5 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
Confectioners' sugar

FILLING:

1 1/2 c. sweetened applesauce

Cream the butter and sugar together by using an electric mixer set at medium speed. Beat in the egg. Sift the flour and baking powder together and add to the butter mixture, using your fingertips to blend all the ingredients into a dough. Shape into a ball, wrap in wax paper and chill for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. The appelformar are made in muffin tins of 12 cups, each of which 2 or 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Lightly oil or butter the cups. Cut off 1/3 of the dough and set aside.

Divide the remaining dough into 12 pieces and firmly press each piece into the bottom and sides of the cups with your fingers. The dough lining should be about 1/4 inch thick. Fill each pastry cup with 2 tablespoons of applesauce. Now roll out the remaining 1/3 dough to a 1/8 inch thickness and using a 2 or 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter or glass, cut the dough into 12 circles the same diameter as the muffin cups. Moisten the edges of the muffin tops with cold water and pinch them down around the edges of the filled muffins, sealing them completely.

Bake in the center of the oven for 40 minutes. Loosen the muffins, sealing them completely. Bake in the center of the oven for 40 minutes. Loosen the muffins gently with a table knife and let them cool in the cups. Use a narrow spatula or knife to lift them out. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

ALTERNATE FILLING:

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tart cooking apples, peeled, cored & diced finely (about 2 c.)
3/4 c. apricot preserve
Slivered almonds
Confectioners' sugar

Melt butter in an enameled or stainless steel saucepan over moderate oven and add the finely diced apples. Cook 1-2 minutes, shaking the pan to coat the apples in the butter. Line the muffin cups with dough, as above, and filling each almost full with apples. Top each with 1 tablespoon of apricot preserve and a sprinkling of slivered almonds. Cover with the muffin tops and bake as above.