When living in Puerto Rico, we used to eat all kinds of pastelillos, more commonly referred to throughout the rest of Latin America as either empanadillas or empanadas (and sometimes pastelitos too). The fillings varied from pastelillos de carne (ground beef empanadas) to pastelillos de cangrejo (crab empanadas), but some of the most unique pastelillos I ate growing up were pastelillos de pizza (pizza empanadas). As a child, the combination of pizza flavors inside the crispy empanada dough made for a pretty awesome snack. When thinking of after-school snacks I could make for my own children now that school is back in session, I knew I had to introduce them to pastelillos de pizza! Plus, they are easy to make with little ingredients required, making pastelillos de pizza an affordable, simple, and delicious after-school snack idea your children are sure to love! Check out the easy recipe below, using ingredients you can find at Walmart.
Pastelillos de Pizza (Pizza Empanadas) – AKA Empanadillas de Pizza {Recipe}
Ingredients
- Empanada discs, 1 package thawed per instructions – Depending on where you live, you may find these in the freezer section with other Latin/Caribbean products. A pack of 10 discs cost me $1.78.
- Pizza sauce
- Pepperoni slices
- Shredded cheese, your preference – I used a 6 cheese Italian blend
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. Line empanada discs on cookie sheet, leaving ample space between each one.
3. Place about 1/2 Tbsp of pizza sauce on center of each empanada disc and spread outward.
4. Then, top with about 2 slices of pepperoni per disc, and a handful of shredded cheese. (Use your discretion so that each disc is not over-filled, but so each empanada has enough filling when eating. Remember the cheese will melt.)
5. Fold each empanada disc half-way to make a half-moon shape and pinch closed with a fork around the edge.
6. Brush each empanada around the edges and over the top with a little olive oil and bake in preheated oven for about 8 minutes, until golden brown. (Note: You can fry your empanadas too, which is how they are traditionally cooked.)
If you want more Latin-inspired after-school snack ideas for the kids, try these recipes too!
- Strawberry & Cream Cheese Pastelitos (Puff Pastries)
- Southwestern Empanadas
- Cuban Pastelitos de Carne
Will you be trying pastelillos de pizza as an after-school snack with your kids? What other easy after-school snacks do your kids like to eat?
All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™
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