This easy apple puff pastry tart is full of sweet, juicy apples baked into a crisp, flaky puff pastry shell. We're keeping this tart very simple by using ready-made puff pastry and just a few pantry ingredients.
If you're looking for more easy apple dessert recipes, look no further than this apple tray bake or this apple and blackberry crumble. This apple crumble cake is always a winner!
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⭐️ Why this recipe works
- Easy to find ingredients: Utilises common ingredients like apples and puff pastry that are available year-round.
- Versatility: Perfect for any occasion, from casual family dinners to festive gatherings.
- Guaranteed delicious results: The combination of crisp, buttery puff pastry, the sweet tartness of Royal Gala apples, and a rich maple butter sauce ensures an incredible dessert every time.
🧾 Ingredients overview
- Puff pastry: Forms the crisp, flaky base of the tart, adding a rich buttery texture.
- Royal Gala apples: Known for their sweet flavour and firm texture, these apples hold up well during baking and provide a perfect balance of sweetness.
- Caster sugar and cinnamon: Work together to enhance the natural sweetness of the apples and add a warm spiciness.
- Lemon juice: Adds brightness and prevents the apples from browning.
- Egg: Used for the egg wash to give the pastry a golden, glossy finish.
- Demerara sugar: Adds a crunchy texture and caramel-like sweetness to the crust.
- Butter, maple syrup, sea salt: Combine to create a luxurious maple butter sauce that complements the tart's flavors.
For precise measurements and additional ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
👩🏻🍳 Here's how to make it
Puff Pastry Apple Tart Step-by-Step
- Prepare the puff pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry into a 9-inch tart tin, prick the base with a fork, and brush with an egg wash.
- Prepare the apple filling: Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Toss with caster sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
- Assemble the tart: Arrange the apple slices on the pastry and fold over the edges. Brush with more egg wash and sprinkle with demerara sugar.
- Bake: Cook in a preheated oven at 200ºC for about 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender.
- Make the maple butter sauce: Melt butter with maple syrup and sea salt, bring to a boil, and then drizzle over the baked tart.
✏️ Tips for working with puff pastry
- Keep It Cold: Puff pastry depends on cold fat to produce flaky layers. Keep the pastry refrigerated until you're ready to use it. If it gets too warm, the butter will melt, which can result in a pastry that becomes tough and dense.
- Thaw Properly: Allow the puff pastry to thaw slowly in the refrigerator, usually overnight. If you’re short on time, you can thaw it at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes until it's just pliable but still cold. Never try to unfold or use puff pastry that’s still frozen as it will likely tear.
- Preheat Your Oven: Make sure your oven is fully preheated to the right temperature before baking puff pastry. A hot oven helps to quickly start the steam production that puffs up the layers. Temperatures are typically high for puff pastry, around 200°C (400°F) or more.
🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
- Fridge: Store the tart in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze slices of the tart on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 180ºC until heated through to maintain the pastry's crispness.
💡 Chef's Guide: Expert Tips
Drawing on a decade of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I have compiled my top tips for recipe success.
- Avoiding a soggy bottom: Ensure the puff pastry is cold when you add the filling and bake in the lower part of your oven.
- Enhancing flavor: Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the apple mixture for extra warmth.
- Perfect presentation: Arrange apple slices in overlapping circles for a visually appealing finish.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Yes! Royal Gala apples are recommended for their sweetness and firm texture; you can use other types, such as Granny Smith for a tart flavour or Honeycrisp for a sweeter taste. Experimenting with different apple varieties can adjust the tart's flavour profile to your liking. You can also try a combination of a few types.
For this recipe, you do not need to pre-bake the puff pastry. However, you should prick the dough with a fork and give it a light egg wash before adding the filling to prevent it from getting soggy.
Absolutely! If you're short on time or prefer the taste, store-bought caramel sauce can be a quick and tasty alternative to the homemade maple butter sauce.
To prevent shrinking, make sure not to stretch the pastry when you're placing it in the tart tin. Also, chilling the shaped pastry in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes before baking can help maintain its shape.
You can prepare the apple filling a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. However, apples will release more juices the longer they sit, so drain any excess liquid before placing them on the pastry to avoid a soggy bottom.
Looking for more apple recipes like this? Try these:
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Puff Pastry Apple Tart Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 6 Royal Gala apples
- 50 g (½ cups) caster (granulated) sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 lemon- juice only
- 1 egg whisked
- 2 tablespoons demerara sugar
For the maple butter sauce
- 60 g (¼ cups) butter
- 75 g (¼ cups) maple syrup
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
Instructions
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
Prepare Apples:
- Peel and core the apples. Slice them thinly and place in a mixing bowl.
- Toss apple slices with caster sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
Prepare Puff Pastry:
- Grease a 9-inch pie or tart tin with butter.
- Lay the thawed puff pastry sheet in the tin, allowing it to overhang the edges slightly. Prick the base with a fork.
- Brush the base with beaten egg to seal the holes.
Assemble the Tart:
- Arrange the apple slices on the pastry in your desired pattern. Trim any excess pastry and roll the edges to form a border.
- Brush the edges with more beaten egg and sprinkle with demerara sugar.
Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Prepare Maple Butter Sauce:
- While the tart bakes, melt the butter in a small saucepan.
- Add the maple syrup and sea salt, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
Serve:
- Allow the tart to cool slightly before drizzling with warm maple butter sauce. Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.
Notes
- Apple Selection: Royal Gala apples are chosen for their sweet flavour and firm texture, but feel free to experiment with other types like Granny Smith for a tart flavour or Honeycrisp for added sweetness.
- Avoiding Soggy Pastry: Allowing the sugar to draw moisture out of the apples before baking helps prevent a soggy bottom. Make sure the pastry base is cold before you add the apples.
- Enhancing Flavor: For an extra flavour boost, mix a pinch of nutmeg or allspice with the cinnamon.
- Serving Suggestion: This tart is best enjoyed warm. If you have leftovers, reheat them in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 10 minutes to crisp up the pastry before serving.
Nutrition
Meet the Chef!
Hi, I'm Debs, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef dedicated to helping you create unforgettable meals on a budget. Discover more about my journey and dive into a world of foolproof recipes designed for those who love to eat well without overspending.
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