove top and oven. Since I love to cook outdoors, I prefer to cook them on my grills.
Other Dessert Ideas From the Grill
Grilled Twinkies with Raspberry Compote
Recipe for Caramel Apple Empanadas
Caramel Apple Empanadas
New to making empanadas? Don't be intimidated, caramel apple empanadas are simple to make! Follow these easy instructions for some tasty pockets of heaven you and your taste buds will enjoy!
Ingredients
- FOR APPLE PIE FILLING
- 7 Cups apples, peeled, cored, diced
- 1 Cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp corn starch
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp salt
- FOR EMPANADA DOUGH
- 3 Cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 10 Tbsp butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 Cup milk
- 2 quarts vegetable oil (or peanut oil)
Instructions
For Apple Filling
- Preheat grill to 425 degrees over indirect heat.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix together.
- Peel, core, and dice apples into 1/2" pieces. Fold into mixing bowl of dry ingredients. Mix together with wooden spoon until juice from the apples makes the dry ingredients wet.
For Empanada Dough
- In a mixing bowl or food processor, add flour, salt, and sugar. MIx dry ingredients. Place 10 individual Tablespoons of butter in bowl, pulsing or mixing in 3-5 second intervals.
- Slowly pour in egg and milk while mixing. Let ingredients mix consistently until dough is formed. Can be used immediately or stored in refrigerator for a few days.
Caramel Apple Empanadas
- Fill 12" cast iron with vegetable oil and place over direct heat at 350 degrees.
- Flatten dough evenly with a rolling pin. Cut dough into 4" circles, placing circles on parchment paper.
- Spoon apple filling onto center of each dough circle and drizzle caramel syrup over the center. Dampen fingertips and rub along edge of dough circle.
- Fold the edge of one side of the dough circle over to touch the edge of the other side. Pinch with tip of fork.
- Carefully place empanadas into heated oil for 5-7 minutes, turning them once during this time. Remove and place on a cutting board lined with paper towels. Rest five minutes before devouring.
Notes
- Recipe can be made indoors using oven and stove top.
- Short on time? Use apple pie filling and dice up apples instead of making your own.
- Bake empanadas at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes instead of frying.
- Use tart apples, such as granny smith, to add a little tart to the sweet.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 empanadas Serving Size: 1 empanadaAmount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 280mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 3gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
