Description
Delightful Apple Roses made with thinly sliced Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apples baked in buttery, brandy-infused puff pastry. These elegant pastries are perfect for impressing guests or a special dessert, combining tender baked apples with a golden, flaky crust and a touch of sweetness from turbinado sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples and Baking
- 2 Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apples, cored and thinly sliced
- Juice of 1 orange
- Cooking spray
- 1 Tbsp. turbinado sugar
Butter Mixture
- 4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. brandy
Puff Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed if frozen and kept cold in refrigerator
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Coat a standard 12-cup muffin tin generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking during baking.
- Soften the Apples: In a medium bowl, toss the thinly sliced apples with the juice of one orange. Arrange the apple slices on a parchment-lined sheet tray, allowing some overlapping. Bake for about 5 minutes until the apples soften slightly, then remove and let them cool gently.
- Make the Butter Mixture: While the apples bake, mix the softened unsalted butter, packed light brown sugar, and brandy in a small bowl until well combined and smooth.
- Prepare Puff Pastry Strips: Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 strips, each about 10 to 12 inches long, yielding 12 strips total. Spread the butter mixture evenly over each strip using a small spatula.
- Assemble Apple Roses: Lay each strip horizontally in front of you, then carefully arrange 10 to 12 apple slices on top so that the apple skin faces upward and the cut side down. Overlap slices slightly so they extend just beyond the top edge of the strip. Roll the strips tightly to form rose shapes and place each rolled pastry upright into the prepared muffin tin cups to maintain shape during baking.
- Bake the Pastries: Bake the apple roses in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the puff pastry puffs up nicely and turns a golden brown. After baking, sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar for added texture and sweetness, then allow them to cool.
- Make Ahead and Storage: You can prepare apple roses up to 3 days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. The butter mixture can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container; bring it back to room temperature before use.
Notes
- Using tart and firm apples like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp helps maintain shape and flavor during baking.
- Make sure the puff pastry is cold but pliable for easier handling and rolling.
- Be careful to overlap the apple slices so the rose shape holds together well.
- These pastries are best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute brandy with apple juice or omit it entirely.
- You can dust finished apple roses with powdered sugar instead of turbinado sugar for a different look and taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 apple rose
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
