When you’re short on time, but you want something quick and easy and special to feed the kids, Easy Mini Fried Pies or Empanadas for kids are the perfect solution to your crazy, busy life.

Everyone loves pie — we think they make good snacking just like these Pie Dough Crackers.

The best part about these mini fried pies is their size — they’re just right for snacking and portion-control which is so important when trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle. You’re gonna feel good about serving these for dessert or as a memorable after school snack.

Easy Mini Fried Pies {Empanadas} for Kids

You just need 6 simple ingredients for Easy Mini Fried Pies {Empanadas} for Kids:

• 2 refrigerated pie crusts, rolled smooth
• 1 20-oz can cherry pie filling (or filling of your choice)
• 2 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar
• large round cookie cutter (3 1/2″)
• oil for frying

First things first: Get your oil for frying heated up on the stove. I like to set my stove to medium low and heat the oil in a cast iron skillet while I’m making the mini fried pies.

Now you’re going to cut several circles out of your rolled out refrigerated pie crusts with your large round cookie cutter. You can roll out the “scraps” and cut more circles if you’d like–this way you get about 20 mini fried pies per recipe.

Next spoon out 2-3 cherries with a small amount of the filling and place into the center of each pie crust circle. Be careful not to put too much cherry pie filling into your mini fried pies or you’ll make a huge mess (ask me how I know).

Press and seal the edges with a fork.

Fry baby, FRY! Until golden brown. Remove from hot oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. You can call them “empanadas” if you like. You’ll sound fancier that way.

Easy Mini Fried Pies {Empanadas} for Kids

Ingredients

• 2 refrigerated pie crusts
• 1 20-oz can cherry pie filling (or filling of your choice)
• 2 Tablespoons salted butter
• 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar
• 1 large round cookie cutter (3 1/2″)
• oil for frying

Directions:

• Heat oil in heavy skillet on stove at medium low heat until hot.
• While waiting for oil to heat up, roll out refrigerated pie crusts until smooth. Use large round cookie cutter to cut several circles out of dough. You can save the scraps and roll them out to cut more circles for more mini fried pies.
• Place about 1 Tablespoon of cherry pie filling onto the center of each pie dough circle, being careful not to overfill. A guide is to place 2-3 cherries with filling onto each center. Fold each pie dough circle in half, and then press and seal the edges with a fork.
• Carefully place uncooked mini fried pies into hot oil and fry, four at a time, for about 30 seconds on each side or until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve warm. Makes about 20 mini fried pies.

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