The first time I tried Taco Bell’s Caramel Apple Empanadas was on a late-night food run during college finals week. One bite of that impossibly crispy shell giving way to warm, cinnamon-spiced apples and gooey caramel had me instantly hooked. It became my go-to comfort food through those stressful all-nighters until one day, they simply vanished from the menu. The collective disappointment from fans was palpable—social media flooded with pleas for their return, but Taco Bell remained firm in its decision to discontinue this beloved treat.
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What makes the Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanada so good?
While McDonald’s Apple Pie might be the more famous fast-food pie, Taco Bell created something truly unique with their empanada approach. The key difference lies in the dough – traditional empanada pastry fries up with an unmatched crispness and distinctive texture that’s more substantial than typical pie crust.
What truly set these apart from other apple desserts was the prominent caramel flavor. Rather than letting the apples take center stage alone, Taco Bell created a harmonious blend where the rich, buttery caramel sauce played an equal role, creating a more indulgent, dessert-like experience than your typical apple pie.
Why You’ll Love These Copycat Caramel Apple Empanadas
- Menu Item Revival – Recreate a discontinued favorite that Taco Bell fans have been missing
- Superior Crunch – The authentic empanada dough creates a distinctively crispy exterior that sets these apart from other fried pies
- Perfect Balance – The rich caramel sauce complements the tart apples without overwhelming them
- Portable Treat – These handheld desserts are perfect for on-the-go snacking or packing in lunches
- Customizable – Easy to adapt with additional spices or serving suggestions based on your preferences
Equipment You’ll Need
- Deep, wide pot for frying
- Candy/oil thermometer
- Spider strainer or slotted spoon
- Small saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry brush
- Fork for crimping
- Wire cooling rack
- Baking sheet
- Measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients for Perfect Caramel Apple Empanadas
- Vegetable shortening (for frying) – Creates the perfect frying medium for achieving the signature crispy exterior
- Apple pie filling – Provides the sweet-tart apple flavor and chunky texture that forms the base of the filling
- Water – Helps thin the filling slightly to achieve the perfect consistency
- Caramel sauce – Delivers the rich, buttery caramel flavor that makes these empanadas distinctive
- Powdered sugar – Creates the sweet glaze that adds a beautiful finish and extra layer of sweetness
- Whole milk – Combines with powdered sugar to form a smooth, pourable glaze
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the glaze with subtle aromatic flavor that complements both the apples and caramel
- Goya Empanadas Pastry Dough (1 package of 5-inch discs, frozen) – Provides the authentic empanada texture with its distinctive crunch when fried
How to make Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanadas
To prepare the empanadas for frying:
- Thaw the empanada dough overnight in the fridge.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the apple pie filling, water, and caramel sauce. Cook, stirring often to prevent burning, until the caramel sauce blends with the other ingredients.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
- Melt enough vegetable shortening to cover the bottom of a deep, wide pot by at least three inches. Slowly bring the fat up to 350°F.
- While the fat is heating up, start assembling the empanadas by wetting the outer edge of the raw empanada dough disk with water. Spoon one-and-a-half teaspoons of the apple pie and caramel sauce filling into the disk’s center. Fold the dough over to make a half moon and crimp the edges together with the tines of a fork. Set aside and repeat with the rest of the dough.
To fry the Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanadas:
- Place a wire rack over a baking tray next to the stove.
- Fry empanadas two or three at a time in the hot fat for two minutes per side. Use a slotted spoon or spider to remove the golden brown empanadas and place them on the wire rack to drain.
- Brush the glaze on both sides of the warm empanadas.
- Repeat with the remaining filled empanadas.
- Serve warm.
What to serve them with
While a Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanada is excellent on its own, why not combine it with other Southwest favorites and make it a meal? Here are a few options:
Chicken Fajita Salad. Take all the fixings from your favorite Chicken Fajita recipe and turn them into a fabulous entree salad! This Chicken Fajita Salad features well-seasoned chicken, avocado, sweet corn, red onions, black beans, and ripe tomatoes over a bed of greens. A drizzle of homemade creamy salsa verde dressing completes the dish.
Taco Bell Burrito Supreme. These cheesy beef and bean burritos will fill you up on the cheap. The meat stores well, so you can make a big batch and keep it in the fridge for quick meal prep. Feel free to customize this Taco Bell Burrito Supreme recipe by including guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno peppers, or other pricey Taco Bell add-ons.
