Apple Rose Tarts – A Dessert Fit for a Queen (or just a really hungry guest)
If you want to impress your friends and family with a dessert that looks like it belongs in a French pastry shop but is secretly easy to make, then these Apple Rose Tarts are for you. Legend has it that the first rose-shaped desserts appeared in French patisseries, where bakers aimed to make their creations as beautiful as they were delicious. These little beauties are the perfect mix of rustic charm and high-brow elegance – a little like me on a good day. 🌹
Ingredients:
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4 apples (Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work great), cored and halved (leave the skin on – we’re going for that rosy effect)
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Juice from 1/2 lemon (to keep your roses from turning brown, because no one likes a wilted rose)
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6 tablespoons apricot preserves* (for a touch of sweetness)
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2 sheets of pie crust* (store-bought or homemade if you’re feeling fancy)
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Cinnamon and sugar mixture* (equal parts – because you deserve a little sugar and spice)
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Powdered sugar* (for that finishing snowfall effect)
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Items with asterisks are my personal upgrades to the original recipe – because why not make them a little extra?
Instructions:
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Preheat the Oven: Crank it up to 375°F (190°C).
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Prep the Apples: Use a food processor with a slicing blade or channel your inner samurai with a sharp knife. You want those apple slices to be paper-thin – the thinner, the better for rolling. Toss them in a microwave-safe bowl with enough water to cover and the juice from half a lemon. Microwave for 3 minutes to make the slices pliable (trust me, this is the magic trick).
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Roll Out the Dough: Dust your counter with a little flour and roll out your pie crust sheets into 6 strips, about 3 inches wide. I use a pizza wheel because it’s weirdly satisfying, but a knife works too.
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Get Jammy: Spread a spoonful of apricot preserves down the center of each strip. This is the sticky, sweet glue that will hold your apple slices in place.
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Add the Apples: Lay the softened apple slices along the top half of each dough strip, overlapping them like shingles. Sprinkle with your cinnamon and sugar mixture – this is where the flavor magic happens.
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Roll ‘Em Up: Fold the bottom half of the dough over the base of the apple slices, then roll each strip up tightly into a little rose. Place each rose into a greased muffin tin.
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Bake to Perfection: Pop them in the oven for 35-45 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the apples are beautifully caramelized.
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Make It Snow: Let the tarts cool for 5 minutes, then hit them with a dusting of powdered sugar for that “I’m basically a professional pastry chef” look.
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Serve Like a Boss: Enjoy as is, or if you really want to blow minds, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of warm caramel sauce (recipe coming soon, stay tuned).
Final Thoughts:
Don’t be surprised if your guests ask which Parisian bakery you bought these from. Just give them a mysterious smile and let them wonder. 😉
(Side note: I found this video online and tried the recipe. Here is Tip Hero’s Video. I made some slight alterations to it, but they turned out incredible. Thank you Tip Hero!)
