Puff Pastry Fried Apple Tarts are the perfect little treat. Tender slices of sautéed apples with just the right amount of sweetness, laced with cinnamon and sugar, all in a flaky puff pastry shell.
Southern-fried apples are the perfect comfort food. A wonderful blend of sweet and savoury. The perfect filling for these tarts. These remind me of mini apple pies.

Puff pastry is so easy to work with. While you are at it, give these pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls a try too. The perfect afternoon treat or dessert.
I know Fall is here. Bring on all the apple and pumpkin recipes. Have you tried Smoked Grilled Apples? Such a cool dessert. How about an easy apple pudding recipe?
Need the perfect fruit topping for pancakes, waffles and more. Check out this spiced apple compote recipe.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these easy apple tarts with puff pastry can be found at the bottom of this post.
Nothing beats fresh apples in season. My mind keeps telling me to make muffins, coffee cake, dumplings, pies. Oh yeah, my husband keeps telling me to make apple crisp…like over and over and over again. He probably thinks I don’t hear him. I do, but right now I am choosing to ignore him.
My grandkids are begging for Apple Muffins with Toffee Topping. If you LOVE toffee apples, these will be a sure hit in your house too.
Frying apples is such a great way to prepare them. You can use them in so many delicious ways. They make the perfect apple filling. Use them as a topping in pancakes, waffles and ice cream too.
Let me tell you, these are better than Cracker Barrel skillet fried apples.
For These Puff Pastry Tarts You Will Need:
Super easy to find ingredients, fresh apples and some frozen puff pastry.
- frozen puff pastry
- fresh apples
- butter
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
The flavours of fall are my favourite of all. In fact, I even created a Fall Flavours Apple Salad. Perfect for lunch, or a side dish especially with pork or chicken. Apple Stuffed Squash is a meal all on its own.
Don’t you just love the aroma of apple desserts? The wonderful paring of cinnamon and apples is magical.
With this fried apple dessert you get a double dose of aroma goodness. Once as you fry the apples, and second when you bake the tarts. By the time I am done, not only will my husband smell these as he walks in the door, so will the neighbours since the windows are open. I might get some people wanting to come over for coffee.
Making Fried Apple Tarts
Have you ever made fried apples? So easy and delicious. Think fried apple pies!
Great as a topping on yogurt, ice cream or oatmeal. They are the base of my delicious dutch baby pancakes. Perfectly paired with pork!
- First the filling, cooking the apples.
- Peel and slice apples
- Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet
- Add butter, sugar, and spices, and allow to melt
- Add apples and cook until softened
See, I told you it was easy. I don’t like my fried apples “mushy”, so I make my slices on the thick side. You can adjust the thickness as well as the cooking time. There really isn’t a wrong way.
2. Next, the pastry crust.
- Roll out the puff pastry
- Using a large round cookie cutter, cut out circles
- Place the dough into greased muffin tin
- You can make some cool little cutouts for decoration if you wish.
3. Fill and bake.
- Fill the tart shells with the fried apple filling
- Top with a cute cutout (this is totally optional)
- Bake for about 20 minutes (see the recipe card for complete instructions)
- ENJOY
For the pastry part of this apple recipe, I used store-bought puff pastry. I think it is like using play-doh in the kitchen. If you are really ambitious, my friend Veena has a great recipe for homemade puff pastry.
My apple roses in puff pastry are always a stunning dessert. Great for special occasions.
Apples are such a great ingredient to work with. You can use them in sweet and savory applications. And let’s not forget they are PERFECTLY delicious all on their own.
Apple Fig Muffins and Apple Cottage Cheese Smoothie are just a few of the apple recipes we enjoy.
Best Apples For Making Tarts And Pies
Depending on where you are located, there are LOTS of great options to choose from.
When cooking apples in recipes I prefer apples that stay firm and keep their structure. Unless of course, you are making applesauce.
Ontario has some wonderful apple varieties.
For this apple tarts recipe, I used Cortland my FAVOURITE of all. You could also use:
- Crispin
- Empire
- Idared
- Jonagold
- Northern Spy
- Russet
- Spartan
- Honeycrisp (my second favourite)
Check out your local grocery store for apple varieties from other regions.
- Granny Smith
- Pink Lady
- Jazz
- Braeburn
- Winesap
- Mutsu
FAQ
If you cannot find puff pastry in the freezer section of the grocery store, you can use refrigerated croissant dough. It will puff up when baked.
No you do not. Just place the dough in the muffin tin, fill and bake.
No it is not. Phyllo dough is thin, and bakes up very crisp. Not the rich airy texture of puff pasty.
Apples will last in the freezer for 3-6 months. They may soften a little more. Reheat after thawing.
Now that Fall is here, what tasty apple recipes are you going to make?
Whatever it is, take some time to stop and smell the spices of the season. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea, and bite into one of these Puff Pastry Apple Tarts.
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Apple Tarts with Puff Pastry
Ingredients
For the Shells:
- 1 package of puff pastry (thawed)
For the Apples:
- 4 apples (peeled and sliced)
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoons nutmeg
Instructions
To make the Fried Apples:
- Over medium heat melt butter in a heavy bottomed skillet.
- Add the sugar and spices.
- Let the sugar melt.
- Add the apple slices, stir to coat well.
- Cook for approx. 12 minutes.
- Apples should be soft but not mushy.
- Set aside to cool.
To make the Tarts:
- Preheat oven to 375º F.
- Prepare a tart/muffin pan (I used a 12 cup size pan).
- Slightly roll thawed puff pastry.
- Using a round cutter, cut out discs of dough.
- Place each disc in the pan.
- Evenly divide cooled apples among the shells.
- Top each tart with cutout (optional).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven, and allow to cool in pan.
- Carefully remove tarts from pan, and place on a cooling rack.
- ENJOY!!
Natalie
These apple tarts are not only cute but also look so delicious. Perfect comfort food. Such a treat. I bet my boys would love this. I just saved the recipe and will give this a try. Thanks!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….these apple tarts do not last long in my house.
Jo
Fall dessert doesn’t get easier than this. Loving the puff pastry and fried apples combination. I could eat it all!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love working with puff pastry. These apple tarts are super cute and so tasty.
Daniela
These apples tarts are so precious and cute! Cant wait to make them and love the pics :).
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. These little apple tarts are a hit in my house.
Moop Brown
These tarts look super delicious and tasty. What a perfect fall treat- can’t wait to try!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENOJY….hope you love these fried apple tarts as much as we do.