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Pastelitos -- Little Fruit Pies (Southwest)

Pastelitos -- Little Fruit Pies (Southwest) Recipe

This recipe was found in the 1986 cookbook, I Hear America Cooking. These "little pies" are a version of those pastries made in Arizona & New Mexico, especially during Pueblo feast days. Preparation time does not include the 30 minutes needed for the dough to chill. Although this recipe can be considered 'Native American' I marked it as 'Southwest' as part of the USA -- After all, we're all Americans!
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southwest
Keyword: < 4 Hours, Dessert, For Large Groups, Fruit, Native American, Nuts, Pie, Southwestern
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 30 squares
Calories: 279.3kcal

Ingredients

FOR THE FILLING

  • 2 cups dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup golden raisin
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped (or pinon nuts)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

FOR THE DOUGH

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 lb unsalted butter
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 cup ice water (more or less)

Instructions

  • FOR THE FILLING: In a saucepan, put apricots in cold water & simmer gently until fruit is soft, about 30 minutes, then drain.
  • In a food processor or blender, puree the apricots, then return the puree to the saucepan, add the brown sugar & cook until puree is very thick, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove puree from heat, then add raisins & nuts, & set aside to cool.
  • FOR THE DOUGH: While the puree is cooling, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder & salt, then cut in the butter & shortening until pea-size pieces form.
  • Add just enough ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to make the flour stick together, then shape into a flattened ball, wrap in plastic & refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • When the dough is ready, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, then cut the flattened ball in half & roll one of the halves out on a GREASED baking sheet.
  • Spread the fruit mixture on top, ALMOST to the edge.
  • Roll out the second half of the dough large enough to cover the fruit mixture, then place it on top, before pressing the edges together all around to seal.
  • In a small container, whisk together the 1/3 cup of sugar & 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, then sprinkle that on top of the prepared pastry. Finally, with the blunt edge of a table knife, mark the pastry into small squares & prick each square with a fork ~ There should be about 30 small squares marked off.
  • Bake about 20 minutes, or until pastry is lightly browned, then cool & cut into the marked squares.

Your Own Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 70g | Calories: 279.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.6g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 13.3g | Saturated Fat: 5.4g | Cholesterol: 16.3mg | Sodium: 146.9mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 23.8g