apple pie crescents;

Originally published June 5, 2016. Updated August 5, 2023 for content and clarity.

These apple pie crescents are oh-so-easy and oh-so-tasty! Delicious buttery, flaky crust wrapped around cinnamon sugar and pecans and the perfect tart apple slice for a delicious apple pie hand pie. Technically these apple pie crescents take more than 5 ingredients if you count all the individual spices that go into the cinnamon sugar mix, but I’m gonna call it a 5-ingredient recipe.

I’ve been a little lacking in the post department later between some Memorial Day travel and working some longer days at work. So I whipped up apple pie crescents as a quick dessert for me and my roommate and they were a hit! Apple pie crescents are great for that last-minute guest, or to throw together a cute and easy potluck dessert.  

The star of the show here for apple pie crescents is the apple of course. But what type of apple to use? Any apple will work, of course. But when it comes to my kitchen, I like granny smith for a tart, green pop, and gala apples for a slightly sweeter red apple option. You can use whatever you have on hand though!

I like granny smith apples for a tart, green pop, and gala apples for a slightly sweeter red apple option. You can use whatever you have on hand though!

Secrets to success

But the apple is really set off when paired with the roasted nuts. This recipe was adapted from Dan’s Easy Apple Pie Bites over at Cake’s Cottage.  I’ve used both walnuts and pecans, and tweaked the cinnamon sugar for a little extra flavor. Walnuts tend to be a slightly cheaper option than pecans, but you really can’t beat the aroma of a roasting pecan. I also have some friends allergic to walnuts specifically, so it’s nice to have both options available.

I will say that these simply smell and taste amazing when they’re warm from the oven, but they’re not half bad as a quick morning hand pie for a quick sweet breakfast. Considering how buttery, rich, and sweet the cinnamon sugar and natural sweetness of the apples are, the salt helps balance the flavors in the apple pie crescents beautifully. When warm, they pair perfectly with some vanilla ice cream.

Don’t skip the salt in the cinnamon sugar!

secrets to success

Alternatively, you could also grab some apple pie filling from the store, and spoon in that delicious sweet goo. However, it tends to ooze out the side, and I think this recipe is plenty sweet as-is, so I prefer the fresh fruit route.

Because I like big chunky slices of apples (cutting into 8ths as the recipe states) they’ll generally retain just a little bit of crunch after baking. Try popping them in the microwave a bit before baking, or swap out storebought apple pie filling as alternatives if you really like the “mushy” in mushy apples. Directions can be found in the post above!

Because you want big chunky slices of apples to stand up to the flaky crust, they’ll retain just a bit of crunch after baking. If you prefer softer apples, try microwaving them first

secret to suceess

When you cut an apple into 8 slices, your slices will be fairly chunky. That means that even after baking they’re retain just a little bit of a snap. If you prefer a softer, melt in your mouth apple, then add your slices to the microwave with a little bit of water and lemon juice and microwave for 30 second increments until they just begin to get soft. Don’t forget they’ll still go into the oven, so you’re not looking for full mush, just a little bit of a helping hand from the microwave.

Bonus tip, because here at Best with Chocolate we like chocolate (surprise!)…try serving these with a drizzle of chocolate sauce! You can never go wrong with adding a little chocolate.

Bonus tip: try serving these with a drizzle of chocolate sauce!

secret to success

secrets to success;

Want all the best tips and tricks to make this recipe a success? Check out the blog post above to find out more!

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more recipes;

Looking for other easy potluck recipes to impress? Or need to feed some last-minute guests? Check out these delicious options:

• Another staple using prepared crescent roll dough and cinnamon, churro cheesecake bars are always a quick hit of cinnamon sugar and sweet creamy cheesecake.
• Better than packet ramen seasoning is a great option to make a big batch of seasoning and keep on hand. Throw it in a pot with some noodles and veggies, and cook up a quick protein like chicken and you suddenly have a fully robust, savory meal perfect for weeknights!
• Looking for more chocolate in your dessert? Make these similar s’mores-inspired s’mores crescents and give your guests some options alongside your apple pie crescents!