This recipe for my Mini Apple and Custard Pies was originally posted in 2017. Back then pastry was still not my friend, I’d had some disasters. I’m pleased to say that is no longer the case. I’ve even had another curve ball in the fact that I am intolerant to dairy and eggs (I blame my age!) so since that time I’ve had to relearn to make gluten free pastry that’s also vegan too.
So why Apple and Custard Pies in the first place? You’ll probably have seen something similar in the shops. I don’t have to whisper his name now like a dirty word, because Mr Kipling has finally decided to include the Coeliac population in his joy for baking. You can now get Mr Kipling Gluten Free Brownies and Country Slices. There was also Bakewell Slices but a quick scan of Google and I can’t seem to find them at the moment.
That said, you’ve got a long way to go Mr Kipling and your gluten free bakes are STUFFED with sugar so not good for my daughter who has to manage her blood sugar levels. You can read more about that here if you like Type 1 Diabetes and us: the full diagnosis story.
Let’s get onto the recipe shall we, I’ve listed some questions that I’ve pre-empted you may have and answered them for you below.
Do you cook apples before making an apple pie?
In this recipe the answer is yes. Reason? Because your adding a layer of custard. If you didn’t lightly stew your fruit you’d end up with gaps in the apple and your custard layer would seep through the apple.
In general you don’t have to cook apples when making pies. Take a large shortcrust apple pie, if you’re using cooking apples, these breakdown anyway. So if you want to know Can I use cooking apples for these mini apple and custard pies then the answer is yes you can.
Do you add sugar to apple pie filling?
In this recipe I use eating apples. These tend to be lovely and sweet, therefore I personally don’t feel the need to add sugar when I’m lightly stewing the fruit.
However, cooking apples are naturally very tart (sharp) in flavour. So you’ll probably want to consider adding some sugar to the apple pie filling if you plan to use these instead.
Can I use a ready made gluten free pastry?
100% you can use ready made pastry, I always used to. In fact, while I mention it you can find some businesses in my Guide for Gluten Free small businesses that deliver across the UK that stock gluten free ready made pastry and pastry mixes.
Can I make this apple pie vegan too?
Like I said back at the beginning. I am sadly now intolerant to eggs and dairy (plus a few other random things). So this recipe has been made egg free so is suitable for vegan too. Below is my no-fail vegan egg or flaxseed egg. The psyllium husk is optional and I tend not to use it in pastry as it can make the pastry chewy. Nobody like chewy pastry!
The addition of psyllium husk comes in handy when making a cake that you need a good firm structure (like a fruit loaf or cake) or when making bread.
How to make a flax egg
to make 1 flax egg you need the following ingredients:
– 1tbsp ground flax seed
– 3tbsp water
– 1tsp psyllium husk (optional but does add elasticity to baking)
simply add all ingredients to a glass and stir before measuring out the other recipe ingredients, by the time you come to use your ‘egg’ mixture it will have thickened to a frog-spawn consistency (thicker if you added psyllium husk)
Then just add to your baking as you would an egg. For 2 eggs double the ingredients but note that recipes that require more than two eggs may fail due to lack of support in the structure.
Can I use ready made custard?
Good question, I’ve not personally done that yet. If I did I would use a soya custard like Alpro, but if dairy isn’t an issue you could use a pot of ready made custard.
If you do decide to make this with a ready made custard I’d love to know how you get on. So please come back and comment below.
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How do I prevent custard seepage?
Very good question. As the custard layer is sitting just beneath the mini apple pie lid, you need to make sure you do two things.
Firstly, make sure you add a little slit or hole in the pie lid to allow steam to release. Otherwise it will find another means of escape and that’s the edge of the pie lids, taking all your custard with it!
Secondly, set the timer to let you know when your pies have been in for 17-18mins. Go back and check on them. If the pie lids are lifting a little and custard looks like it planning an escape, turn the heat down for the last couple of minutes. Alternatively, if you think the pastry looks cooked remove them from the oven.
Other Free From Apple Inspired Recipes
Deep Filled Mini Apple Custard Pie Recipe
These little apple and custard pies are super simple to make, not too sweet and a perfect afternoon treat with a cuppa or look cute as part of a teatime spread. They are also gluten free, dairy free and easily made egg free too so your vegan friends and family can enjoy then too.
- 200 g gluten free plain flour
- 50 g caster sugar
- 80 g dairy free butter I use Flora blocks of plant butter
- 20 g white vegetable fat I use Trex, but you can use Crisp n Dry or another 20g plant butter.
