The Ultimate Easy Apple Pie Bombs Recipe

Are you craving that warm, gooey, cinnamon-spiced flavor of a classic apple pie but don’t have hours to spend peeling apples and rolling out a perfect crust? The desire for a cozy, comforting dessert is real, but the time and effort involved can feel overwhelming on a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend.

Let’s face it, baking a full-fledged pie from scratch is a commitment. It’s a project. You’re left with a sink full of dishes and the pressure of cutting that perfect first slice. Sometimes, you just want the delicious payoff without the production. You want a treat that’s quick, easy, and impressively delicious.

Here’s the deal: The perfect solution is a batch of warm, golden Apple Pie Bombs. These incredible bite-sized treats deliver all the nostalgic flavor of a deep-dish apple pie, wrapped in a soft, tender dough, and ready in under 30 minutes. They are the ultimate dessert hack for maximum flavor with minimum fuss.

Craving a Cozy Dessert That’s Ready in Minutes?

Apple pie bombs are miniature, handheld apple pies made by wrapping gooey, cinnamon-spiced apple pie filling inside a simple dough, like refrigerated biscuits or crescent rolls. Once sealed, they are cooked until golden brown and often finished with a buttery cinnamon-sugar coating. They are the perfect quick and easy fall dessert.

Think of them as the greatest hits of apple pie, conveniently packaged into a single, perfect bite. You get the warm, tender apple filling, the comforting spice of cinnamon, and a soft, dumpling-like exterior that’s utterly irresistible. There’s no need for pie plates, fancy lattice work, or long baking times.

In my quest for the perfect quick dessert, I’ve tested numerous methods. I’ve tried different doughs, fiddled with filling consistencies, and experimented with every cooking method imaginable. This recipe is the culmination of that testing—the absolute easiest, most foolproof way to get that incredible apple pie experience that will have everyone asking for more.

Key Takeaway: Apple pie bombs are your shortcut to apple pie heaven. They offer all the beloved flavors in a fun, bite-sized format that’s perfect for sharing, parties, or a simple weeknight treat.

The Ultimate Easy Apple Pie Bombs Recipe

The best recipe for apple pie bombs uses simple, accessible ingredients: refrigerated biscuit dough, a quality apple pie filling, melted butter, and a classic cinnamon-sugar mixture for coating. The magic lies in the simplicity, allowing the classic flavors to shine through. While homemade filling adds a special touch, using a good store-bought version makes this dessert come together in a flash.

This is the foundational recipe you’ll turn to again and again. We’ll walk through everything from gathering your handful of ingredients to the final, glorious dusting of cinnamon sugar. Get ready to create a dessert that tastes like it took all day, but was actually ready in minutes.

1. Gather Your Ingredients

To get started, you will need Granny Smith apples for a tart filling, canned refrigerated biscuits for the dough, and a simple mix of butter, sugar, and cinnamon for the coating. These core components come together to create a perfectly balanced and incredibly easy dessert.

Here is the exact list of what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• For the Apple Pie Filling (or use 1 can, 21 oz, of pre-made filling):
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• For the Bombs:
  • 1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (like Pillsbury Grands!—the non-flaky kind works best)
• For the Topping:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Optional Drizzle:
  • 1/4 cup caramel sauce, warmed

Pro Tip: In my experience, using Granny Smith apples provides the perfect balance of tartness to counteract the sweetness of the sugar coating. Their firm texture also holds up well during cooking, preventing a mushy filling. If you use a sweeter apple, like a Gala or Fuji, consider slightly reducing the brown sugar in the filling.