Burrito Casserole. This easy-to-make casserole captures the taste of burritos. It is loaded with taco-seasoned ground beef and refried beans rolled in tortillas and topped with a mixture of sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Baked until bubbling, this comforting and economical recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
How to store Caramel Apple Empanadas
Room-temperature Taco Bell Apple Caramel Empanada leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Allow the empanadas to cool to room temperature for longer storage and lay them out on a baking tray. Freeze them solid on the baking tray, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container and keep them in the freezer for up to a month. You can cook caramel apple empanadas frozen.
What is the best way to reheat them?
Preheat the oven to 350°F and heat on a baking tray until hot, about 10 minutes for refrigerated empanadas and 15 minutes for frozen ones.
More Taco Bell copycat recipes
Favorite apple desserts
Check out more of my easy dessert recipes and the best copycat Taco Bell recipes on CopyKat!
Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanada
Taco Bell caramel apple empanada is a tasty dessert you can make at home with this easy copycat recipe.
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Servings: 10
Calories: 305kcal
Ingredients
- 1 package Goya Empanadas Pastry Dough (10 Count)
- 1 21-ounce can apple pie filling
- 2 tablespoons water plus more for sealing the empanadas
- 3 tablespoons caramel sauce
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- vegetable shortening for frying
Instructions
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Thaw the Goya Empanadas.
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In a small saucepan, add apple pie filling, two tablespoons of water, and 3 tablespoons of caramel sauce. Heat over medium heat until the caramel sauce blends in. Then turn off the heat.
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Make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix until the glaze is runny.
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Preheat vegetable shortening to 350 degrees. Heat enough shortening to cover 3 inches deep in a heavy bottomed pot like a Dutch oven.
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Dip your fingers into water and run your finger around the edge of the empanada disk. Spoon about 1 ½ tablespoons of filling into each empanada shell. Then fold over the disk and press the edges of the empanada shell together. Then use a fork to crimp the two edges together.
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Complete this for all 10 disks.
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Fry two or three at a time, for about 2 minutes on each side, remove from the hot shortening, and place onto a wire rack.
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Brush a thin layer of glaze over the empanada while it is hot. Serve immediately.
Notes
Expert Tips for Perfect Empanadas
- Temperature Control: Maintaining your oil at a steady 350°F is crucial. Too hot and the empanadas will burn before cooking through; too cool and they’ll absorb excess oil and become greasy.
- Don’t Overfill: It’s tempting to pack in more filling, but overfilled empanadas may burst during frying. Stick to the 1½ teaspoon measurement for best results.
- Proper Sealing: Press firmly with the fork to ensure the edges are completely sealed. Any gaps will allow the filling to leak into the hot oil, causing splattering and potential burns.
- Glaze While Warm: For the perfect consistency, apply the glaze while the empanadas are still warm but not hot. If you glaze them when they’re too hot, the glaze will run off; too cool, and it won’t adhere properly.
Nutrition
Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.2mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Can I use a different type of dough?
While Goya empanada discs deliver the authentic texture, you can substitute with 5-inch circles cut from refrigerated pie crust in a pinch. The texture will be flakier and less crunchy, but still delicious.
My empanadas are bursting open during frying. What went wrong?
This typically happens when they’re overfilled or not sealed properly. Try using less filling and be sure to press the edges firmly with a fork to create a tight seal.
Can I bake these instead of frying?
Yes! Brush with beaten egg for color and bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. The texture won’t be identical to Taco Bell’s version, but they’ll still be tasty with much less oil.
My glaze is too thick/thin. How do I fix it?
For thick glaze, add a few drops of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
Dietary Modifications and Substitutions
- Vegan Option: Use plant-based pie crust, check that your apple pie filling is vegan, and make the glaze with almond milk and vegan butter.
- Reduced Sugar: Use sugar-free caramel sauce and make a lighter glaze with less powdered sugar.
- Gluten-Free Alternative: Look for gluten-free empanada dough or pie crust (La Fe brand makes a gluten-free version).
- Homemade Filling Option: If you prefer to avoid canned filling, sauté 2 cups of peeled, diced apples with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and a tablespoon of cornstarch until softened, then cool before using.
Scaling the Recipe
- Half Batch: Simply halve all ingredients; you may have some apple filling leftover, which can be used as an ice cream topping.
- Double Batch: Double all ingredients except the oil for frying. You may need to fry in more batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Party Size: For serving a crowd, consider making mini versions using 3-inch circles of dough and about ¾ teaspoon of filling. Reduce frying time to about 1 minute per side.
These copycat Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanadas bring back the magic of this discontinued favorite with their perfectly crispy exterior and sweet-tart filling. While Taco Bell may have moved on, there’s no reason we can’t continue enjoying these delightful treats right at home. Share your empanada-making success stories in the comments below!
