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I discovered these gorgeous caramel apple rose tarts in my kitchen last fall and fell in love. The apple slices curl up into the prettiest roses on flaky puff pastry and when you drizzle warm caramel sauce over them they look absolutely magical.
A Show Stopping Sweet Treat
Every time I bring these to a holiday gathering or dinner party people can't believe how beautiful they are. The best part is they're actually pretty simple to make. Trust me if I can do it you definitely can too.
What You'll Need From Your Kitchen
- Apples: I love using Pink Lady or Honeycrisp the red skin makes such pretty roses and they taste amazing when baked.
- Puff Pastry: Grab a couple boxes from your freezer section just remember to thaw them.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark both work perfectly here.
- All-Purpose Flour: Just a bit helps soak up those yummy apple juices.
- Butter: Makes everything better and richer.
- Cinnamon: Adds that cozy warmth we all love.
- Caramel Sauce: The finishing touch that makes these extra special.
Let's Make Some Roses
- Get Your Pastry Ready
- Cut your thawed puff pastry into strips you'll want 12 total. Keep them cool while you work.
- Slice Those Apples
- Quarter and core your apples then slice them super thin. My mandoline is my best friend for this part.
- Create Your Roses
- Layer those pretty apple slices along the top of each pastry strip overlapping them slightly red skin facing out.
- Add Some Sweetness
- Mix up melted butter brown sugar flour and cinnamon into a paste and brush it on the bottom half of your strips.
- Roll and Bake
- Fold your pastry over those apple slices and roll them up. Pop each one in a muffin tin and bake at 400°F until golden about 25 minutes.
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Picking the Right Apples
In my kitchen Pink Lady apples are the stars of this recipe. They keep their shape beautifully while baking and that red skin makes the prettiest roses. Honeycrisp or Fuji work wonderfully too and taste just as delicious.
Rolling Made Easy
Don't stress if some apple slices wiggle out while you're rolling just tuck them back in once you get them in the muffin tin. The thinner you slice your apples the easier they'll roll I promise.
Keeping Them Fresh
These beauties stay fresh for about three days in an airtight container on your counter. Skip the fridge though it makes the pastry lose its lovely crispiness.
Ways to Serve Your Roses
My favorite way to serve these is still warm with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you've got pure heaven on a plate.
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My Best Tips for Perfect Roses
Getting those apple slices paper thin is your secret weapon. If you're slicing by hand take your time and try to keep them even. Any broken pieces can be tucked into your roses nobody will ever know.
Making Your Own Caramel
I love making my own caramel sauce for these tarts. The homemade touch really takes them over the top and it's easier than you might think. Sometimes I add a tiny pinch of salt to make it extra special.
Make These Ahead
When I'm hosting I put these together a few hours before guests arrive and keep them in the fridge. Then I pop them in the oven right before dessert time so everyone gets warm fresh tarts.
Mix Up the Flavors
Sometimes I sprinkle in a bit of nutmeg or cardamom with the cinnamon for something different. I've even made these with pears when apples weren't in season and they turned out gorgeous.
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Perfect for Special Days
I love making these for holiday dinners or when I want to really wow my guests. There's something so special about serving a dessert that looks this fancy but didn't take hours to make.
Why This Recipe Works
These tarts are my go to when I want something that looks impressive but doesn't need professional baking skills. The combination of buttery pastry warm spiced apples and sweet caramel gets me every time.
Getting the Baking Right
A good non stick muffin tin is your best friend for these tarts. Make sure your oven is nice and hot at 400°F before you put them in that's the secret to getting that perfect golden brown color.
Fun for the Whole Family
My kids love helping make these tarts. They're experts at laying out the apple slices now and get so excited watching their roses bloom in the oven. It's become one of our favorite kitchen activities.
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Making Them Gluten Free
I've made these for my gluten free friends using special puff pastry and they turn out just as beautiful. Just make sure all your ingredients are certified gluten free and you're good to go.
Those Beautiful Red Edges
The red apple skins are what make these tarts look so special. I always pick the reddest apples I can find at the store just for that pretty pop of color in the finished roses.
Using Up Extras
If you have any leftover tarts crumble them up over yogurt for breakfast the next day. Sometimes I warm them up and serve them over vanilla ice cream for an extra special dessert.
Your New Favorite Recipe
Once you try making these apple rose tarts you'll see why they're always requested at my gatherings. They're the perfect mix of simple and spectacular and I just know you'll love them as much as I do.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why do the apple slices need to be very thin?
Thin apple slices can bend easily when rolling the pastry, creating the rose effect. Thick slices will break and won't form the proper shape.
- → What if my apples break while rolling?
Don't worry if apples break or pop out during rolling. You can rearrange them once the roll is placed in the muffin tin to maintain the rose appearance.
- → Can I make these ahead of time?
These are best served fresh and warm. If needed, you can prepare the components ahead but assemble and bake just before serving.
- → Why use red apples specifically?
Red apples create the rose-like appearance with their red skin facing outward. They also provide the best visual effect for the finished dessert.
- → What if my puff pastry gets too warm?
If the puff pastry becomes too warm while working, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Cold pastry is easier to work with and will rise better.
Conclusion
These impressive rose-shaped tarts combine thin apple slices with puff pastry and warm spices, finished with caramel sauce. Beautiful and delicious fall dessert.