Puff Pastry Apple Tart
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A simple yet impressive dessert simple enough for weeknights, but fancy enough for holidays! This Puff Pastry Apple Tart takes just a few minutes to assemble, and 20 mins to bake!
Look how EASY this Puff Pastry Tart is – I am SO excited to share this recipe with you all! Puff pastry makes a wonderful base (check out this Tomato Tart, too) topped with brown sugar, pecans, apple…. whipped cream – I mean, what’s not to love, right?
This entire dessert was born from necessity. I had unexpected guests arriving for dinner – SOON – so, threw some extra beans in the chili, made cornbread to make it all go further – but had nothing to serve for dessert!
I grabbed some store-bought puff pastry sheets, some apples, and got right to work. With no time to bake an apple pie, this is the next best thing! Top it off with ice cream, serve it warm and you have a winner!
We all love this – it really is perfect for every day AND major holiday celebrations – no one said things had to be complex to be amazing, right?
You could use any kind of apple for this – I just happened to have gala apples on the counter, and some puff pastry in the freezer. I generally always have these items (plus hello, brown sugar and pecans, too!)
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Why you’ll love this
- Quick and Easy. No one needs to slave for hours for this. 20 minutes, and its yours!
- Simple ingredients. Nothing fancy, and nothing difficult. 6 ingredients. BOOM!
Love easy desserts? Try Apple Dumplings, or this Raspberry Pastry Braid, or these Oreo Dirt Pudding Parfaits!
Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead
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Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
How to make this recipe
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
JumpGet prepped. Begin by thawing the frozen puff pastry on your counter. It should take about 20 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or use a stone pan. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F. Core the apples, and cut in half. Cut into slices (they should be fairly thin so they cook all the way through – use a mandolin if you have one).
Prepare the apples. In a large bowl, combine the cinnamon, brown sugar and salt. Add the apple slices and mix well, making sure each slice is covered. Set aside for 5 minutes. Apple juices will form in the bowl.
Assembly. Roll out your puff pastry to the desired size, and using a pizza cutter – cut the edges (to fold over later – see pics) and place it on a baking sheet. Drizzle a little of the liquid from the apples on top, then top with half of the pecans. Arrange the apple slices in even rows, overlapping a little. Top with remaining pecans.
Bake. Bake at 425°F for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges of the pastry are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Devour.
Kylee’s Notes
- Thaw the puff pastry on the counter while you heat the oven, and prep the apples, and we’re in BUSINESS!!
- Cover the pasty while it thaws, it should only take about 20 mins, and should still be cold to touch.
- To get your apple slices perfect and thinly sliced, use a mandolin (affiliate link) if you have one.
- If you are making far ahead, add lemon juice to the apples to prevent them from browning.
- Keep a few chopped pecans handy
for snackingfor topping before serving. You can use a knife, or blitz in the food processor (affiliate link) - Want a variation? Add raisins! Drizzle with a vanilla glaze!
- Make miniature versions: cut the pastry into 6-8 even slices, and top/bake as before.
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Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 2 small apples
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ cup roughly chopped pecans divided
To serve
- whipped cream
- extra cinnamon
- extra pecans
Instructions
- Begin by thawing 1 sheet puff pastry on your counter. It should take about 20 minutes.
- Core 2 small apples, and cut in half. Cut into slices (they should be fairly thin so they cook all the way through – use a mandolin if you have one).
- In a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 cup dark brown sugar and ½ teaspoons salt.
- Add the apple slices and mix well, making sure each slice is covered. Set aside for 5 minutes. Liquid will form in the bowl.
- Roll out your puff pastry to desired size, and using a pizza cutter – cut the edges (to fold over later – see pics)
- Drizzle a little of the liquid from the apples on top, then top with half of the ½ cup roughly chopped pecans.
- Add the apple slices in even rows, overlapping a little.
- Top with remaining ½ cup roughly chopped pecans.
- Bake at 425ÌF for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges are a golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
To serve
- Cut into slices, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with extra cinnamon and extra pecans.
- Devour.
Notes
- Thaw the puff pastry on the counter while you heat the oven, and prep the apples, and we’re in BUSINESS!!
- Cover the pasty while it thaws, it should only take about 20 mins, and should still be cold to touch.
- To get your apple slices perfect and thinly sliced, use a mandolin (affiliate link) if you have one.
- Keep a few chopped pecans handy
for snackingfor topping before serving. You can use a knife, or blitz in the food processor (affiliate link) - Want a variation? Add raisins! Drizzle with a vanilla glaze!
- Make miniature versions: cut the pastry into 6-8 even slices, and top/bake as before.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!Update: This recipe was originally published in November of 2017. It was republished in August of 2021.
About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
What a lovely and simple recipe! I adore apple tarts and this one looks so delicious with the pecans!
Yes!! This has my name written all over it! I need to make it asap!
Such a gorgeous looking recipe..apple tarts are my favorite!!
Apple slices make desserts look so pretty.
What an awesome idea. I love using puff pastry, it is so versatile! Plus it makes desserts so much easier. Apples, cinnamon and brown sugar just remind me of holiday cooking and winter and autumn and all those wonderful things. It’s too bad the boyfriend doesn’t like cooked apples…I guess that means more for me!