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2. Assemble Your Apple Pie Bombs

The assembly process involves flattening each biscuit, placing a spoonful of cooled apple filling in the center, and pulling the edges of the dough up and over the filling, pinching them together to create a sealed ball. A tight seal is the most important step to prevent the delicious filling from leaking out while cooking.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Filling (If making from scratch): In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes, or until the apples are just tender. In a tiny bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water to create a slurry, then stir it into the pan. Cook for 1 more minute until the sauce visibly thickens. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely. This is a crucial step!
2. Prepare the Dough: Pop open the can of biscuits and separate the 8 rounds. Using your fingers or a small rolling pin, gently flatten each biscuit into a circle about 4 inches in diameter.
3. Fill the Bombs: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cooled apple pie filling into the very center of each flattened biscuit. It’s tempting, but be careful not to overfill, as this will make sealing them much more difficult.
4. Seal Tightly: This is the key moment. Carefully pull the edges of the dough up and over the apple filling. Bring all the edges together at the top and pinch the seams together firmly to create a completely sealed ball. Gently roll the ball between your palms to smooth the shape and ensure the seal is secure.

Lesson Learned: One thing I learned the hard way is that ensuring the filling is completely cool before assembling is non-negotiable. Warm filling will melt the fats in the biscuit dough, making it soft, sticky, and nearly impossible to seal properly. This is the number one cause of leaky bombs. If your dough becomes too warm and sticky during assembly, don’t hesitate to pop the assembled bombs in the fridge for 10 minutes before cooking.

Watch our video to see exactly how to seal these perfectly!

How to Cook Apple Pie Bombs (3 Easy Ways)

You can cook apple pie bombs in three main ways, each yielding a slightly different but equally delicious result: in an air fryer for a super crispy exterior, in the oven for a classic soft-baked texture, or deep-fried for the most indulgent, donut-like treat. The best method simply depends on the equipment you have and the texture you’re craving.

Think of this as a showdown between crispy, classic, and decadent. Here’s a breakdown of each method so you can choose your own adventure.

• Air Fryer: The champion for speed and crispiness. (My personal favorite!)
• Oven: The simplest, most hands-off method for a reliable bake.
• Frying: The route to ultimate indulgence with a rich, fried-dough flavor.

Let’s dive into the specifics for each one.

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs (Crispy & Quick)

For a crispy, golden-brown exterior, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C), place the bombs in a single layer in the basket, and cook for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through. This method is incredibly fast and creates a fantastic texture contrast between the crunchy outside and the soft, gooey inside.

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with a non-aerosol cooking spray or brush with a bit of oil to prevent sticking.
3. Place the sealed apple pie bombs seam-side down in a single layer in the basket. Make sure they do not touch to allow for even air circulation. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
4. Air fry for 7-9 minutes. At about the 4-minute mark, open the basket and use tongs to carefully flip them over. Continue cooking until they are a deep golden brown and cooked through.
5. While they are still piping hot, immediately brush the bombs all over with melted butter and roll them in your cinnamon-sugar mixture until they’re generously coated.

Pro Tip: For an extra crispy ‘churro’ style exterior that is out of this world, lightly spritz the bombs with a bit of cooking oil before putting them in the air fryer. This small step helps the outside get incredibly crunchy, perfectly mimicking a deep-fried texture without all the excess oil.

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Baked Apple Pie Bombs (Classic & Simple)

For a softer, more dumpling-like texture, bake the apple pie bombs in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-15 minutes. This method is wonderfully straightforward and perfect if you’re making a large batch all at once.

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. Arrange the sealed apple pie bombs on the prepared baking sheet, placing them at least 2 inches apart to ensure they bake evenly.
3. Bake for 10-15 minutes. The exact time can vary by oven, so keep an eye on them. They are done when the tops are a beautiful golden brown and the dough looks cooked through.
4. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Just like the other methods, the next step is crucial while they’re hot: brush each bomb with melted butter and roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until it’s completely covered.

Pro Tip: In my baking experiments, I found that brushing the tops of the unbaked bombs with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water) before they go into the oven creates a superior finish. This optional step gives them a professional-looking, shiny, and deeper golden crust that really elevates their appearance.

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Caramel Apple Pie Bombs & Other Fun Variations

To elevate your apple pie bombs, try adding a small caramel candy inside before sealing, swapping biscuit dough for flaky crescent rolls, or using a different fruit filling like cherry or peach. These simple swaps and additions can completely transform the recipe and let you customize it to your heart’s content.

