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A close-up of a glazed cinnamon roll topped with crushed nuts, served on a white plate lined with newspaper print, with a fork and sprigs of thyme in the background.
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5 from 2 votes

Rice Paper Apple Pie

I'm not saying this rice paper apple pie is better than traditional apple pie 🥧, but it has a lot going for it: gluten-free, lower calorie, quicker bake time, and cheaper ingredients.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time18 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer recipe, apple dessert, apple recipe
Servings: 1 pie
Author: The Modern Nonna

Equipment

Ingredients

  • â…“ cup water (for cooking the apples) plus more for softening the rice paper
  • 1 large apple (about 2 cups diced) I used Honey-crisp, diced with skin on
  • ground cinnamon to taste
  • 2 teaspoons coconut sugar plus more for topping
  • ÂĽ cup finely chopped walnuts optional
  • 3 sheets rice paper
  • melted butter to brush on top
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the 1/3 cup water, apples, and cinnamon to a pot over high heat. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the apples are soft and the water has fully evaporated.
    A pot containing chopped apples topped with ground cinnamon, sitting on a wooden surface with sunlight casting shadows across the scene.
  • Stir in the coconut sugar and walnuts.
    A spoonful of ground spices is held above a pot containing sautéed chopped onions and vegetables, ready to be added to the mixture. Warm sunlight casts shadows on the wooden surface beneath.
  • Working with one sheet of rice paper at a time, dip it in room temperature water until just softened. Place a wet rice paper wrapper onto a clean work surface. Continue softening the remaining 2 sheets in water and then transfer them to the work surface, overlapping each sheet slightly. Add the apple filling, spreading it evenly.
    A person scoops cooked, diced apples from a white bowl onto a floured wooden surface, with sunlight streaming through a window.
  • Roll the wrappers like one long, skinny burrito: Take the edge of the rice paper that's closest to you and gently roll it over the apple mixture. Fold over the sides and continue to roll until it looks like a rope.
    A person’s hands are unwrapping a long, cylindrical food item covered in plastic wrap on a wooden table. Shelves with baked goods are visible in the blurred background.
  • Now, take one end of the rope and roll it onto itself into a coil.
    A hand with pale pink nail polish arranges a long, coiled sausage and a round sausage on a wooden table in a bakery, with shelves of bread and pastries blurred in the background.
  • Brush with some melted butter and sprinkle on a touch more coconut sugar on top.
    A cinnamon roll dusted with cinnamon sits on a white plate atop a wooden table, with a bakery display of various pastries blurred in the background.
  • Tip: depending on the air-fryer you may need to cook the "pie" for 4-5 min on each side so both sides get crispy.
    A hand is holding an air fryer basket containing a single coiled raw sausage, seasoned with spices, on a black grill tray. The background is a wooden surface illuminated by sunlight.
  • Cook in a 400F air fryer for 8 minutes, or until crispy. Let cool for a minute or two and enjoy right away. Feel free to dust with powdered sugar but keep in mind the crust will soften the longer it sits.
    A close-up of a glazed cinnamon roll topped with crushed nuts, served on a white plate lined with newspaper print, with a fork and sprigs of thyme in the background.

Notes

  • Shaping: Instead of the coil method, you can make individual apple pies by folding each rice paper round one like a packet (just like my pop tart recipe).
  • Soaking: Don’t over-soak the rice paper—5 seconds in room temp water is plenty. Too long and it gets sticky and floppy.
  • Layers: If your rice paper tears or feels too thin, just add another soaked sheet to reinforce.
  • Surface: Use a damp, clean kitchen towel  or cutting board so the rice paper doesn’t stick while rolling.
  • Season to taste: You can adjust the coconut sugar and cinnamon to your taste preferences, adding more or less.  
  • More crispy rice paper recipes: If you love this recipe, you should also check out my recipes for Rice Paper Spanakopita, Burek, and Baklava!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 341mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 134IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg
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