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.
This apple puff pastry dessert is perfect for Thanksgiving brunch or dinner.
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. Or how about apple puff pastry roses? An elegant dessert for any special occasion.
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 homemade fried apple tarts can be found at the bottom of this post.
Nothing beats fresh apples in season. My mind keeps telling me to make muffins, coffee cakes, 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.
If you love scones, this recipe for apple cranberry scones is calling your name. Pair it with a latte for a delicious fall treat.
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.
Puff Pastry Apple Tarts Ingredients
Super easy to find ingredients. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- 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 pairing 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, but 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 of the filling in those famous fried apple pies!
This pan-fried apple pie filling is 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.
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.
Fig Muffins and 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.
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Fried 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 teaspoon 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!!
Cricket Plunkett
Love that you made these individuals, perfect for parties!
Chef G
Yes they are.
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
Oh goodness! These look to die for- love the idea of using puff pastry..totally trying this!
Chef G
Puff pastry is so much fun.
J @ Bless Her Heart Y'all
Oh wow! These little tarts look perfect for fall! So adorable!
Chef G
Thanks so much. We really enjoy them.
Platter Talk
These are soooo cute & a good idea, too. I’d rater have a small bite of all the desserts at holiday time.
Chef G
I agree…I hardly have room left when it comes to dessert.
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
Love these, such a great apple dessert and cute leaf decoration!
Chef G
Thanks…they were fun to make.
The Food Hunter
I love apple season and this looks like a delicious way to celebrate.
Chef G
It really is.
Jeannette
This is perfect to use up the apples at home! Love how you’ve suggested that we use a thicker crust to make it less mushy. Great tip!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I love making these apple tarts. They look so pretty too.
Jen | baked by an Introvert
The little tarts are so cute and easily devoured!
Chef G
Yes..they disappear quickly.
Pamela Still Dating My Spouse
Oh I need to try these. Thank you for this recipe.
Chef G
They are so delicious…give them a try.
Erin @ Stay at Home Yogi
Okay these just look divine! I’d almost want to eat all of the apples straight out of the pan before making the tarts though! 😉
Chef G
HAHAH…yup I agree…I did sample it a few times.
Cynthia
I love these little bites of deliciousness! We have 5 apple trees in our yard, so I am always on the lookout for apple recipes. I have to agree with the wasps – at times they make it hard to pick up our apples.
Chef G
Wasps really know how to spoil a party!!
Jennifer B
Wow these look so good! I love anything with apples so will be trying this recipe soon.
Chef G
Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Star Traci
These look so yummy. I think the neighbors will be over everyday! I would. 🙂
Tracu
Chef G
HAHA…well it’s a possibility for sure.
Rebecca Bryant
Next to pumpkin anything apple is my favorite. This are so delicious looking and OMG those little leaves are the perfect touch.
Chef G
Thanks so much…they were fun to make. Yes pumpkin rocks too!!
Ashley @Irishred02
This looks amazing. I love apple pie and these little bites are right up my alley!
Chef G
Cute and delicious.
Julia (@imagelicious)
Great dessert, Gloria! I love those adorable tiny leaf cutouts on top. Fried apples are also some of my favourite things. I like how you made this dessert in individual portions – perfect for sharing.
Chef G
Yes…and sharing we will be doing.