French Apple Tart

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French apple tart
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A French apple tart is elegance made simple — crisp, buttery pastry topped with tender, caramelized apples that melt in your mouth. Unlike heavy pies, this tart celebrates pure apple flavor with minimal fuss. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or craving a café-style dessert at home, this rustic French treat brings a touch of Parisian charm straight to your kitchen.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Effortlessly Elegant: Looks stunning with minimal effort — perfect for impressing guests.
  • Few Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: Simple pantry staples transform into a bakery-quality dessert.
  • Crisp & Buttery: The puff pastry bakes to golden perfection, contrasting beautifully with soft apples.
  • Versatile & Comforting: Delicious warm with ice cream or cool with a dusting of sugar.
  • Quick to Make: Ready in under 40 minutes, yet tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.

This French apple tart stands out for its caramelized base and light, flaky texture — a timeless dessert that feels indulgent but is refreshingly simple.

Ingredients Needed

French apple tart

For the Tart

  • 1 sheet butter puff pastry (about 25 cm / 10″ square), just thawed
  • 2 large Gala apples (or 3 medium), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (about 0.5 cm thick)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 5 teaspoons caster sugar (or granulated sugar if unavailable)

For Serving

  • Powdered sugar (icing sugar), for dusting (optional but recommended)
  • Vanilla ice cream – the perfect creamy contrast (definitely not optional!)

How to Make French Apple Tart

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Tray

Place a baking tray in the oven and preheat it to 210°C (375°F) or 190°C (fan). Starting with a hot tray helps the tart base crisp up beautifully — no soggy bottom!

Step 2: Create a Sugared Base

Lay a piece of baking parchment on your countertop and sprinkle 3 teaspoons of sugar roughly in the shape of your puff pastry sheet. This forms a subtle caramelized layer underneath once baked.

Step 3: Shape the Pastry

Place the puff pastry sheet directly on the sugared paper. Gently fold the edges inwards by 1 cm (0.4″) to create a raised border — this keeps the buttery juices from running off while baking.

French apple tart

Step 4: Arrange the Apples

Neatly layer the apple slices in three overlapping rows, slightly fanning them out for a classic French bistro look. Don’t worry about perfection — rustic charm is part of the magic.

Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches

Brush the apples and pastry edges generously with melted butter, then sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar evenly over the top. This step ensures a lovely golden sheen and light caramelization.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the tart (still on its parchment) onto your preheated baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are puffed and golden, and the apples are tender with lightly caramelized edges.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Cut the tart into six portions. Dust lightly with icing sugar, and serve warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy coldness against the warm pastry is pure heaven.

French apple tart

Serving and Storage Tips

  • Serving: Best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven, with a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day or refrigerate for 2–3 days.
  • Reheating: Warm in the oven at 160°C (320°F) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispness — avoid microwaving to keep the pastry flaky.

Helpful Notes

  • Apple choice matters: Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp apples balance sweetness and firmness beautifully.
  • Make it your own: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a cozy fall twist.
  • Caramel glaze idea: Brush a light coat of apricot jam over the baked apples for a glossy French patisserie finish.
  • For extra crispiness: Chill the assembled tart for 10 minutes before baking — it helps the butter layers puff better.
French apple tart

French Apple Tart

This elegant French Apple Tart combines buttery puff pastry with tender, caramelized apples for a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is simple. Light, crisp, and perfectly balanced, it’s the ideal treat for any occasion — from dinner parties to cozy afternoons at home. Ready in under 40 minutes, it brings effortless Parisian charm to your kitchen.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 slices
Course: Baking, Dessert
Cuisine: French
Calories: 290
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Tart
  • 1 sheet butter puff pastry about 25 cm / 10″ square, just thawed
  • 2 pieces Gala apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (about 0.5 cm thick)
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 5 tsp caster sugar or granulated sugar
For Serving
  • 1 tbsp powdered sugar (icing sugar) for dusting, optional
  • 3 scoops vanilla ice cream for serving

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Tray — Place a baking tray in the oven and preheat to 210°C (375°F) or 190°C fan. The hot tray helps the pastry crisp beautifully.
  2. Step 2: Create a Sugared Base — Lay baking parchment on the counter and sprinkle 3 teaspoons of sugar roughly in the shape of the puff pastry sheet to create a caramelized base.
  3. Step 3: Shape the Pastry — Place the pastry sheet on the sugared parchment. Fold the edges inward by 1 cm to form a raised border that holds in the juices while baking.
  4. Step 4: Arrange the Apples — Layer the apple slices in three slightly overlapping rows, fanning them out for a rustic French look.
  5. Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches — Brush the apples and pastry edges with melted butter, then sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar evenly on top for caramelization.
  6. Step 6: Bake to Perfection — Slide the tart (on its parchment) onto the preheated tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and the apples are tender with lightly caramelized edges.
  7. Step 7: Serve and Enjoy — Cut into six portions, dust with icing sugar, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream for the perfect contrast of textures and temperatures.

Notes

Use firm apples like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp for the best texture. For a patisserie-style finish, brush warm apricot jam over the apples after baking. You can make this tart gluten-free with high-quality GF puff pastry. To enhance crispiness, chill the tart for 10 minutes before baking.

Conclusion

This French apple tart proves that simplicity can be spectacular. With flaky pastry, buttery-sweet apples, and irresistible caramelized edges, it’s the kind of dessert that turns any meal into a celebration.

If you tried this recipe, leave a comment and a star rating below — I’d love to hear how it turned out! 🍎
And don’t forget to share your beautiful tart on Pinterest or Facebook.
👉 What’s your favorite twist — cinnamon, caramel drizzle, or a touch of honey? Let me know in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use homemade pastry instead of store-bought puff pastry?

Yes! Homemade puff pastry works wonderfully if you have time. Just make sure it’s well chilled before baking for the best rise and flakiness.

Can I make this tart gluten-free?

Absolutely — use a high-quality gluten-free puff pastry (available in most supermarkets). The baking time remains the same.

Can I use a different type of apple?

Of course. Granny Smith apples add tartness, while Fuji or Pink Lady offer a sweeter flavor. Avoid overly soft apples as they can become mushy.

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can assemble the tart up to 4 hours ahead, refrigerate it, and bake just before serving for the freshest results.

Is this tart freezer-friendly?

Yes. Bake first, then cool completely before freezing. Reheat in the oven (not the microwave) until crisp and warm again.