Delicious & Easy Apple Pie Tacos: The Ultimate Fall Dessert Recipe

Get ready to elevate your fall dessert game with these incredible Apple Pie Tacos! Combining the beloved flavors of classic apple pie with the fun, handheld format of a taco, this recipe creates a truly irresistible and effortlessly delicious treat. Imagine warm, spiced apple pie filling nestled inside crispy, cinnamon-sugar-coated tortillas, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. It’s a decadent twist on tradition that is surprisingly simple to make and guaranteed to become a new family favorite for any occasion.

These dessert tacos are not only a delightful autumnal indulgence but also incredibly easy to prepare, making them perfect for busy weeknights or festive holiday gatherings. They capture the quintessential taste of fall with warm, spiced apples, reminiscent of a classic Apple Pie Recipe, but with a playful and convenient presentation. Crafted with simple, readily available ingredients, this recipe transforms ordinary components into an extraordinary dessert. Whether you’re hosting a large celebration or simply enjoying a cozy evening at home, these Apple Pie Tacos are sure to impress. If you love easy apple desserts, you might also enjoy our popular Air Fryer Apple Fries and our comforting Applesauce Bread.

For those who adore apple-flavored treats, the possibilities are endless! Beyond these delicious tacos, we highly recommend trying our Apple Cider Cupcakes, the rustic charm of an Apple Crostata, or a show-stopping Apple Bundt Cake. Apple desserts are undeniably a staple of fall, bringing warmth and comfort with every bite. Kids especially adore fun apple treats like Caramel Apple Slices and classic Apple Fritters. This particular recipe for apple pie tacos is incredibly versatile; while it shines during the fall season, it’s also a fantastic addition to a themed Taco Tuesday night, offering a sweet conclusion to any meal. The combination of crispy taco shells, luscious apple pie filling, and delightful spices truly makes them a family favorite. For more creative dessert taco ideas, be sure to check out our delicious Pumpkin Pie Tacos.

What are Apple Pie Tacos?

Apple Pie Tacos are a fun and innovative dessert that reimagines the beloved flavors of traditional apple pie in an exciting, edible shell. At its core, it’s a small flour tortilla, usually a street taco size, transformed into a crispy, sweet vessel. This transformation involves coating the tortilla with melted butter and a delightful cinnamon-sugar mixture, then baking it until golden and perfectly crunchy. The result is a unique “dessert taco shell” that is both flavorful and structurally ideal for holding a sweet filling.

Once baked and shaped into its characteristic taco form, the shell is generously filled with a warm, comforting apple pie filling. This filling, often enhanced with a touch of rich caramel sauce, creates a luscious contrast against the crispiness of the tortilla. The blend of sweet, tart apples, warm cinnamon, and buttery, crunchy shell makes for a truly irresistible and indulgent treat. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the classic taste of apple pie with a playful, portable twist, making it a perfect dessert for any season, especially fall gatherings. If you enjoy unique dessert ideas, you might also love our Pumpkin Truffles for another delightful fall treat.

Ingredients

Crafting these delectable Apple Pie Tacos requires a straightforward list of ingredients, divided into components for the taco shells and the luscious filling. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of crispy texture and warm, sweet flavor.

Taco Shells:

• Street Taco Size Flour Tortillas: These smaller tortillas are ideal for creating individual dessert portions, offering the perfect bite-sized experience. Their soft texture allows them to be easily shaped into taco shells when baked.
• Granulated Sugar: A key component of the cinnamon-sugar coating, providing a sweet crispiness to the tortilla shells.
• Ground Cinnamon: This warm spice is essential, infusing the tortillas with that classic apple pie aroma and flavor.
• Butter, Melted: Used to coat the tortillas, butter helps the cinnamon-sugar adhere and ensures the shells crisp up beautifully in the oven, adding a rich, buttery taste.

