The primary time I attempted Taco Bell’s Caramel Apple Empanadas was on a late-night meals run throughout school finals week. One chew of that impossibly crispy shell giving approach to heat, cinnamon-spiced apples and gooey caramel had me immediately hooked. It grew to become my go-to consolation meals by way of these worrying all-nighters till in the future, they merely vanished from the menu. The collective disappointment from followers was palpable—social media flooded with pleas for his or her return, however Taco Bell remained agency in its choice to discontinue this beloved deal with.
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What makes the Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanada so good?
Whereas McDonald’s Apple Pie is likely to be the extra well-known fast-food pie, Taco Bell created one thing actually distinctive with their empanada strategy. The important thing distinction lies within the dough – conventional empanada pastry fries up with an unmatched crispness and distinctive texture that’s extra substantial than typical pie crust.
What actually set these aside from different apple desserts was the distinguished caramel taste. Somewhat than letting the apples take middle stage alone, Taco Bell created a harmonious mix the place the wealthy, buttery caramel sauce performed an equal position, making a extra indulgent, dessert-like expertise than your typical apple pie.
Why You’ll Love These Copycat Caramel Apple Empanadas
- Menu Merchandise Revival – Recreate a discontinued favourite that Taco Bell followers have been lacking
- Superior Crunch – The genuine empanada dough creates a distinctively crispy exterior that units these aside from different fried pies
- Excellent Steadiness – The wealthy caramel sauce enhances the tart apples with out overwhelming them
- Transportable Deal with – These handheld desserts are excellent for on-the-go snacking or packing in lunches
- Customizable – Simple to adapt with further spices or serving ideas primarily based in your preferences
Gear You’ll Want
- Deep, vast pot for frying
- Sweet/oil thermometer
- Spider strainer or slotted spoon
- Small saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry brush
- Fork for crimping
- Wire cooling rack
- Baking sheet
- Measuring spoons and cups
Elements for Excellent Caramel Apple Empanadas
- Vegetable shortening (for frying) – Creates the proper frying medium for attaining the signature crispy exterior
- Apple pie filling – Gives the sweet-tart apple taste and chunky texture that types the bottom of the filling
- Water – Helps skinny the filling barely to attain the proper consistency
- Caramel sauce – Delivers the wealthy, buttery caramel taste that makes these empanadas distinctive
- Powdered sugar – Creates the candy glaze that provides a phenomenal end and further layer of sweetness
- Complete milk – Combines with powdered sugar to kind a clean, pourable glaze
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the glaze with refined fragrant taste that enhances each the apples and caramel
- Goya Empanadas Pastry Dough (1 bundle of 5-inch discs, frozen) – Gives the genuine empanada texture with its distinctive crunch when fried
Find out how to make Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanadas
To arrange the empanadas for frying:
- Thaw the empanada dough in a single day within the fridge.
- In a small saucepan over medium warmth, stir collectively the apple pie filling, water, and caramel sauce. Prepare dinner, stirring usually to stop burning, till the caramel sauce blends with the opposite components.
- To make the glaze, whisk collectively the powdered sugar, complete milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
- Soften sufficient vegetable shortening to cowl the underside of a deep, vast pot by not less than three inches. Slowly convey the fats as much as 350°F.
- Whereas the fats is heating up, begin assembling the empanadas by wetting the outer fringe of the uncooked empanada dough disk with water. Spoon one-and-a-half teaspoons of the apple pie and caramel sauce filling into the disk’s middle. Fold the dough over to make a half moon and crimp the sides along with the tines of a fork. Put aside and repeat with the remainder of the dough.
To fry the Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanadas:
- Place a wire rack over a baking tray subsequent to the range.
- Fry empanadas two or three at a time within the sizzling fats for 2 minutes per aspect. Use a slotted spoon or spider to take away the golden brown empanadas and place them on the wire rack to empty.
- Brush the glaze on each side of the nice and cozy empanadas.
- Repeat with the remaining crammed empanadas.
- Serve heat.
What to serve them with
Whereas a Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanada is superb by itself, why not mix it with different Southwest favorites and make it a meal? Listed below are just a few choices:
Rooster Fajita Salad. Take all of the fixings out of your favourite Rooster Fajita recipe and switch them into a wonderful entree salad! This Rooster Fajita Salad options well-seasoned hen, avocado, candy corn, crimson onions, black beans, and ripe tomatoes over a mattress of greens. A drizzle of home made creamy salsa verde dressing completes the dish.
Taco Bell Burrito Supreme. These tacky beef and bean burritos will fill you up on a budget. The meat shops properly, so you can also make an enormous batch and maintain it within the fridge for fast meal prep. Be happy to customise this Taco Bell Burrito Supreme recipe by together with guacamole, bitter cream, jalapeno peppers, or different dear Taco Bell add-ons.
Burrito Casserole. This easy-to-make casserole captures the style of burritos. It is loaded with taco-seasoned floor beef and refried beans rolled in tortillas and topped with a mix of bitter cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Baked till effervescent, this comforting and economical recipe is bound to grow to be a household favourite.
Find out how to retailer Caramel Apple Empanadas
Room-temperature Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanada leftovers will be stored in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as three days.
