Pineapple Empanaditas
These miniature empanadas, tender pastry dough wrapped around pineapple filling, are just the right size for afternoon tea.

Ingredients
-
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
-
1/2 cup cornmeal
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
-
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
-
1/2 teaspoon salt
-
2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese, (Neufchatel), cut into small pieces
-
2 tablespoons canola oil
-
4 tablespoons low-fat milk
-
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
-
1/3 cup pineapple or apricot preserves
-
2 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs
-
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)
Directions
1.
Whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add cream cheese and oil and blend with your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture with milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and stir with a fork until the dough just comes together - the mixture will still be a little crumbly. Knead a few times in the bowl, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few more times until the dough comes together. Divide in half and shape into 2 discs. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
2.
Combine pineapple and preserves in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes. Mash the pineapple into smaller chunks with a potato masher or fork. Remove from the heat; stir in breadcrumbs and cinnamon.
3.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
4.
On a well-floured surface, roll out one disc of dough at a time into a 1/8-inch-thick circle. Cut circles of dough using a 3-inch round cookie cutter. Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling scraps as necessary, to make 24 circles.
5.
Place 1 teaspoon pineapple filling in the center of each circle. Fold in half, press edges together and crimp with a fork. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
6.
Bake the empanaditas until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
Tip:
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Refrigerate the dough (Step 1) and filling (Step 2) separately for up to 2 days. Prepare through Step 4 and freeze in a single layer for up to 3 months. Bake frozen empanaditas at 350 degrees F until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. | Equipment: 3-inch round cookie cutter.
Nutrition information
Calories 64, Total Fat 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 84 mg, Carbohydrate 12 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 1 g, Potassium 14 mg. Exchanges: Other Carbohydrate 1, Fat 0.5.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Add Your Review
how-tos
Recommended Recipe:
Cinnamon Churros
These fried cookies are favorites at Mexican restaurants. Roll the warm churros in cinnamon and sugar, then enjoy!
See Recipe

