This Apple Puff Pastry Tart is a simple, delicious dessert that also works beautifully for brunch. Flaky puff pastry topped with cinnamon-sugar apples and finished with a drizzle of honey makes a quick 10-minute prep treat the whole family will love.
This easy puff pastry and apple tart is versatile and fast to make. Crisp, flaky pastry combined with buttery brown sugar apples bakes into a golden tart in about 20 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, or enjoy a slice alongside coffee for a cozy brunch.
If you enjoy quick apple desserts, consider trying other simple favorites like apple crisps, dump cakes, or baked apple donuts.
Why You Will Love This Puff Pastry Apple Tart Recipe:
- Fast and easy prep. A handful of ingredients and minimal effort. Toss sliced apples with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, score the puff pastry border, line with apples, brush the edge, bake and finish with honey.
- Highly adaptable. Add a layer of cream cheese, jam, or apple butter under the apples, drizzle icing, or make smaller individual tarts for parties.
- Perfect for gatherings. This light tart is a great option for brunches, showers, holiday spreads or an easy after-pickings treat to use up extra apples.
Recipe Ingredients:
- Apples: Fuji or Gala work well, but use your favorite. For a tarter flavor, choose Granny Smith.
- Puff pastry: Store-bought sheets (like Pepperidge Farm or similar). If packaging sizes differ, adjust apple quantity or trim pastry as needed.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar, about 1/4 cup.
- Vanilla: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Warm spices: Cinnamon (about 1 1/2 tsp) and a pinch (1/4 tsp) of ground nutmeg.
- Butter: 3 tablespoons melted, divided.
- Egg (optional): For an egg wash if desired; milk, cream or melted butter can be used instead.
- Sea salt: A pinch, optional but recommended to balance sweetness.
- Honey: 1–2 tablespoons for glazing while warm, optional.
How To Make It:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Peel and slice 3 small/medium apples very thin. In a bowl, toss apple slices with 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of sea salt.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and lay a thawed puff pastry sheet on top. Using a sharp knife, score a 1-inch border around the edge without cutting all the way through; poke a few holes in the center with a fork to prevent excessive puffing.
- Brush the border with the remaining tablespoon of melted butter (or use an egg wash, milk or cream if you prefer).
- Arrange the apple slices over the center of the puff pastry. You can place them in rows or fan them decoratively.
- Bake about 20 minutes, or until the edges are puffed and golden. Start checking at 15 minutes and watch closely until done.
- Remove from the oven and gently brush the warm apples with 1–2 tablespoons of honey (warmed briefly if needed to thin). Let the tart cool a few minutes before slicing. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Edge width is flexible. Score a wider border for a puffier rim or a narrower one to fit more apple slices.
- Add a flavored base. Spread cream cheese, fig jam or apple butter on the pastry before arranging apples for extra flavor.
- Adjust for pastry size. If your puff pastry sheet is larger or smaller, change the apple quantity or trim the pastry so the tart looks balanced.
Storage Instructions:
Best enjoyed fresh and warm, but leftovers keep well. Store slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven, air fryer or microwave until warmed through.
To freeze: cool completely, then place in a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen or thaw first and warm gently—texture will be best when freshly baked.
Other Apple Recipes:
Desserts
Apple Crumble Bars
Desserts
Apple Dump Cake
Desserts
No Bake Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Breakfast
Apple Cinnamon Donuts with Apple Cider Glaze
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Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Ingredients
- 3 small/medium apples, peeled and sliced thin
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 3 Tbsp melted butter, divided
- 2 Tbsp honey, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Peel and slice apples very thin. Toss with 2 Tbsp melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and sea salt.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and lay the thawed puff pastry on top. Score a 1-inch border around the perimeter without cutting through. Poke a few holes in the center with a fork.
- Brush the border with the remaining tablespoon of melted butter (or use egg wash, milk or cream).
- Arrange the apple slices over the pastry.
- Bake about 20 minutes until the edges are puffed and golden, checking after 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and brush apples with honey if using. Allow to cool several minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can make the pastry border as wide or narrow as you like.
- Spread jam or cream cheese under the apples for added flavor.
- If your puff pastry sheet is a different size, adjust the amount of apples to fit.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 30 g,
Protein: 2 g,
Fat: 14 g
Nutrition information is an approximation.