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This French Apple Tart recipe is made with a buttery, flaky crust topped with caramelized apples, apricot jam, and cinnamon, all baked to golden brown perfection. I love to make this during fall, when apples are fresh and at their sweetest. It’s quick and easy to make, but will surely impress a crowd!
Why Make Apple Tart
When fall comes around, one of my favorite activities to do is apple picking. Not only is it a fun way to spend the afternoon, I get to go home and make delicious apple recipes like my apple cinnamon cake and apple cider donuts too!
- Classic fall flavors. Enjoy the flavors of sweet apples, maple syrup, and cinnamon for the ultimate fall recipe.
- Elegant but easy dessert. This French recipe is easy to whip up but looks really fancy. It’s a great way to impress your guests without doing a lot of work.
- Make-ahead friendly. Make the tart in advance and freeze it until ready to serve!
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Apples. I used Gala apples, but you can also use Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples.
- Brown sugar. I recommend using brown sugar for a caramel flavor.
- Puff pastry dough. Using puff pastry makes this recipe super convenient. but you can also make your own tart dough from scratch. Some people like to use a pie crust or graham cracker crust. You can also substitute with a gluten-free puff pastry.
- Cinnamon. Adds a warm flavor. You can also use nutmeg.
- Apricot jam. This is the classic jam used for apple tarts, but you can use apple jelly, apricot preserves, or even a light honey glaze.
- Egg. For brushing the pastry edges.
- Salt. Add just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
Steps To Make Easy Apple Tart Recipe
Step One. Preheat the oven to 350º. Whisk cinnamon, sugar, and salt together.
Step Two. Prepare the apples by washing them thoroughly. Slice the apples evenly into thin pieces and set aside.
Step Three. Working one sheet at a time, lightly roll the dough with a rolling pin to smooth it a bit. Cut it into 6 pieces. On a parchment-lined baking sheet or tart pan, place the 6 puff pastries on the baking sheet. Spread 1 tablespoon of apricot jam in the center of each pastry.
Step Four. Sprinkle the sugar mix over the jam, layer the apple slices thinly on top, and finish off with another sprinkle of brown sugar mix. Add the egg in a bowl, whisk, and brush the edges of the puff pastry with the egg. This helps brown the pastry and gives it a beautiful color.
Step Five. Bake the tart in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the edges are golden brown. Place the next batch into the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes again. Let it cool a bit and enjoy. You can serve it warm or at room temperature. Top it with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream for a delicious dessert!
Recipe Tips
- Chill the puff pastry. After cutting them into pieces, place them back in the fridge for about 10 minutes before adding the toppings. This helps the pastry puff up more evenly when baked.
- Warm the apricot jam slightly before spreading it on the pastry to make it easier to apply. This also helps it to soak into the pastry slightly, adding more flavor.
How to Store Apple Tarts
While apple tarts are best enjoyed straight from the oven, you can make these a day ahead. Store them at room temperature and cover with foil. Reheat it in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze them for 2-3 months. If frozen, thaw in the fridge before reheating. Then, reheat it for 5-10 minutes in the oven.
Recipe FAQs
Use a mandoline or a sharp knife to thinly slice the apples evenly. You can arrange them in different patterns. I overlapped each slice slightly on top of each other, you can also do a ring or spiral pattern.
A soggy crust can be due to under-baking the tart shell or having too much moisture in the filling.
Other apple Recipes To Try
If you loved this recipe, you’ll love my other favorite apple desserts:
Breakfast
Apple Spice Muffins
Dessert
Vegan Apple Cake Recipe
Breakfast
Apple Waffles
Dessert
Apple Cider Cupcakes
Apple Tart
Ingredients
- 1 pre-made package of thawed frozen puff pastry
- 2 apples of choice, thinly sliced (I used gala)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup apricot jam
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º. Whisk cinnamon, sugar and salt together.
- Working one sheet at a time, lightly roll the pastry with a rolling pin to smooth it a bit. Cut it into 6 pieces.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet, place the 6 puff pastries on the baking sheet. Spread 1 Tbsp of apricot jam in the center of each pastry. Sprinkle the sugar mix over the jam, layer thinly sliced apples on top and finish off with another sprinkle of brown sugar mix.
- Whisk the egg in a bowl and brush the edges of the puff pastry with the egg, this helps brown the pastry and gives it a beautiful color. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Place the next batch into the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes again. Let it cool a bit and enjoy.
Notes
- Chill the puff pastry. After cutting them into pieces, place them back in the fridge for about 10 minutes before adding the toppings. This helps the pastry puff up more evenly when baked.
- Warm the apricot jam slightly before spreading it on the pastry to make it easier to apply. This also helps it to soak into the pastry slightly, adding more flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
