French Apple Tarts are the simplest of all the desserts to make
With puff pastry, vanilla custard and some apples you can make this bakery style pastry in under an hour!
The raisins are optional for those who absolutely loathe raisins!
But I love them in this classic dessert!
Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is accidentally vegan !
*not sponsored
It’s really easy to turn these French Apple Tarts into a sugar free option
By using monkfruit sugar in the custard and sugar free jam for the glaze it was a simple fix!
The recipe listed below is for traditional full sugar version but you can easily adapt the sugar to one that suits you best!
Check out my article about sugar free baking and decide which sugar substitute is the best for you!
CLICK HERE FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE FRENCH APPLE TARTS
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Notes for Success:
Granny Smith apples are my choice for baking apples but you can use whatever baking apples you love the most!
Cornstarch is a very difficult ingredient to measure consistently with a volume/spoons measure
So while I list both measures below I cannot stress enough how the grams measure with a scale is going to give you the best results.
Many times people have complained that their custard is like rubber and they don’t know why!
The key to a successful flaky puff pastry is to bake at a high temperature.
I used the convection setting on my oven at 400°F which is closer to 425°F on a regular conventional oven setting.
Soaking the raisins in juice or coconut water for about an hour before baking on the tarts will ensure plump juicy raisins versus hard, burnt pebbles!
Just Egg is a great choice for instant egg wash, however it is very pricey and I rarely buy it anymore *not sponsored
Use your favorite egg wash instead!
Helpful Tools for this Project!
French Apple Tarts
Ingredients
- 1 Package Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets
- 2-3 Large Apples *see notes
For the Custard:
- 2¼ cup Plant Mil (540ml)
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar (150g)
- 5 Tbs Cornstarch (40g) *see notes
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (10ml)
- Tumeric for color pinch *optional
other ingredients
- ½ cup Dark Raisins *optional
- ½ cup Juice or coconut water for soaking (177ml)
- ¼ cup Apricot Jelly for glaze *optional
- 2 Tbs Water (30ml)
- 2 Tbs Just Egg 2 Tablespoons *see notes (30ml)
Instructions
- Soak raisins in your choice of liquid for about an hour
- Prepare the custard by whisking the sugar & cornstarch together in a medium sauce pot then add the plant milk & optional tumeric for color, whisking constantly over medium to high heat until it comes to a boil.
- Once it boil for 10 seconds remove from the heat & add the vanilla extract
- Pour the custard into a heatproof container or glass bowl & refrigerate until cold & set.
- Peel & core the apples then slice them into ¼" thick slices
- Preheat the oven to 400°F on convection setting or 425°F on regular setting
- Unfold the 2 sheets of puff pastry & place on a parchment lined sheet pan then cut along the creases making 6 separate rectangles *see video visual
- 2 of the rectangles will become the base to build the french apple tarts & the other 2 rectangles will get cut into 8 equal strips longways equal to the length of the base puff pastry rectangles *see video
- With a small amount of vegan egg wash brush lightly the edges of the puff pastry rectangles then carefully place the strips as a border for each one
- You will end up with 4 rectangles or French apple tarts total
- Spoon the vanilla custard into the center of each rectangle of puff pastry ~careful not to get any on the border strips
- Arrange the apple slices along the custard then sprinkle with the drained, soaked raisins if using
- Brush the entire pastry & the apples with the egg wash & bake immediately in the preheated oven for about 25- 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden browned and puffed up to the max!
- Meanwhile combine the apricot jelly with the water in a small sauce pot &whisk over medium heat until the jelly has melted & it is to a glaze consistency
- Once the French Apple Tarts are finished baking brush them gently with the apricot glaze to seal the fruit & give it a beautiful shine
- Cut each pastry into 4 servings or whatever portion size you like, then serve immediately or store according to the notes section below
Video
Notes
I used the convection setting on my oven at 400°F which is closer to 425°F on a regular conventional oven setting. Soaking the raisins in juice or coconut water for about an hour before baking on the tarts will ensure plump juicy raisins versus hard, burnt pebbles! Just Egg is a great choice for instant egg wash, however it is very pricey and I rarely buy it anymore Use your favorite egg wash instead! Storage French Apple Tarts can be stored at room temperature for up to one day in an airtight container
For longer storage refrigerate wrapped well for up to 1 week~ rewarm in oven or microwave to serve warm