Filling and Toppings:

• Apple Pie Filling: The star of the show! Canned apple pie filling makes this recipe incredibly quick and convenient. You can opt for a chunky or smoother variety based on your preference.
• Caramel Sauce: A generous amount of caramel sauce is mixed into the apple filling, adding an extra layer of sweetness and a rich, buttery depth that complements the apples beautifully. We love this Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: The perfect accompaniment for serving, a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream melts delightfully over the warm apple filling, creating a luxurious contrast. For an even more homemade touch, try our No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.

The complete, detailed ingredient list, along with precise measurements for this easy Apple Pie Taco recipe, can be found in the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

Variations and Substitutions

One of the best things about Apple Pie Tacos is their versatility! This recipe is incredibly adaptable, allowing you to customize it to your taste, dietary needs, or what you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to experiment with these variations and substitutions to create your unique twist on this delightful dessert.

• Taco Shell Options: While street taco-sized flour tortillas are recommended for their perfect portion size and pliability, you can absolutely use larger flour tortillas and cut them down. If you’re looking for a different texture, consider corn tortillas for a slightly firmer, chewier shell, or even gluten-free tortillas to accommodate dietary restrictions. Just ensure they are thin enough to crisp up properly.
• Seasoning Enhancements: The cinnamon and granulated sugar blend is a classic for a reason, but feel free to get creative. Instead of granulated sugar, you could use brown sugar for a deeper, molasses-like sweetness. For an even richer apple pie flavor, incorporate a homemade or store-bought Easy Apple Pie Spice Blend, which typically includes cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. A pinch of ground ginger or cardamom could also add a delightful warmth.
• Homemade Apple Pie Filling with Your Favorite Apples: If you prefer to make your own apple pie filling from scratch, this recipe is a fantastic opportunity to use your preferred apple varieties. Firm, tart apples like Granny Smith are excellent for holding their shape and providing a tangy counterpoint to the sweetness. Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn apples offer a sweeter flavor and a lovely texture when cooked. A blend of both tart and sweet apples often yields the most complex and delicious results.
• A Zest of Lemon Juice: To brighten the flavors of your apple filling and add a subtle tang, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is a wonderful addition. Not only does it enhance the overall taste, but it also helps prevent any apples from browning if you’re using fresh-cut fruit in your filling. A little lemon zest can also be incorporated for an aromatic boost.
• Alternative Fruit Fillings: Don’t limit yourself to just apples! This dessert taco concept works beautifully with a variety of other fruit pie fillings. Imagine luscious blueberry, sweet peach, tangy cherry, or vibrant strawberry fillings. Each fruit offers its unique flavor profile, allowing you to tailor this dessert to seasonal availability or personal preference. Just swap out the apple pie filling for your chosen fruit filling, and proceed with the rest of the recipe.
• Add Nuts or Oats: For extra texture, consider folding in a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts into the apple filling, or sprinkling them over the top before serving. A touch of quick oats mixed with a little butter and brown sugar can also create a crunchy streusel-like topping.

How to Make Apple Pie Tacos

Creating these delightful Apple Pie Tacos is a straightforward process, broken down into simple steps to ensure perfect results every time. Follow these instructions carefully, and you’ll be enjoying this sweet treat in no time!

• Step 1 – Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for the tortillas to crisp up perfectly and evenly. While the oven heats, you can start preparing the other components.

Step 2. Prepare Cinnamon Sugar & Tortillas: In a shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon, stirring until well mixed. This will be your coating for the taco shells. Next, take your street taco-sized tortillas and gently stab each one 4-5 times with a fork across its surface. This crucial step helps prevent air bubbles from forming during baking, ensuring a flat, crispy, and evenly cooked shell.

Step 3. Coat the Tortillas: Generously coat both sides of each tortilla with the melted butter. A basting brush works wonderfully for this, ensuring an even application. Once buttered, gently press each tortilla into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring both sides are fully coated. Flip and repeat as necessary until every tortilla is beautifully covered in the sweet, spiced blend. This coating is key to the delicious flavor of the taco shells.

