Fast Food at Home: Desserts

On the third installment of our Fast Food at Home series, recreate popular desserts from fast food restaurants. Below, find the recipes for the McDonald’s Apple Handpie and the Chick-Fil-A Fudgie Brownies. All the ingredients listed below are SNAP-eligible.

Both recipes are budget-friendly alternatives and only require a few ingredients. You will notice that the price comparison is based on purchasing all of the ingredients. Likely you will have some of these on hand, so your actual cost will be less. Be sure to check your kitchen first before going to the store to prevent purchasing duplicates and overspending on food you already have.

Apple Handpies (Copycat from McDonalds)

• 21 ounces apple pie filling store-bought
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 package pie crust (2 crusts) store-bought or homemade
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the egg with milk until combined.
3. Pour apple pie filling into the bowl and mix with cinnamon.
4. Roll out the pie dough to ⅛” thick and using a 4-inch circle cutter (alternative, ⅓ measuring cup or clean cup with 4-inch circumference) cut out 10 circles.
5. Add 1 ½ tablespoons of the apple pie filling to each circle.
6. Brush egg wash around the edges and fold over the dough making a half circle. Use a fork to crimp the edges firmly together. Make two slits on the top of the pie.
7. Brush with the remaining egg wash and bake for 12 minutes.

Breaking Down the Cost

Prices are obtained at the Durham NC Food Lion and Mcdonalds’ Websites. Total cost and serving cost calculated pre-tax.

Fudgie Brownies (Copycat from Chick-fil-A)
Makes 16 brownies.

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 whole large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour well.
2. In a microwave-safe mixing bowl melt together the butter and chocolate chips at 30-second intervals, stirring each time until it is melted and smooth.
3. Add sugar and stir until well combined.
4. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until the eggs are fully incorporated and it is well blended.
5. Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt and mix until just combined.
6. Pour into a prepared 9-inch square baking dish and sprinkle chocolate chunks over the top.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the brownies are set and a tester comes out mostly clean.
8. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before slicing to serve.

Breaking Down the Cost

Prices are obtained at the Durham NC Food Lion and Chick-fil-A  Websites. Total cost and serving cost calculated pre-tax.

Want to learn more about building a food budget for your household? Contact your local County Extension office for more information on upcoming More In My Basket programming. Visit https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/ to find your local office.

The More In My Basket team is available to help individuals and families apply for SNAP/FNS in North Carolina with over-the-phone application assistance. Call the English or Spanish toll-free line to complete an eligibility screening or application today. Additional information and budget-friendly recipes can be found at morefood.org

For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:

Visit: morefood.org

English Toll Free: 1-855-240-1451

Spanish Toll Free: 1-888-382-7105