Baked Apple Cheesecake Empanadas (Dairy Free)
Apple Cheesecake Empanadas are a delicious twist on hand pies. They feature homemade apple pie filling and sweetened cream cheese stuffed into tender-crisp empanada dough. These hand-held treats are baked instead of fried to help save calories.
Today I’m sharing another recipe featuring Ruby Frost apples. Since they’re grown in New York, I thought it would be fun to make a recipe that highlights my home state – and what says “New York” more than cheesecake? (If you love apples, be sure to check out my roast sausages with apples and parsnips and my breakfast risotto with apples and raisins, too!)
I considered making an apple pie cheesecake, but decided to make apple cheesecake empanadas instead. We could pretend that decision had something to do with celebrating New York diversity but, honestly, it was because I’ve had a package of empanada dough in my freezer for a while and I’ve been looking for an excuse to use it.
How to make apple empanadas
Apple empanadas are surprisingly easy to make!
- Start by making a quick batch of easy apple pie filling. Caramelize some sugar and apple pie spices in a hot pan. Then add diced apples and cook them until they’re soft. Ruby Frost apples have a firm texture so they retain their shape even after they cook down. This means the apple pie filling is nice and chunky with big pieces of tart apples.
- Instead of adding more sugar to sweeten the cream cheese, mix in some of the sticky liquid from the apples. Resist any urge you might have to taste the cream cheese filling or you might end up taking so many tastes that you don’t have enough left for the empanadas.
- I used frozen empanada dough. If you want to make your own, I bet this version made with sweet potatoes would be incredible! Whichever you choose, make sure to seal the edges tightly by pressing down on them with the tines of a fork – you don’t want that delicious filling to ooze out.
- Once they’re tightly sealed, brush the empanadas with a little milk and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar. Bake them until they’re puffed and golden brown. Make sure to let them cool slightly before digging in – the filling gets really hot and molten and will firm back up when the empanadas cool.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup water
- 4 Ruby Frost apples peeled and cut into a 1/4" dice
- 8 ounces cream
cheese softened - 1 package 10 discs frozen empanada dough, defrosted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- cinnamon-sugar for dusting optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the sugars, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir in the water and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and lava-like. Stir in the apples and cook 8-10 minutes, or until softened. Let cool completely.
- Pour off about 1/4 cup of the liquid from the apples and stir it into the cream cheese.
- Heat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
- Use a rolling pin to gently stretch each disc of empanada dough slightly, then spoon 1 tablespoon of cream cheese and 1 heaping tablespoon of apples onto the center of each disc. Bring the edges together over the dough and use the tines of a fork to seal (press firmly). Arrange on the baking sheet. Brush each empanada with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, if desired.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, or until the empanadas are puffed and golden brown.
- Serve hot or at room temperature.
This post was sponsored by the New York Apple Growers Association. I’ve had a ton of fun creating recipe featuring their new Ruby Frost apples this month.
I love all of these combinations! Empanadas with a cheesy apple center? YUM!
There is nothing better than an apple hand pie. Just the name “Ruby Frost” leaves me salivating.
What an awesome creation. Empanadas and cheesecake! Brilliant.
Guuuuuuuurl you’re killing me. I love cheesecake, I love apples and I love empanadas. I sort of wish I had about 5 of those to eat with breakfast. I also dig that instead of sugar you just used the syrupy goodness of the apples….yum!
I love that you baked them instead of frying! And I can’t wait to get my hands on some of those Ruby Frost apples. They sound so good!
I love that you used up something that had been in your freezer for a while, and made a new and creative recipes out of it! Good job! Love apples and cheesecake filling together sounds so good!!
Woah, now. These are amazing!!!! I’ll take three.
I didn’t realize you could buy empanada dough. I’ll put some on my grocery list so I can make some of these pretty empanadas! I still haven’t found ruby frost apples yet. I guess we’re too far south.
I didn’t even know you could buy empanada dough! These look delicious!
I am happy that you went this direction, because oh-my-garsh-YUM! I can just imagine biting through the flaky crust to get to that creamy apple interior. Sigh.