Description
A delightful and easy-to-make Puff Pastry Apple Tart featuring thinly sliced spiced apples atop a flaky, golden puff pastry crust. This dessert combines warm cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and brown sugar with buttery richness, finished with a honey glaze for a perfect balance of sweet and aromatic flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 3 small/medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (for tossing the apples)
Puff Pastry and Topping
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing the border)
- 2 tablespoons honey (optional, for glazing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the tart.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and slice the apples very thin. In a small bowl, toss the sliced apples with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt until evenly coated.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the thawed puff pastry sheet on the parchment. Using a sharp knife, score a one-inch border around the edges of the pastry without cutting all the way through — this allows the edges to puff and contain the apple juices.
- Dock Pastry: Poke holes with a fork in the center of the puff pastry inside the scored border to prevent blistering and help the center bake evenly.
- Brush Border: Brush the scored border of the puff pastry with the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted butter to enhance browning and flavor.
- Arrange Apples: Arrange the spiced apple slices evenly on the puff pastry within the scored border. You can place them in rows or create a decorative pattern as desired.
- Bake Tart: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the puff pastry edges are puffed up and golden brown. Begin checking at 15 minutes and continue to monitor every 2 minutes to avoid burning.
- Glaze and Serve: Remove the tart from the oven and gently brush the warm apples with honey, microwaving the honey briefly if needed to thin it out. Allow the tart to cool for several minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor and texture.
- To save time, puff pastry can be prepared ahead and kept chilled until ready to use.
- Honey glazing is optional but adds a lovely shine and extra sweetness.
- Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Ensure the puff pastry is fully thawed before scoring and baking for best results.
