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STOP! Before you hit ‘Jump to Recipe’ check ‘Skip to the Good Bit‘ below. I may answer a query you have about this recipe.
I’m lucky, I can have the real deal normally but this post for my Toffee Apple Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe came about due to the limited edition version of the normal McDonalds Apple Pie. This new limited edition was filled with toffee and apple which wasn’t dairy free. So, I decided I was going to have my pie and eat it…and whilst I was at it, I was going to make is so YOU could too!
Skip to the good bit
- Are McDonalds Toffee Apple Pies gluten free?
- Is McDonalds Apple Pie vegan?
- Now Available! Copycat Festive Pies!
- Can I make these Toffee Apple Pies just gluten free?
- Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
- How to make apple pie filling?
- How to make dairy free toffee sauce?
- How to build your Toffee Apple Pies
- Other apple recipes you will love
- Toffee Apple Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
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Are McDonalds Toffee Apple Pies gluten free?
NO! Neither the normal menu apple pie nor the limited edition McDonalds Apple Pies are gluten free. They are made with WHEAT containing puff pastry.
Is McDonalds Apple Pie vegan?
YES! I am ‘only’ intolerant to eggs, dairy and a few other random things so not personally Coeliac (that’s my daughter, more about Bethany here in this post Coeliac diagnosis – symptoms, impact and life going forward).
As I am not Coeliac I can normally eat the McDonalds Apple Pies due to the fact they have no egg or dairy in them (they do have ‘may contains’ but I am not allergic).
Now Available! Copycat Festive Pies!
Can I make these Toffee Apple Pies just gluten free?
Did I just catch you rolling your eyes at me? Not another gluten free AND vegan recipe Rebecca (giggles). Not to worry, this recipe is super simple to make dairy-filled too. Just use your favourite gluten free puff pastry. I always use Jus~Rol Ready Rolled Gluten Free Puff Pastry.
Then, make your toffee sauce using normal cream (or milk) and butter. I’d recommend a single cream or full fat milk on this occasion.
Finally, make a simple swap for normal milk for the pastry wash.
Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
Ooh good question. The pies in the images are baked – honest! They seriously don’t look it though. I even surprised myself. The more you go to town with your pastry wash, the better the crispy-flaky finish to your Gluten Free Toffee Apple Pies.
Baked Version – I simply add to a baking sheet and cook on 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on these beauties, they can colour really quickly due to the cinnamon sugar coating.
Air Fried Version – Same as above really, add to your air frier (probably 3 at a time but will vary depending on size of frier) and air fry for 15-20 minutes. Just keep checking in on them and spoon away any excess fat if necessary.
Deep Fried Version – I have not tried this and I’m hesitant to do so. I’m not sure the pies will stay in one piece. If you DO try this then I implore you to come back and let me know how you got on comment below
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How to make apple pie filling?
The apple pie filling is the same principle as my Easy Gluten Free Apple Turnovers. You need both apple puree and finely diced apples to create the perfect pie filling.
You can cheat, I won’t mind, and buy the apple sauce/puree or you can make your own by simply peeling, coring and chopping 2 dessert apples. Add these apples to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and gently stew with a lid on until the apple has broken down.
Even better, use Bramley apples as these break down so easily – only issue is, they are far less sweet alternative so may find you need to sweeten to your own taste.
How to make dairy free toffee sauce?
To make the toffee sauce I made a smaller amount of of the sauce used in my Date Free Sticky Toffee Pudding. This still makes plenty of toffee sauce with some left over for dipping if you so wish. I ate all of the leftovers on this occasion while the pies baked so no dipping sauce in the photos. Not even guilty!
- 60 ml soya cream or usual dairy free alternative
- 40g light brown sugar
- 15g butter or butter alternative (I use Flora plant butter)
- pinch of salt
Making the toffee sauce couldn’t be simpler. Add the butter or butter alternative and light brown sugar to a non stick pan. Heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved. Then add the cream/milk or plant alternative and keep the heat up so the sauce bubbles. Stir constantly.
Once you’re happy it’s thickened to a custard consistency, removed from the heat. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools and eventually will turn into a butterscotch-like toffee sauce.
How to build your Toffee Apple Pies
Assuming you are using Jus~Rol Gluten Free Puff Pastry i.e. a ready rolled rectangle, you need to cut 12 rectangular pie shapes (6 tops x 6 bottoms).
I brush 6 of the pastry rectangles with ‘milk’ to make them tacky, this makes the tops stick down better.
Next I add a small amount of apple pie filling to the 6 brushed rectangles.
Now you can add your toffee sauce, it may be quite firm now, not to worry, just add a few dollops with two teaspoons.
TOP TIP: DO NOT OVER FILL, THE PIES WILL EXPLODE WHEN YOU BAKE THEM IF YOU DO!
Sorry to shout but that bit is quite important.
Next place the top pastry rectangle over the pie filling and press down firmly to seal. I go to town on the crimping too with a fork to make sure the pie edges are sealed.
Now brush your pies liberally with milk, really soak them both sides and sprinkle with your cinnamon sugar. It will look like a gooey mess but fear not, it will work out perfectly.
Finally, transfer each pie to a prepared baking sheet and bake in a preheated hot oven (or to air fry see above).
Other apple recipes you will love
Toffee Apple Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
If you make it and like the recipe I would be eternally grateful if you popped back and commented leaving a star rating as this will tell search engines that this recipe is worth checking out and others will get to find it in searches.
Gluten Free Toffee Apples Pies – Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Jus-Rol Gluten Free Puff
For the apple filling
- 1 dessert apples
- 50 g apple sauce or puree [see notes to make your own]
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
For the toffee sauce
- 60 ml dairy free cream or normal single cream
- 40 g light brown sugar
- 15 g dairy free butter or normal butter
- pinch salt
For the glaze and cinnamon sugar
- 4 tbsp dairy free milk or normal milk
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp sweet ground cinnamon or normal cinnamon
Instructions
To make the toffee sauce
- Start by making your toffee sauce, to do this add the light brown sugar and 'butter' to a small non stick pan and heat gently until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved.
- Once melted, add the cream (or milk if you like) and maybe turn the heat up a little so the sauce bubbles. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
- When the sauce reaches a custard thickness remove from the heat and set aside. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
To make pie filling
- Peel, core and chop the apple into small little-finger-nail sized pieces. Add these to a bowl with the apple sauce/puree and mix to combine. Do a taste test to see if you need to add sugar and if so add some caster sugar to sweeten.
To make the cinnamon sugar
- In a bowl add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon and with a whisk stir until combined.
To build the pie
- Cut your gluten free puff pastry into 12 equal sized rectangles.
- Brush 6 with 'milk' to make the pastry tacky.
- Add a small amount of pie filling and toffee sauce (this will be quite firm now, don't worry) to the 6 tacky rectangles!TOP TOP: do not overfill, the pies will burst open on baking if you do.
- Add the 6 pastry top and press down firmly to seal the edged. I also crimp the edges thoroughly with a fork.
To glaze the pies
- Brush all 6 pies liberally with 'milk' and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar, it will look messy, don't worry. Repeat on the bottom side.
- Place on a lined baking sheet and pop into a preheated hot oven at n 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the pies as these brown really well.
- Remove once beautifully golden and place on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes before eating – these are HOT!
Notes
Nutrition
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