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A warm, crispy easy apple tart with puff pastry for the fall. Apple season is upon us! That means lots of cakes, pies, baked apples, and my favorite, the old-fashioned apple tart, which is a simpler alternative to the classic apple pie. Tarts are flaky and light, which makes them the perfect snack for after dinner, or even for a quick on-the-go breakfast. Using our Eastern Shore Raw Honey brings just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the tart apples. We like to use darker honey when baking with honey, and encourage you to try Buckwheat, Autumn, or Bamboo.
What is a Puff Pastry Apple Tart?
The puff pastry apple tart is a delightful dessert that combines the flaky, buttery goodness of puff pastry with the sweetness of tender apples. This dessert is perfect for any occasion, whether it's a family gathering, a dinner party, or a simple weeknight treat. With its ease of preparation and impressive presentation, the puff pastry apple tart is sure to become a favorite among dessert lovers. The best part? You don't have to use homemade puff pastry. You can pick up a frozen puff pastry at the store and let it thaw before making your apple tart. The combination of puff pastry and apples creates a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that is simple irresistible.
The Land of Apples and Honey
It happens every year apple season coincides with the Jewish New Year. During Rosh Hashanah we dip apples into kosher honey to express our hope for a sweet New Year. Apples are a biblical fruit referenced in the old testament. In short, the apple is an ancient rare fruit in the forest and was described as representing Israel.
Growing Apples on the Eastern Shore
Granny Smith apples are the best for cooking, as the tart flavor mellows our a but and lends itself nicely to the sweetness of honey. Other great apples to use for baking include Honeycrisp, and my personal favorite, Pink Lady. These all have a firm, crisp texture and slightly sour taste that will take your baked goods to the next level.
On Chesterhaven Beach Farm we have a bartlet pear grove and two apple groves and plenty of apples of all varieties in the autumn of the year. Picking apples is always great fun. We drive our truck through the high fields of wildflowers and stand on the roof of the truck to get to high-hanging fruit. Late September is a perfect time for an apple tart and apple cake making on the farm.
Replacing Brown Sugar with Honey
When crafting an apple tart, using honey instead of brown sugar elevates both its flavor and benefits. Honey, as a natural sweetener with a lower glycemic index, offers a healthier alternative for those monitoring their blood sugar levels. Its antioxidants can help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, while antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties provide a natural boost to the immune system.
Since it is also rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, calcium, and iron, honey not only nourishes but also enhances the tart's flavor. Its delicate, floral sweetness complements the apples' natural tartness, creating a nuanced and sophisticated taste profile that brown sugar can't achieve.
Did you know that honey is good for your skin?
Equipment For a Puff Pastry Apple Tart
To make a Puff Pastry Apple Tart, you will need the following equipment:
- A baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- A pastry brush
- A sharp knife
- A cutting board
- A bowl for mixing the apple slices with sugar and spices
Having all your ingredients and equipment ready will make the baking process smooth and enjoyable. The combination of lemon juice, honey, apricot jam, and spices will elevate the flavor of the apple slices, while the egg wash will give the puff pastry a beautiful golden brown finish.
Apples and Honey Kosher Lollipops are the perfect fall treat, and make great party favors for Rosh Hashanah!
How to Make an Apple Tart with Puff Pastry
Step 1: Prep Work
Gather all of your ingredients for this recipe. Make sure the frozen puff pastry dough is thawed. You’ll need:
- all purpose flour
- frozen puff pastry, thawed overnight
- Granny Smith apples
- lemon juice
- Bee Inspired Honey
- cinnamon
- egg yolk
- filtered water
- organic coconut oil
- apricot jam/preserves
- Calvados rum (or water)
Peel apples and core. Cut into halves. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and lightly flour your work surface.
Step 2: Prep the Puff Pastry Dough
On your floured work surface, roll out the folded puff pastry sheet to an 8x14 inch rectangle. This will help to create a flaky puff pastry crust. Trim the edges with a sharp knife, and transfer the flat puff pastry to a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet with the puff pastry in the freezer and chill.
Step 3: Prep the Apples
Thinly slice your halved Granny Smith apples into about 1/4 inch thick apple slices. Put the slices in a bowl and add lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon. Toss it all together to mix and coat the apples.
Step 4: Egg Wash
Create an egg wash by whisking the egg yolk with water. Take the puff pastry out of the freezer. Brush the puff pastry with the egg wash.
Step 5: Combine Apples and Puff Pastry
Gently score a boarder around the puff pastry, you want about a 3/4 inch border. Arrange the sliced apples inside the created boarder, and dab everything with coconut oil.
Step 6: Bake
Put your raw puff pastry apple tart in the oven and bake until the puff pastry is golden and apples are tender. This should take about 20-30 minutes.
Step 7: Garnish & Enjoy!
While the apple puff pastry tart is baking in the oven, heat the apricot jam or preserves with rum or water until melted. Take the apple puff pastry tart out of the oven and brush the apples with the apricot jam or preserves glaze. Allow cooling for 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Serving and Storage
The Puff Pastry Apple Tart is best served warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. The contrast of the cold ice cream with the warm tart is simply divine. If you need to store the tart, allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before covering it with plastic wrap and refrigerating it for up to 2 days. The tart can also be frozen for up to 2 months, but it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Note: You can also serve the tart at room temperature, but it’s best to refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. This ensures that every bite is as delicious as the first.
Adapting this Puff Pastry Apple Tart Recipe
This recipe is not perfect until you've added your own touch to it. That's why we encourage you to play with your food. Call to your inner chef to come out and play and change up this recipe. Here are some ideas:
- Try mixing pears with the apples.
- Add raisins or craisins.
- Add in a few crushed candied nuts.
- Serve drizzled with chocolate or cashew cream icing.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce.
- Mix the flavors of apples and blueberries by pairing the puff pastry apple tart with homemade blueberry ice cream.
This puff pastry apple tart recipe would work great as a Rosh Hashanah dessert. Rosh Hashanah Food always involves symbolism. This recipe, featuring apples and honey, would be a very sweet start to your Jewish New Year!
If you decide to make this warm puff pastry apple tart recipe or any other variation that we've suggested or better yet, you very own take, why not take a photo and share it with use using #beeinspiredgoods on instagram. We love seeing your photos!
