With no time and the need (okay, the desire!) for a nice dessert, I called on "Arty the Air Fryer" for help--specifically to make Apple-Rhubarb Pies. The little pies take only a few minutes to make using store-bought puff pastry. I used one apple and home-made rhubarb preserves that I had in my refrigerator. You can make your own preserves with frozen rhubarb or just buy rhubarb preserves at the market. Just be sure the preserves aren't too sweet. You want a bit of tartness to offset the sweetness of the apple. I left the puff pastry out on the counter to thaw while I put together the rest of dinner, then rolled out the pastry just a bit, cut 6 rectangles, spread on my fruit mixture, and rolled up the pies--puffs , really--jelly-roll style. I air fried the pie/puffs for 10-15 minutes, 3 at a time while we ate dinner. The pies smelled incredible while they cooked and came out hot, crunchy, and crying out for a bit of vanilla ice cream to cool them. The pie/puffs are wonderful when you're short on time and when you're not. The little pie/puffs also are great rewarmed in the air fryer the next day--that's assuming you have any left over, which you may not.
Air Fryer Apple-Rhubarb Pies -- Makes 6
1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1/4-1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1/2 cup of rhubarb preserves
Sugar for sprinkling
Roll the puff pastry out until it's about an inch longer on each side. Cut it into 6 rectangles. In a medium microwave-safe bowl or measure, combine the apple pieces, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and brown sugar and stir them well. Stir in the preserves. Microwave the mixture for a minute and stir it well. Microwave the mixture in 30 second increments, stirring after each stint in the microwave, until the apple softens and the mixture thickens. Yes, it should be the consistency of pie filling. Divide the filling among the rectangles and spread it out on the rectangles evenly. Roll each rectangle up, jelly-roll style, enclosing the filling. Pinch the edges a little to keep the filling in. Moisten the tops of the rolls with a little water and sprinkle a little sugar on top of each roll. Place the rolls on parchment paper cut to fit the bottom of your air fryer, plus an inch or two to help you place and lift the rolls. Air fry the pies, 2-4 at a time, depending on the size of your air fryer, at 360 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Let the pie/puffs cool for a few minutes before eating them. The filling will be hot! Feel free to cool the pie/puffs with a little ice cream, if you'd like.
