Apple Pie Bites with Cream Cheese Apple Dip

This weekend I found myself looking for something sweet to eat while watching the football game. Since fall is coming, I’ve been in the mood for apples lately and wanted to try something new. These apple pie bites were great for our family for a fun, bite-sized snack.

Apple Pie Bites

Crust:

• 2 1/2 c Flour
• 1 c Shortening
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 cup Ice Water

Combine all ingredients together. I like to mix with my hands to get everything blended good. Roll out the dough and cut into squares. This mixture should be ready to use immediately, or you can refrigerate it for an hour if you need it to be a bit stiffer.

Filling:

• 1 can Apple Pie Filling

Place a small dollop of apple pie filling in the center of a pie dough square and top with another square. Press the edges together with a fork. This closes the pastry and also makes a nice design on the edge.

In a container, mix ground cinnamon and sugar together and sprinkle over the tops of the bites. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the dough becomes crisp. Allow to cool before eating because filling will be hot.

Cream Cheese Apple Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 pkg Cream Cheese (softened)
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Chill and serve with apple pie bites.

These took approximately 2 hours from start to finish for preparation time. Yields about 30 pieces.