Lately, I have been on this kick of playing with some of my mom’s old recipes. Because I am trying to eat a healthier diet, many of mom’s recipes needed an update. With a few simple changes, I was able to reduce the calories without changing the taste. I recently did this with mom’s Chocolate Chip Muffins. By adding zucchini and using a sugar substitute, I created these delicious Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Streusel Muffins.
My mom reserved making her apple pies for the holidays. As a kid, I never gave that much thought. It was just a sweet treat we looked forward to each year. And I know you may be thinking, “Ho Hum. An apple pie recipe”, but mom’s apple pie was superior to any I have ever had. I think she added ingredients that were not on her original recipe. She would never fess up to that accusation, so I could only guess on that one! I can say, no matter where we went, people always asked for mom’s recipe, to which she always declined. She kept that recipe close to the vest!
Now that mom has passed on, I have her treasured recipe box. This box, which is really a binder, is bulging with family favorite recipes. My husband does not like many sweets, but he loves mom’s apple pie recipe. Once she left us, I was free to make her pie whenever we had a hankering for it.
Ingredients
- 1 package of refrigerated pie crust (2 pack)
- 2-3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, sliced and chopped
- 2-3 Zucchini, peeled, quartered and chopped
- 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar substitute (I use Stevia)
- 2 teaspoons flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Topping:
- 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar substitute (I use Stevia)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, chopped
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons chopped, candied pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. In a medium saucepan, mix your zucchini with oil and salt. Cook until just tender. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine apples, pumpkin pie spice mix, flour and vanilla. Add in your cooked zucchini.
- Spray a muffin tin. Unroll your pie crust and using a 3-4" round cookie cutter, cut out 12 crusts. Press one cut-out into each muffin. Spoon in your apple/zucchini mixture into each muffin. Leave enough for your topping.
- To mix your topping: Using your fingers, mix all your ingredients, except your nuts, When mixture is crumbly, add in your pecans and press a tablespoon full into each muffin tin.
- Bake tartlets for 13-16 minutes, or until bobbling. Cool completely. Serve with shipped cream
Do you have a favorite recipe you have made healthy swaps in? I would love to hear about it!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
August 9, 2016 at 11:01 amWhat a wonderful dessert! I love that topping, and I think that single serving size is too cute!
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
August 9, 2016 at 11:05 amI wouldn’t think to add zucchini but it’s a great idea. My grandmother and mom, now, only made cookies at Christmas. Everyone that has them raves about them, maybe because they only have them once a year.
Arlett ( Chasing Joy) says
August 9, 2016 at 12:26 pmI like the idea of making mini pies. That would help me with portion control which is where I struggle.
Pam says
August 9, 2016 at 12:30 pmZucchini is such a popular ingredient these days. Around here everyone grows so much zucchini that if you leave your car unlocked, someone might “gift” you a bag of zucchini! This is a great way to use it up.
Tara says
August 9, 2016 at 2:18 pmThese mini pies sound delicious. What a great way to use zucchini in a recipe.
Lindsey Paris says
August 9, 2016 at 4:16 pmGreat shots of that topping! I love miniature foods… I just can’t stop eating them easily.
Jeanette says
August 9, 2016 at 4:34 pmI would have never thought of putting these two things together! It sounds like a winning mix though!
Marcie W. says
August 9, 2016 at 6:10 pmThis unique dessert idea looks delicious! The size is a great way to keep portion control in mind too.
Liz Mays says
August 9, 2016 at 6:55 pmThese look really good. It would be so fun to serve some of them at a party. They’re just so cute.
Kathy says
August 9, 2016 at 7:24 pmThose look amazing! I need to try making them soon. I’m sure my family would enjoy these. I think they’d be great at parties too.
Brandy says
August 9, 2016 at 8:27 pmThis is such a cute dessert! This is a great way to sneak vegetables into your kids diet!
William Sweeney says
August 9, 2016 at 8:37 pmWhat a great little dessert to make!! I never would have thought to combine zucchini with apple pie like this, they look really good!
Sarah says
August 9, 2016 at 8:55 pmThese look so yummy! I would love to try these sometime!
Alicia says
August 9, 2016 at 9:06 pmThese look amazing! I’ve never thought about an apple and zucchini combo but I think it would be a great pairing! Thanks for sharing such a creative recipe.
Amy Desrosiers says
August 9, 2016 at 9:54 pmThese look like they are going to be so tasty! I’d love to try them with some fresh apples.
Colleen Lanin says
August 10, 2016 at 1:35 amYum! Okay…this is making me hungry! :-)-
janis says
August 10, 2016 at 1:50 amI love these really cute finger food bite sized treats. I’m not a huge fan of zucchini to be honest, but I would be down to try these sometime.
Ryan Escat says
August 10, 2016 at 9:08 amThis is really yummy! And tempting at the same time! I wanna grab it from my screen lol.
Nikki Wayne says
August 10, 2016 at 9:41 amWow, I want this. I am an apple fan nd I am always curious with zucchini.
Kristi says
August 10, 2016 at 10:34 amA great recipe, especially since our apple season is almost here and our zucchini is huge this year… and we have a lot of it!
Ann Bacciaglia says
August 10, 2016 at 11:32 amI have a ton of Zucchini I need to use. This recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I am excited to give it a try.
Amanda Love says
August 10, 2016 at 1:01 pmThis looks so good! It got me craving for some apple pie. I like that you’re adding a healthier twist to your mom’s recipes! That’s an awesome idea!
Yolanda @SeeingItTheirWay.com says
August 10, 2016 at 2:28 pmZucchini is such a flexible vegetable.. Your take on an apple tart sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
kristin says
August 10, 2016 at 4:27 pmYUM!!! I just love that you used zucchini. These would be perfect for fall!
Lisa Joy Thompson says
August 10, 2016 at 4:46 pmThis looks adorable and delicious! I love that these have zucchini in them!
Rosey says
August 10, 2016 at 5:50 pmI like that they’re smaller in size. I think this would be all me for loving it in this house.
Brent Arceneaux says
August 10, 2016 at 6:54 pmThese look healthy AND delicious! Will definitely have to give them a try!
Nicole Escat says
August 10, 2016 at 8:38 pmWow, I haven’t tried zucchini before. I want to make this mini pies, look so yummy.
Tonia Sanders says
August 10, 2016 at 8:38 pmOoooo, these look delicious and cute. I love pie. I haven’t tried to make one yet. I don’t think it would turn out so well.
aziel morte says
August 11, 2016 at 12:17 amWhat a wonderful dessert. I love the size and its cute.
mycraftingworld says
July 7, 2017 at 6:22 amI really like the idea of the small pies. It is just enough to have a treat. I like the idea of adding zucchini. Thank you for the recipe.