Stir flour, sugar and salt together in a bowl using spatula.
Add butter and shortening and using a pastry cutter or simply your fingers work it together, until it resembles a coarse meal.
Add 6 tbsp iced water and mix until moist clumps form. Add more water by tsps if desired and until the dough gathers into a ball.
Divide the dough into half. Flatten each piece and wrap in a plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. (At this point, dough can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let it soften to room temp before rolling out)
For filling
Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat oven to 400F.
Mix first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Add apples and toss to combine.
Pulse half of this apple spice mix in a food processor until you have a coarse puree. Keep it aside.
Assembling
Roll out one dough disk on a floured surface to 12 inch round. Using a round cookie cutter and a large bowl or glass, cut circles from the dough.
Place a tbsp or so of that puree on half of those dough circles and then on top put a tbsp or so of apples mixed with spices.
Cover each one of them with another circle and using a fork, pinch the outsides to make a decorative design and so the filling doesn't come out! Repeat with the other dough ball in the same way.
Transfer them to a lined baking sheet and Brush the surface using milk. Sprinkle with generous amount of coarse sugar.
Bake in a preheated 400F oven for 22 - 25 mins or until it's nice and golden brown..
Let it rest for an hour before serving if possible.