My Inspiration

My family love apples especially my dad who loved my mother's apple pies. On special occasions, my family always asked for my mother to bake her apple pies. Since my mother has passed, we all just have not made any apple pies.  So this recipe is a new way to enjoy apples with my family.  When my dad came to visit, I wanted to make a special apple dessert ---- to spoil him.  It's so easy and uses a "pre-made" ingredient, Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls so it would be fun for my nieces (amd nephews) could make it too.   These apple tarts have just the right amount of tartness and sweetness.  Your house will smell amazing!

What to Get From Your Pantry and / or Grocery Store

1 refrigerated Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Rolls (5 rolls) 

1 large apple

Dried cranberries (Ocean Spray Cran-raisins)

Pure Maple syrup

Agave Light Amber 

Spices: Cinnamon and Cloves

Apple Tart Filling

1 apple (I recommend honey crisp apple)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1 handleful dried cranberries

1/4 cup maple syrup 

1/4 cup agave (amber light) 

2 tsp cornstarch 

Peel and dice the apple into small pieces.  In a sauce pan, pour the maple syrup and agave.  Add the dried cranberries and turn on medium low heat.  Stir in the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes until cranberries are soft and plump.  Add apples and stir occasionally until the apples are softened.  Move the apples to one side of pan and sprinkle cornstarch a teaspoon at a time stirring vigorously until well blended. Now mix the apples in the thickened mixture.  The filling is now ready to be dolloped into the dough in the muffin pans.

Create the Cinnamon Roll Tarts

Spray the "large" muffin pan with Pam or any non-stick spray.  Separate the cinnamon rolls and press them out to a flat round dough discs. (like a really small pizza).  Press these small rounds discs into the muffin pan to creating a create crust for muffin.  Since the Grand Cinnamon Rolls have 5 rolls, you will not fill all of the muffins.