Save Whimsical, tender pastry bites filled with spiced apple and pear, shaped like playful foxes—perfect for autumn gatherings or a fun family treat.
This recipe brings a cozy festive spirit to our family autumn celebrations every year.
Ingredients
- Pastry: 2 sheets (about 500 g) ready-rolled puff pastry
- Pastry: 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Filling: 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- Filling: 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored, and diced
- Filling: 2 tbsp brown sugar
- Filling: 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Filling: ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Filling: 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Filling: 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- Decoration: 24 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
- Decoration: 12 small orange or red candy-coated chocolates (for noses)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook Filling:
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add diced apples and pear, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Sauté for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fruit is softened and syrupy. Let cool slightly.
- Cut Pastry:
- Roll out the puff pastry sheets on a floured surface. Using a fox-shaped cookie cutter (or a template and a knife), cut out 24 fox shapes.
- Fill Pastry:
- Place 12 fox shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon a small amount of the fruit filling (about 1 tablespoon) into the center of each, leaving a border around the edges.
- Seal Pastry:
- Brush the edges with beaten egg. Top with the remaining 12 fox shapes. Press edges to seal, using a fork if desired.
- Decorate:
- Brush tops with more egg wash. Add chocolate chips for eyes and a candy-coated chocolate for the nose, gently pressing into the dough.
- Bake:
- Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
- Cool:
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Save Nothing warms the heart like sharing these fox-shaped bites with family on a crisp autumn evening.
Notes
Try adding a pinch of ground ginger or cloves for extra autumn warmth. Serve with vanilla ice cream or caramel dipping sauce.
Required Tools
Fox-shaped cookie cutter or sharp knife and template Medium skillet Baking sheet Parchment paper Pastry brush
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (gluten), egg, and dairy (butter) Chocolate candies may contain soy and milk Always check labels for allergen cross-contamination
Save These bites add a playful and delicious touch to any fall gathering.
Recipe Questions
- → What spices enhance the apple and pear filling?
Cinnamon and nutmeg are used to add warm autumn flavors to the fruit filling, complemented by brown sugar and a touch of lemon juice.
- → Can I make these bites vegan?
Yes, replace butter with plant-based alternatives and use a non-dairy milk wash instead of egg for brushing the pastry edges.
- → How do I shape the pastry into foxes without a cutter?
Use a parchment paper template and a sharp knife to carefully cut out the fox shapes before assembling.
- → What decorations are used for the fox faces?
Mini chocolate chips create the eyes, while small candy-coated chocolates form the noses for a playful look.
- → What is the best way to serve these pastry bites?
They pair wonderfully with vanilla ice cream or a caramel dipping sauce, enhancing their sweet autumn flavors.
- → Can I add other spices to the filling?
Adding a pinch of ground ginger or cloves brings extra warmth and depth to the autumn filling.