Description
This Puff Pastry Apple Tart is a simple yet elegant dessert featuring thinly sliced apples seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, all nestled on a flaky puff pastry base. Perfect for a quick treat or impressive dessert, it combines the buttery richness of puff pastry with the warm spices and natural sweetness of apples, finished with a glossy honey glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 3 small/medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing border)
Topping (optional)
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the proper temperature for baking the tart.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and slice the apples very thinly. Toss the sliced apples in a small bowl with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt to evenly coat and infuse flavor.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the thawed puff pastry sheet on the parchment. Using a sharp knife, score a one-inch border around the edge of the pastry without cutting all the way through; this helps the edges puff up while keeping the apple juices contained.
- Dock Pastry Center & Brush Border: Poke holes in the center area inside the scored border with a fork to prevent puffing in the middle. Brush the border of the pastry with the remaining tablespoon of melted butter to promote golden browning.
- Arrange Apples: Neatly arrange the seasoned apple slices on the puff pastry inside the scored border. You can lay them in rows or any decorative pattern you prefer.
- Bake Tart: Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes until the edges are golden brown and puffed. Check after 15 minutes and monitor closely every 2 minutes to prevent burning.
- Add Honey Glaze: Remove the tart from the oven and gently brush the apple topping with honey. If desired, microwave the honey for about 15 seconds to thin it slightly for easier brushing.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the tart to cool for several minutes before cutting and serving to let the juices set.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best texture and flavor.
- Thaw puff pastry fully but keep it cold until ready to use to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Scoring the puff pastry border helps create a raised crust and prevents sogginess.
- Adjust spices to taste or add a splash of lemon juice to the apples to balance sweetness if desired.
- Honey glaze is optional but adds a beautiful shiny finish and extra sweetness.
- Serve warm or at room temperature; leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently.
