Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

for the crust:

1. Combine flour, salt and sugar with a light whisk.
2. Add the shortening. With a dough blender or your hands,work the shortening into the dry ingredients untilit's in pea-size pieces.
3. Add cold water and milk 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and the dough comes together.
4. Gather dough into a ball and then shape it into a flattened round on a floured surface.
5. Divide the crust into 4 sections. Roll out each section to 1/4" thick and use a 5" circle cookie cutter to cut out individual pie crusts. Repeat with each section of the crust until you get 12 -15 individual crusts.
6. Place each individual crust into cupcake tin and push down middle of circle. Push sides of crust to the side of the tin.
7. Make individual pie weights to go in each crust. Cut 6"x6" squares of aluminum foil and place 15-20 dried kidney beans in each one. Bring all four corners of the aluminum foil together above the beans and twist. (Shown below)
8. Bake crusts with pie weights in them for 10-12 minutes.
9. Take pie weights out and put cupcake tin back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
10. Take pie crusts out of cupcake tin and let cool.

for the filling:

1. Peel and chop apples into 1" bite size pieces.
2. Put apples in a medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Place sugar and water into a saucepan over medium low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Dissolve any crystals forming on the side with a wet pastry brush.
4. Once sugar has dissolved increase heat to high.
5. At this point do not stir the mixture directly. Now and then, using the saucepan handle, give the pot a swirl to keep the mixture moving. The mixture will start to bubble after a minute or so.
6. After 3-4 minutes the mixture will turn from a light amber to medium amber and then finally to a dark reddish brown color. Once the mixture starts to smoke, add the butter and heavy cream. The mixture will bubble wildly. Whisk to combine.
7. Add half of the caramel to the the apples and mix until mix until all the apples are completely coated in the caramel.
8. Place individual pie crusts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Fill each individual pie crust with a heaping amount of apples, then add a small amount of caramel on top (use 1/2 of remaining caramel).

for the crumble:

1. In a medium bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and salt.
2. In a small bowl, melt butter.
3. Add melted butter to dry ingredients and mix until ingredients resembles a crumble.
4. Place crumble on top of each individual pie.
5. Bake on sheet pan for 25-30 minutes, and set aside to cool.
6. Once cooled, add a caramel drizzle with the left over caramel.