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed this and the water is for your egg but you can use 1 egg if you like.
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 eating apples
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp water
- 3 level tsp Birds Custard Powder
- 2 tsp caster sugar
- 90 ml dairy free milk I used soya milk
To make your pastry, measure the flour, butter and fat into a bowl and using your fingertips or a pastry cutter to combine the ingredients until you get fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar and a pinch of salt
Now, if using one, make your flaxseed egg by simply mixing the flaxseed and water together.
Add the 'egg' (or real egg) to the pastry crumbs and mix with a table knife. The pastry will still be very crumbly.
Turn the crumble mixture out onto a kitchen surface (no need to flour the surface) and bring the crumble together with the heel of your hands until it comes together and forms pastry dough. This will take about 2 mins.
Now pop the pastry ball into the fridge while you set to work on your apple filling.
Peel, core and dice the eating apples into small pieces. Add to a saucepan along with 2tbsp water and 1tsp of lemon juice to prevent apple from browning. Heat for 10-15 mins, with the lid on, on a medium heat to soften the apple.
TIP: If the apples haven't broken down then just mush them up a bit with a fork or potato masher.
No need to sweeten to taste as these are eating apples.
Set aside to cool.
Make up the custard by measuring the custard powder into a jug, adding 2tsp sugar and 1tbsp of the 'milk'. Mix to a paste (this prevents lumps) then add the remaining liquid.
Heat custard in microwave I heated mine for 60 seconds on 900w. The custard should be a thin consistency, you'll need to allow it to cool and it will thicken once cooled.
TIP: you can do this over the stove, just don't take your eyes off the custard and keep stirring.
Leave to cool along with the apples.
Roll out the pastry and cut 6 large rounds (I used my largest fluted cutter, approx. 12cm) tease the pastry circles into a moderately deep cupcake/muffin tin. Cut out 6 more pastry circles with the remaining pastry. Ensure the circles are large enough to act as lids to your pies.
If you can bear to wait, pop the filled tin back into the fridge to let the pastry cases rest (I put the lids on a plate so they can go in the fridge too). This prevents pastry shrinkage.
Take the cooled apple and spoon into the 6 pastry cases, I press the apple down with a little dip in the middle.
Top each apple layer with a layer of your custard (it works out about 2tsp of custard in each pie) and pop on your lids. Then prick the lid so you have an air vent, this decreases the chance of custard seepage.
Now I use a pastry brush dipped into the custard jug to mop up any last bits of custard to brush the pie tops, this helps with colour and give a shiny glaze to each pie. Finally sprinkle sugar onto the tops of each mini pies.
Pop your pies into the oven 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/ Gas 4 for 20 minutes.
You can eat this straight from the oven or allow to cool and enjoy for teatime.
I really love to read your comments and feedback and will always comment back. Do drop a line in the comment section if you liked this post I would love to hear your thoughts, if you share photos of your delicious creations, please do tag me or use the hashtag #Glutarama on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to my email list so that you get all my reviews and recipes straight in your mailbox.
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Drooling over the photos! Custard and apples together in a pie? Sounds absolutely awesome! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!
Thank you Jhuls
This looks so good!
Apple and custard are heaven aren’t they?! Perfect for a pie xx
Absolutely Kate – deeeeelicious!
Oooh yum…these look delicious! Lovely idea for the filling :-) Eb x
Thanks sweetie xxx
Wow! These are gorgeous, and I bet they taste as good as they look. :-)
Thank you and yes they are scrummy xx
Love the idea of apple custard pie, then again I love custard. so that could be why. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Me too Jacqui, me too haha, thank you for having me #CookBlogShare xxx
Apple and custard is the world’s best combo – am I wrong? These look fabulous Rebecca!
It’s an epic combo, not to be messed with hahaha
YES! What is there not to love about this recipe??? I adore the flavour combination and they look so good! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Exactly, what a combo; apple and custard. No need to be fussy they speak for themselves, thank you for having me xxx
I love deep dish style apple pies and that custard…mmm… it’s pure heaven! These look absolutely gorgeous and are so fabulously portable too! x
I love it, I may call mini pies portable pies from now on – wonderful Jo, keeping that one xxx
These look fantastically moreish, great to take on a picnic:)
They are moreish…maybe not a good think :-D going to make some to take away with us on the boat, how gorgeous will that be eating an apple custard pie, with a cuppa, on the Broads…bliss!