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Chef Troy Gagliardo

"Chef Troy" Gagliardo hosts a weekly cooking segment called "Tuesdays with Troy" live every Tuesday on Fox News Rising from 7 to 9 am. He has made over 200 appearances on the show showcasing over 600 of his unique original recipes was voted one of the Top Five best chefs in Charlotte in 2013. Troy has penned a cookbook called Seasonal Comfort featuring some of his favorite comfort food recipes, and his business Motown Spice Provisions has supplied restaurants and country clubs in the greater Charlotte area for the past 10 years. He enjoys teaching readers and viewers alike how to build their "cooking confidence" through his recipes and simple technique. He is a self-taught chef who learned early on the important of family and food, and the connection between both, from his parents and grandparents. Contact him at cheftroy@windstream.net.

I always try and come with something a bit different for sweet treats around the holidays other than the classic cookie. Don’t get me wrong, I love cookies and love receiving them during the holiday season.

However, it is always a bit awkward when exchanging homemade gift for homemade gift and you end up with a similar cookie than the one you just gave away. Here is something a little bit different that you can use for holiday parties or to “one up” in the giving department.

These little pies are the perfect excuse to get the family in kitchen with Christmas tunes playing to have some fun putting together this perfect little homemade gift. These mini apple pies are kicked up using almond extract, cinnamon and a touch of ginger. The Nutella sauce is perfect dipping, is super simple to make and takes these mini’s to a whole new level.

So before you consider buying store bought holiday cookies and dressing them up in a gift box, make a mini apple pie test batch. You and the family are sure to want share with all those cookie givers on your list.

Pie

• 2 Each-Refrigerated Pie Crust Dough
• 2 Each-Granny Smith Apples
• 1 Each-Lemon-juice of
• 2 Tablespoons-Unsalted Butter
• 1/4 Teaspoon-Almond Extract-or vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons-Brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoons-Fresh Ginger-grated
• Pinch-Ground Cinnamon
• 2 Tablespoons-All Purpose Flour
• 1 Each-Egg Yolk
• 1 Tablespoon-Heavy Cream

Sauce

• ½ Cup-Nutella

• 3 Tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 425 degrees
2. Peel apples, remove from core, cut into small cubes and place in a mixing bowl.
3. Add lemon juice and mix to combine.
4. Melt butter in a large non stick pan over medium heat until starting to foam.
5. Add apples/lemon juice, almond extract, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and stir to combine.
6. Cook stirring frequently to soften apples, about 5 minutes.
7. Add flour, stir to incorporate and cook until liquid in pan begins to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes.
8. Remove and let cool to room temperature, about 10 to 15 minutes.
9. Remove pie dough from package, flour both sides and gently roll dough out to about a 14” diameter.
10. Butter a sheet tray and set aside.
11. On one of the pie dough mound cooled apple filling in 8 piles.
12. Lay second dough on top and form over mounds.
13. Using a cutter larger than the mounds cut out each mini pie.
14. Fold edges of dough over, pleating each fold all the way around filling to seal.
15. Place each on sheet tray.
16. Whisk egg yolk and milk together and brush top of each pie.
17. Poke three small holes in the center of each.
18. Place in preheated oven and cook until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.
19. Remove from oven and let cool slightly and serve with Nutella sauce to dip.

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