Description
This delightful Puff Pastry Apple Tart combines thinly sliced apples tossed in warm spices with a flaky, golden puff pastry base. Sweetened with brown sugar and enhanced with vanilla and a hint of nutmeg, it’s brushed with butter and optionally drizzled with honey for extra sweetness. Perfect as a quick, impressive dessert or elegant snack, this tart is easy to assemble and bakes to golden perfection in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 3 small/medium apples, peeled and sliced thin
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (for tossing apples)
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing border)
- 2 tablespoons honey (optional, for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the tart.
- Prepare Apple Mixture: Peel and thinly slice the apples. In a bowl, toss the slices with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt until they are evenly coated.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the thawed puff pastry on the sheet and score a 1-inch border around the edges using a sharp knife—do not cut all the way through, just enough to create a border that will puff up during baking.
- Dock Pastry Center: Using a fork, poke holes in the center section inside the scored border to prevent the center from puffing too much during baking. Brush the border with the remaining tablespoon of melted butter.
- Arrange Apples: Evenly arrange the apple slices over the center area of the puff pastry within the scored border. You can arrange them in neat rows or any pattern you like for a pretty presentation.
- Bake: Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry edges are golden brown and puffed. Start checking at 15 minutes and then monitor closely every 2 minutes to avoid over-baking.
- Add Honey (Optional) and Serve: Remove the tart from the oven and, while still warm, gently brush the apple slices with honey (microwave the honey for about 15 seconds to thin it if desired). Let the tart cool for a few minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best texture.
- If you don’t have vanilla extract, you can omit it or replace with a pinch of vanilla powder.
- The honey glaze adds a lovely shine and extra sweetness but is optional.
- Ensure the puff pastry is fully thawed for easy handling and best puff.
- Serve the tart slightly warm or at room temperature, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
