Sweet Apple Pies

Ingredients

For the dough:

Milk 60 ml

Dry yeast 2 tsp

Sugar 2 tsp

Flour 300 g

Sugar 50 g

Cinnamon 1/2 tsp

Spices 1/2 tsp

Egg 1

Butter 75 g

Salt 1/2 tsp

For the filling:

Apples 4

Brown sugar 50 g

Cinnamon 1 tsp

Spices 1/2 tsp

Lemon juice 1 tsp

Flour 2 tbsp

For decoration:

Egg 1

Cinnamon

Pumpkin seeds

In a small bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir and let sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the yeast to ferment. 

In a large bowl, combine the sifted flour, sugar, and spices. Add the butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your hands.

Make a well in the center and pour in the beaten egg and active yeast. Stir with a wooden spoon until a smooth dough forms. Add more milk or flour if necessary.

Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Form a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let rise for 1-1.5 hours.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Combine the chopped apples, sugar, and spices in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir for a few minutes and then add the lemon juice. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10-15 minutes, until the apples are soft. Then stir in the flour to thicken the mixture. Lightly grease a muffin tin.

Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a floured board and knead it a little more to remove excess air. Divide it into 8 pieces and roll each into a ball.

Roll the balls with a rolling pin and place a tablespoon of filling in the center. Pinch the edges together. Carefully shape the pie into a ball and place it in the muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Cover the tin with a towel or plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for 40-50 minutes.

Ten minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Then brush the pie with beaten egg and insert a stem made from a small piece of a cinnamon stick. Place a pumpkin seed next to the pie to serve as a "leaf." Bake for 10-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before serving.

Enjoy!