Step 4. Bake and Shape the Shells: To create the perfect taco shape, flip a muffin tin upside down. Carefully fold each coated tortilla in half and place it in between the muffin cups of the inverted pan. This clever technique allows the tortillas to bake into a crisp, open taco shape. Bake the tortillas in the preheated oven for 5-6 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they turn golden brown and crispy without burning.

Step 5. Prepare the Apple Filling: While the shells are baking, prepare your apple filling. Pour the canned apple pie filling into a large mixing bowl. If there are any large chunks of apples that you prefer smaller, use a knife or the back of a spoon to cut them into more manageable, bite-sized pieces. Next, pour in half of the caramel sauce and stir thoroughly until the caramel is well combined with the apple filling, ensuring every apple piece is coated in its rich sweetness.

Step 6. Fill and Finish Baking: Carefully remove the baked taco shells from the inverted muffin tin. Using 1-2 spoons, fill each crispy taco shell with the warm apple and caramel mixture. Arrange the filled tacos back on a baking sheet or, if they fit, back into the muffin tin cups (right side up this time). Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes. This final baking step ensures the filling is heated through and the shells achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish.

Step 7. Serve and Enjoy: Once the apple pie tacos are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven. Allow them to cool slightly for 3-5 minutes before arranging them on a serving platter. Serve them warm, topped with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Finish with a drizzle of the remaining caramel sauce over the ice cream and tacos for an extra touch of indulgence. Enjoy this delightful fall dessert!

Expert Tips

Achieving the perfect Apple Pie Taco involves a few simple tricks that can make all the difference. These expert tips will help you create crispy, flavorful shells and a wonderfully warm filling every time.

• Poke Holes in Tortillas to Prevent Bubbles: This might seem like a small detail, but it’s incredibly important. By gently pricking the tortillas 4-5 times with a fork before baking, you create tiny vents. These vents allow steam to escape from the tortilla as it bakes, preventing large air bubbles from forming. The result is a flatter, more uniformly crispy shell that is easier to fill and less prone to breaking.
• Choose the Right Tortilla Size: Street taco-sized tortillas are specifically recommended for this recipe because their smaller diameter makes them ideal for individual dessert portions. They also fold perfectly over the muffin tin cups to form the classic taco shape without being too large or unwieldy. If you can’t find street taco-sized tortillas, don’t worry! You can easily cut larger soft taco-sized tortillas into approximately 4-inch round circles using a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass. Just ensure your cuts are clean for best results.
• Ensure Even Cinnamon and Sugar Coverage: The cinnamon-sugar coating is what gives these dessert tacos their distinctive sweet and spiced flavor. It’s crucial to generously coat both sides of each tortilla with the melted butter first, as this acts as the “glue” for the sugar mixture. Then, firmly press both sides of the buttered tortilla into the cinnamon-sugar. An even and thorough coating ensures maximum flavor and a delightful crispiness across the entire shell.
• Utilize the Muffin Pan for Perfect Taco Shell Shape: The inverted muffin tin trick is ingenious for creating perfectly shaped taco shells. By folding the buttered and sugared tortillas over the space between two muffin cups, they bake into a uniform, open ‘U’ shape. This shape is not only aesthetically pleasing but also makes the tacos much easier to fill and hold. Don’t skip this step, as it significantly contributes to the overall presentation and eating experience.
• Monitor Baking Time Closely: The tortillas bake very quickly, typically in just 5-6 minutes. Due to variations in oven temperatures and tortilla thickness, it’s essential to watch them carefully during this time. You want them to turn a beautiful golden brown and become crisp, but not burnt. A minute too long can turn them from perfectly crispy to overly hard or bitter.
• Cut Large Apple Pie Filling Chunks: Canned apple pie filling can sometimes contain larger chunks of apple. While these are fine in a traditional pie, for a taco, smaller, bite-sized pieces are preferred for easier eating and a better distribution of filling. Before mixing in the caramel sauce, simply use a knife or the edge of a spoon to gently cut any overly large apple pieces into smaller, uniform chunks right in the mixing bowl.
• Avoid Overfilling the Shells: Since these are smaller, individual dessert tacos, it doesn’t take much filling to make them satisfying. Overfilling can lead to a messy eating experience and may cause the delicate shells to break. Aim for about 1-2 tablespoons of filling per taco, ensuring there’s enough space to easily pick them up and enjoy without spillage.
• Allow to Rest Before Serving: After the final bake with the filling, resist the urge to immediately serve the apple pie tacos. Letting them rest for 3-5 minutes allows the filling to set slightly and the shells to firm up a bit more. This brief resting period also makes them safer to handle as the hot filling cools down slightly, preventing burnt mouths and ensuring the structure holds up when picked up.

