Upside Down Caramelized Apple Puff Pastry Tarts Recipe
A delightful Upside Down Apple Tart featuring caramelized apple slices over flaky puff pastry, baked to golden perfection and dusted with confectioners' sugar. Perfect served warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pastry and Filling
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed if frozen
- 1 Red Delicious apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1/8 cup (25g) brown sugar
- 1/8 cup (25g) granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- A pinch of salt
- Confectioners sugar, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a round, 9-inch baking pan or oven-proof skillet ready for caramelizing.
- Make Caramel: Melt butter over medium heat in the pan. Stir in brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt until sugars dissolve and mixture bubbles.
- Caramelize Apples: Arrange apple slices tightly in a circular pattern in the pan. Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes until apples are tender and caramelized, taking care not to burn the caramel.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: While apples cook, roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 6 even rectangles.
- Let Apples Cool: Remove caramelized apples from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Assemble Tart: Place a square of puff pastry on a baking sheet, add 4 slices of caramelized apple on top, then cover with another puff pastry square. Press edges down with a fork to seal.
- Bake Tart: Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until puff pastry is golden and puffed.
- Flip and Serve: After cooling for a few minutes, carefully flip the tart onto a plate. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm or at room temperature, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Use a skillet or pan suitable for both stovetop and oven to simplify caramelizing and baking steps.
- Choosing Red Delicious apples provides a mild sweetness; Granny Smith apples can be used for a tarter flavor.
- Handle the caramel carefully as it remains extremely hot after cooking.
- For extra flavor, add a splash of vanilla extract or a sprinkle of nutmeg to the caramel.
- If puff pastry is frozen, thaw it completely before use for best results.
- Puff pastry can be cut into different shapes to customize tart sizes.
