Apple Roses with Puff Pastry and Apricot Preserve Recipe
Apple Roses are an elegant and delicious pastry made from thinly sliced apples rolled in puff pastry to resemble beautiful roses. This recipe uses red apples for vibrant color and apricot preserves to add sweetness and a glossy finish. With a hint of cinnamon and a dusting of powdered sugar, these apple roses make a perfect dessert or sweet treat that is as delightful to look at as it is to eat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
Apples
- 2 red apples (such as Red Delicious)
- Juice of half a lemon
Spread & Flavoring
- 3 tablespoons apricot preserve
- 2 tablespoons water (to thin the preserve)
- Cinnamon, to sprinkle
- Powdered sugar for decorating (optional)
Other
- 1 tablespoon flour, to sprinkle the counter
Instructions
- Thaw Pastry: Allow the puff pastry to thaw at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes until soft enough to work with.
- Prepare Apples: Fill a bowl halfway with water and add the juice of half a lemon to prevent browning. Core the apples and slice them very thinly with the peel on to maintain color. Immediately place the slices into the lemon water.
- Soften Apples: Microwave the apple slices in the lemon water for about 3 minutes to soften slightly so they can bend without breaking. Alternatively, you can simmer them gently on the stove. They should be pliable but not mushy.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Unfold the puff pastry on a clean surface lightly dusted with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle roughly 12 x 9 inches (30 x 22 cm). Cut the pastry into 6 strips about 2 x 9 inches (5 x 22 cm) each.
- Prepare Apricot Glaze: Mix 3 tablespoons of apricot preserve with 2 tablespoons of water and warm in the microwave for about 1 minute or on the stove until spreadable. Spread a thin, even layer over each pastry strip.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and drain the softened apple slices.
- Arrange Apples: Place the apple slices carefully along one edge of each pastry strip, overlapping them so the red skin shows along the top, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Fold and Roll: Fold the bottom edge of the dough strip over the bottom of the apple slices. Starting at one end, gently roll the pastry and apple slices into a rose shape. Press the edge to seal.
- Place in Muffin Tin: Place each rolled rose into a muffin cup. Silicone molds do not require greasing; otherwise, grease and flour the muffin pan to prevent sticking.
- Bake: Bake the apple roses in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through.
- Decorate and Serve: Once cooled slightly, dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use firm yet ripe apples that hold their shape when cooked, such as Red Delicious or Gala.
- Be careful when slicing the apples paper-thin to ensure they can bend without breaking.
- If you do not have a microwave, gently simmer the apple slices in lemon water on the stove to soften.
- For best results, roll the pastry and apples tightly to maintain the rose shape during baking.
- Silicone muffin tins make removing the baked roses easier and do not require greasing.
- For an extra glossy finish, brush the apricot preserve on the roses immediately after baking.
- Powdered sugar decoration is optional but adds a nice touch for presentation.