Enable the empanadas to chill to room temperature for longer storage and lay them out on a baking tray. Freeze them stable on the baking tray, then switch them to a freezer-safe container and maintain them within the freezer for as much as a month. You may prepare dinner caramel apple empanadas frozen.
What’s one of the best ways to reheat them?
Preheat the oven to 350°F and warmth on a baking tray till sizzling, about 10 minutes for refrigerated empanadas and quarter-hour for frozen ones.
Extra Taco Bell copycat recipes
Favourite apple desserts
Take a look at extra of my straightforward dessert recipes and the very best copycat Taco Bell recipes on CopyKat!
Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanada
Taco Bell caramel apple empanada is a tasty dessert you can also make at dwelling with this straightforward copycat recipe.
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Servings: 10
Energy: 305kcal
Elements
- 1 bundle Goya Empanadas Pastry Dough (10 Rely)
- 1 21-ounce can apple pie filling
- 2 tablespoons water plus extra for sealing the empanadas
- 3 tablespoons caramel sauce
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- vegetable shortening for frying
Directions
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Thaw the Goya Empanadas.
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In a small saucepan, add apple pie filling, two tablespoons of water, and three tablespoons of caramel sauce. Warmth over medium warmth till the caramel sauce blends in. Then flip off the warmth.
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Make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a bowl. Combine till the glaze is runny.
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Preheat vegetable shortening to 350 levels. Warmth sufficient shortening to cowl 3 inches deep in a heavy bottomed pot like a Dutch oven.
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Dip your fingers into water and run your finger across the fringe of the empanada disk. Spoon about 1 ½ tablespoons of filling into every empanada shell. Then fold over the disk and press the sides of the empanada shell collectively. Then use a fork to crimp the 2 edges collectively.
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Full this for all 10 disks.
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Fry two or three at a time, for about 2 minutes on either side, take away from the recent shortening, and place onto a wire rack.
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Brush a skinny layer of glaze over the empanada whereas it’s sizzling. Serve instantly.
Notes
Professional Ideas for Excellent Empanadas
- Temperature Management: Sustaining your oil at a gradual 350°F is essential. Too sizzling and the empanadas will burn earlier than cooking by way of; too cool they usually’ll soak up extra oil and grow to be greasy.
- Don’t Overfill: It’s tempting to pack in additional filling, however overfilled empanadas could burst throughout frying. Stick with the 1½ teaspoon measurement for finest outcomes.
- Correct Sealing: Press firmly with the fork to make sure the sides are fully sealed. Any gaps will enable the filling to leak into the recent oil, inflicting splattering and potential burns.
- Glaze Whereas Heat: For the proper consistency, apply the glaze whereas the empanadas are nonetheless heat however not sizzling. In the event you glaze them once they’re too sizzling, the glaze will run off; too cool, and it gained’t adhere correctly.
Diet
Energy: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 11g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 0.2mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg
Widespread Questions & Troubleshooting
Can I take advantage of a special sort of dough?
Whereas Goya empanada discs ship the genuine texture, you’ll be able to substitute with 5-inch circles lower from refrigerated pie crust in a pinch. The feel might be flakier and fewer crunchy, however nonetheless scrumptious.
My empanadas are bursting open throughout frying. What went flawed?
This sometimes occurs once they’re overfilled or not sealed correctly. Strive utilizing much less filling and be sure you press the sides firmly with a fork to create a good seal.
Can I bake these as a substitute of frying?
Sure! Brush with overwhelmed egg for colour and bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes till golden brown. The feel gained’t be equivalent to Taco Bell’s model, however they’ll nonetheless be tasty with a lot much less oil.
My glaze is just too thick/skinny. How do I repair it?
For thick glaze, add just a few drops of milk at a time till you attain the specified consistency. If it’s too skinny, add extra powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
Dietary Modifications and Substitutions
- Vegan Choice: Use plant-based pie crust, verify that your apple pie filling is vegan, and make the glaze with almond milk and vegan butter.
- Diminished Sugar: Use sugar-free caramel sauce and make a lighter glaze with much less powdered sugar.
- Gluten-Free Various: Search for gluten-free empanada dough or pie crust (La Fe model makes a gluten-free model).
- Home made Filling Choice: In the event you favor to keep away from canned filling, sauté 2 cups of peeled, diced apples with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and a tablespoon of cornstarch till softened, then cool earlier than utilizing.
Scaling the Recipe
- Half Batch: Merely halve all components; you might have some apple filling leftover, which can be utilized as an ice cream topping.
- Double Batch: Double all components besides the oil for frying. Chances are you’ll must fry in additional batches to keep away from overcrowding.
- Celebration Measurement: For serving a crowd, contemplate making mini variations utilizing 3-inch circles of dough and about ¾ teaspoon of filling. Cut back frying time to about 1 minute per aspect.
These copycat Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanadas convey again the magic of this discontinued favourite with their completely crispy exterior and sweet-tart filling. Whereas Taco Bell could have moved on, there’s no cause we are able to’t proceed having fun with these pleasant treats proper at dwelling. Share your empanada-making success tales within the feedback under!
