Over the long weekend I headed to San Francisco to shop the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. I was on the hunt for apples and found some gorgeous heirloom varieties from a Sonoma county orchard that were just meant for a tart. This tart, in fact.
The apples shine here, topped with a sprinkle of sugar and dots of butter; a quick maple syrup glaze gives the fruit a glistening finish (Confession: I don’t recall the exact apple I used, but pick a firm variety with a good sweet-tart balance; with so few ingredients, you want the best apples you can find). I made my own quick puff pastry in the food processor but feel free to pick up a package at the store to save time. This quick and delicious tart is an easy yet impressive dessert for a weeknight or even a dinner party.
Yield:
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PinIngredients
Quick Puff Pastry
- 1 1/4 cups cold unsalted butter, divided
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup cold water
Filling
- 3 medium apples, peeled and cored
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
Instructions
- For the puff pastry, cut 1 cup butter into small cubes; cut remaining 1/4 cup butter into thin slices. Chill butter cubes and slices in the freezer for 15 minutes. Place flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add chilled butter slices and pulse to combine; add cubed butter and pulse 3 times to incorporate. Add 1/3 cup cold water and pulse once; add remaining water and pulse twice.
- Scrape dough out onto floured board. Lightly flour dough and shape into a cylinder; press dough to flatten into a rectangle. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out dough to a 10 by 20-inch rectangle. Fold the dough like a letter: Start at the bottom of dough and fold bottom third up, then fold upper third of dough over it to make three layers. Turn dough 90 degrees counterclockwise, so the top flap faces right. Roll up dough like a jelly roll; place dough seam-side down. Sprinkle dough lightly with flour and press firmly to form a rectangle. Wrap dough with plastic and refrigerate at least 3 hours, or up to 3 days.
- For the tart, preheat oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 12 ounces puff pastry (1/2 batch) on a floured board and dust dough with flour. Roll out into a 10 by 14-inch rectangle; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to score a 1/2-inch rectangular border (do not cut through dough); dock inner rectangle with a fork. Chill in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Slice apples 1/8-inch thick and layer over chilled pastry. Sprinkle with sugar and dot with butter. Bake for 23 to 24 minutes, until golden. Transfer to a wire rack. Warm maple syrup briefly (10 seconds in the microwave) and drizzle over tart, then return to oven and bake another 5 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
Wrap remaining 12 ounces of puff pastry with plastic and freeze for later use. Puff pastry from Martha Stewart.
Nutrition
- Calories: 220
30 comments
Love this and especially loving the quick puff pastry recipe! I’ll be trying that soon. Beautiful!
Wow, you made your own puff pastry?! You are amazing, Laura! love this!
I have a similar tart coming up in a few weeks…I am so glad for the arrival of apple season and all the amazing desserts that come with it! Your tart is terrific!!!
Stop!!! This looks so delicious. I’ve been craving fall pears and maple is the most perfect combination!
This is the perfect way to welcome autumn… And all the gorgeous apples! So impressed that you made your own puff pastry!
This is a beautiful tart!! I’m so very impressed you made your own puff pastry. I will definitely have to give that a go!
Simple, beautiful and I be delicious. Perfect for autumn with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This is just the sort of thing I love… delicious!
We went to a local farm to pick tomatoes and we also came home with the most gorgeous and fresh apples. The Maple Apple Tart is just the recipe I need to begin my apple baking!
What a splendid way to usher in September & its early apple harvest!
It is almost apple picking time at our orchard here in New Hampshire. Between the apples and maple syrup, another New Hampshire speciality, I know I will enjoy your tart.
Looks like the perfect fall dessert Laura. I love perusing through a farmers market looking for the perfect apples or carrots or peaches or whatever my whim might be. You made wonderful work from your apple treasure!
Maple + apple = match made in heaven. Love!
Aw, I LOVE ’em! Those slices are super gorgeous!!
Seriously, what a perfect combo and especially for early September! 🙂
I love apple season. By far my favorite fruit to bake with. This tart looks beautiful! Love the maple!
I think this looks like a super impressive dessert! Excited that there aren’t too many ingredients. Maple apple sounds just divine!
Another beautiful creation of yours. Love this and we seriously need to take our kids apple picking soon!
I have never done a quick puff pastry from scratch before! Laura, this is genius! I can’t think of a better way to showcase heirloom apples, whether you can remember their names or not 😉
so excited for apples!!
I’ve never tried a quick puff pastry before! What a beautiful tart!
This tart looks awesome! I adore apples and that maple glaze on top sounds like the perfect way to tie the flavors together!
This tart is a perfect Fall masterpiece. I love simple tarts like this.
My grandmother made something very similar when I was a kid and I hadn’t thought about it for more years than I care to admit. When I saw your photos I thought, “Why haven’t I ever made that?” I will now!
This is my kind of apple treat! So happy that apple season has arrived!
I love that you made a quick puff pastry. Such a gorgeous dessert! Hugs, Terra
A delicious combo! This end of summer tart is marvelous.
Cheers,
Rosa
What an AMAZING tart! I need to head to the ferry building soon – love that place!
You were there too? I was there too! I wish I could run into you by a surprise. Too bad we missed this time… Such a beautiful tart!
I was so excited to read your post – I visited the SF Ferry markets last year & loved it! So much amazing produce. I bought maple syrup today so may just have to make these 🙂