Sweet Empanadas Dough Recipe

1. Whisk the flour, kosher salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl,
2. Add the butter. Using your hands or a pastry cutter, work in the butter until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbles.
3. Add 1 egg, sugar, vanilla extract and 4 tablespoons of water.
4. With your clean hands knead the mixture a few times in the bowl just until you can gather the dough together.
5. Transfer the dough to a clean surface and continue to knead the dough adding two tablespoons of water at a time (about 8 to 10 tablespoons total). Note: The dough is ready when it no longer sticks to the counter and it does not look dry.
6. Continue to knead about 3 to 5 minutes; then form dough into a disk, wrap with plastic, and chill for at least 20 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Rolling dough by hand

1. Remove chilled dough from the refrigerator.
2. Divide into 4 equal portions. Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface to about ¼ to ⅛ -inch thickness. Cut out circles of dough about 4-6 inches in diameter.

Using a Tortilla Press

1. Use your hands, a spoon or a medium ice cream scoop to portion the dough into a 2-tablespoon ball (35-40 grams, or about the size of a golf ball), then use your hands to roll the ball until it is nice and round.
2. Place the dough ball between two pieces of plastic in a tortilla press. (I use a ziplock bag)  Then gently press the dough ball until it forms a 4- to 5-inch circle.

Add the filling & baking:

1. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of your preferred filling into the center of the dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling to make a half-moon- shaped pie and crimp the edges of the crust together with a fork, leaving little fork lines in the dough. Gently lay the empanadas onto the prepared baking sheets.
2. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until the empanadas’ edges start to turn golden brown.
3. Immediately dust with the sugar & cinnamon mix if using any.
4. These are best eaten warm and can be reheated in a low oven or microwave for about 12 to 15 seconds.