[This post is sponsored by McCormick! In 2017, I partnered with them to share a few favorite recipes using their spices.]
I present a winning pairing: apple and cheddar—specifically, apple cheddar mini pies.
It might be hard to beat classic duos like chocolate and peanut butter or wine and cheese, but apple and cheddar is right up there. These simple mini apple cheddar pies—hand pies made with puff pastry—capture that sweet-and-savory magic in every bite.
Apple season is one of my favorites. It arrives in late summer and carries through the start of fall, filling those weeks when you’re not ready for full-on winter produce but the summer fruits are winding down. Today I’m sharing these pies using McCormick Apple Pie Spice—a spice I’ve used for years and love for adding warm apple-pie flavor to simple treats.
For many people, apple and cheddar is a familiar combination: cheddar baked into pie crusts, or a slice of cheese served alongside a piece of apple pie. My own love for this pairing goes back to childhood snacks—apples with cheese were a frequent go-to. Paired with flaky puff pastry, the result is irresistible.
These mini pies start with spiced, buttery apples sautéed until just tender and juicy. The apples are tossed with McCormick Apple Pie Spice and a touch of brown sugar, then paired with sharp white cheddar. Each little pie gets cheddar both under and over the apples, creating that perfect sweet-and-salty contrast.
My preferred shortcut for making quick hand pies is puff pastry. It’s incredibly flaky and buttery and gives that classic pastry texture without the fuss of making crust from scratch. Using puff pastry makes these hand pies easy enough for a weeknight treat or a party appetizer, yet elegant enough for dessert.
These mini apple cheddar pies are sweet, savory, spiced and perfectly flaky. Each bite is a blend of tender apples, warm spice and tangy cheddar wrapped in layers of golden puff pastry.
Easy Mini Apple Cheddar Pies
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of puff pastry, thawed
- 2 large apples, peeled and chopped
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Apple Pie Spice, plus more for sprinkling
- Pinch of salt
- 6 ounces sharp white cheddar, cut into pieces
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon coarse raw sugar
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan over medium-low and melt the butter. Add the chopped apples, brown sugar, apple pie spice and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, for 5–6 minutes until the apples begin to soften.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Lay a sheet of parchment on your work surface and place one puff pastry sheet on top. Spoon 1–2 teaspoons of the apple mixture into a grid—think tic-tac-toe—across the pastry. Place a slice or a few pieces of cheddar under and over each apple mound. Cover with the second puff pastry sheet and use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the pastry into nine squares. Press the edges together with a fork to seal.
- Brush the tops with the beaten egg, sprinkle with coarse sugar and a light dusting of Apple Pie Spice. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool briefly and serve—these are best enjoyed soon after baking.
That flakiness is everything—warm, crisp layers surrounding spiced apples and tangy cheddar. These mini pies are easy to make, crowd-pleasing and a delicious way to celebrate apple season.