Topping Ideas

While Apple Pie Tacos are utterly delicious on their own, the right toppings can elevate them to an even more extraordinary dessert experience. The contrast of warm, crisp, and creamy textures, combined with complementary flavors, makes for an unforgettable treat. Here are several fantastic topping ideas to add extra flair and indulgence to your apple pie tacos:

• Classic Whipped Cream: A dollop of light and airy whipped cream is a quintessential topping for any apple dessert. It provides a creamy texture and a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the rich apple filling. You can use store-bought cool whip for convenience, or for an extra special touch, make your own Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe. Consider infusing your whipped cream with a touch of vanilla extract, cinnamon, or even a hint of maple syrup for added flavor.
• Decadent Drizzle of Caramel Sauce: These apple tacos are already enhanced with caramel inside, but an extra drizzle over the top takes them to a new level of deliciousness. The warm, gooey caramel adds a luxurious sweetness and a beautiful sheen. For a gourmet touch, sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt over the caramel for a salted caramel effect. If you’re a chocolate lover, don’t hesitate to substitute or add a chocolate sauce drizzle for a different kind of indulgence. Butterscotch or even a berry compote could also work beautifully.
• Cool Vanilla Ice Cream: Serving warm Apple Pie Tacos with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream is a match made in dessert heaven. The melting ice cream creates a delightful creaminess that contrasts beautifully with the crispy taco shell and warm apple filling. Beyond classic vanilla, consider trying cinnamon-flavored ice cream, pecan praline, or even a spiced apple pie ice cream for an extra layer of flavor. For added crunch and visual appeal, sprinkle some chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds) or a dusting of cinnamon over the ice cream.
• Crunchy Streusel Topping: Mimic the top of an apple crumble by adding a simple streusel. Combine a tablespoon or two of flour, brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, and a small amount of cold butter, then crumble it over the filling before the final bake. This adds a wonderful, buttery crunch.
• Powdered Sugar Dusting: For a simple yet elegant finish, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness and a sophisticated look, reminiscent of traditional French pastries.
• Chopped Nuts: Toasted pecans, walnuts, or even candied almonds can provide a delightful crunch and nutty flavor that complements the apples and caramel beautifully. Sprinkle them generously over the top just before serving.

How to Store Leftovers

To ensure your Apple Pie Tacos remain fresh and delicious, proper storage is key. The best way to store any leftovers is to keep the apple pie filling separate from the crispy taco shells. This crucial step prevents the shells from becoming soggy due to moisture from the filling.

Store the leftover apple pie filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The crispy taco shells should be stored in a separate airtight container at room temperature to maintain their crunch. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, gently reheat the apple filling in the microwave or a small saucepan on the stovetop until warm. The taco shells can be re-crisped in a toaster oven or regular oven at a low temperature (around 300°F or 150°C) for a few minutes until they are warm and crisp again. Then, simply fill the warmed shells with the heated apple mixture and add your favorite toppings for a freshly made experience.

More Easy Apple Desserts

• Apple Cobbler
• Caramel Apple Popcorn
• Apple Pie Cupcakes
• Easy Apple Dumpling Recipe
• Apple Blueberry Pie
• Apple Fries

Now that you have all the tips and tricks, it’s your turn to create this luscious apple pie taco recipe! We are confident that these easy-to-make, incredibly flavorful dessert tacos will become a cherished recipe in your home. Please come back and leave a comment to let us know how much you enjoyed them and what creative toppings you added!