Here are a few of my absolute favorite variations:

Step-by-Step Directions for Variations:

1. Caramel Apple Pie Bombs: This is a game-changer. Before sealing the dough, simply add a small, firm caramel candy (like a Kraft caramel square) or about 1/2 teaspoon of thick caramel sauce right in the center with the apple filling. Assemble and cook as directed. After coating in cinnamon sugar, finish with a generous drizzle of more warm caramel sauce. The molten caramel center is pure magic.
2. Use Crescent Rolls for a Flakier Bite: Instead of biscuits, unroll a can of crescent roll dough. Don’t separate the triangles. Instead, pinch the diagonal seams of two triangles together to form a rectangle. Cut that rectangle in half to make two squares. Fill and seal these just as you would the biscuits. The resulting texture is lighter, flakier, and more like a traditional pastry.
3. The Ultimate Churro Style: The “churro” effect is all about that crispy, cinnamon-sugar crust. The air fryer method works best for this. The key is to serve them immediately after coating them in the butter and cinnamon sugar. That’s when you get the most satisfying crunch, just like a fresh churro.
4. Try Different Fruit Fillings: Don’t stop at apple! This recipe is a fantastic base for other fruits. Swap the apple pie filling for canned or homemade cherry, peach, blueberry, or even strawberry pie filling for a completely different fruity treat.

Lesson Learned: When adding a solid caramel candy inside, it is critical that it’s fully enclosed by the dough. If any part of the caramel is exposed or too close to a seam, it’s highly likely to melt out and burn onto your baking sheet or air fryer basket. I found that chilling the assembled, caramel-filled bombs for 10-15 minutes before cooking helps the dough firm up and better contain the melting caramel.

Which variation will you try first? Let us know!

People Also Ask About BEST RECIPE for Apple Pie Bombs

When you’re trying a new recipe, questions always come up. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries about making the perfect apple pie bombs, based on what people are searching for online and the lessons I’ve learned in my own kitchen.

What is the best dough for apple pie bombs?

The best dough depends on your texture preference, but refrigerated biscuit dough (like Pillsbury Grands) is generally the easiest and most popular choice. It creates a wonderfully soft, chewy, and dumpling-like texture that holds the filling securely. For a flakier, lighter bomb that resembles a croissant, crescent roll dough is an excellent alternative. You can also use pre-made pie crust cut into circles for a more traditional, sturdy pie-like bite. For ultimate simplicity and reliability, biscuit dough is the top choice.

How do you keep apple pie bombs from getting soggy?

To prevent sogginess, you must ensure your apple filling is cooled completely before assembling and that you seal the seams very tightly to prevent leaks. Any moisture escaping from the filling will turn to steam and make the dough soggy. Additionally, don’t overcrowd your air fryer or baking sheet, as this traps steam instead of letting it escape. Finally, always apply the melted butter and cinnamon-sugar coating after cooking, not before.

Can I make apple pie bombs ahead of time?

Yes, you can absolutely prepare apple pie bombs ahead of time by assembling them completely and then refrigerating or freezing them before cooking. For refrigeration, place the uncooked, assembled bombs on a parchment-lined tray, cover, and store for up to 24 hours. For freezing, place the tray in the freezer until the bombs are solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. You can cook them directly from frozen, just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—the ultimate guide to creating the most delicious and easy apple pie bombs imaginable. This recipe proves that you don’t need to spend an entire afternoon in the kitchen to enjoy the warm, comforting flavors of a homemade apple dessert. With just a can of biscuits and a simple filling, you can create a fun, shareable, and utterly irresistible treat that’s perfect for any occasion.

Whether you’re looking for a quick dessert for a cozy night in, a fun baking project with the kids, or an easy-to-serve sweet for a holiday party, these apple pie bombs are guaranteed to be a hit. They deliver that nostalgic, soul-warming apple pie flavor in a perfectly portioned, handheld package.

What will you serve with your apple pie bombs? A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream? Let me know in the comments below