How to Make Apple Roses

Updated: Mar. 20, 2019

Handle the Heat

There's nothing I love more than baked apples covered in cinnamon. Read on to learn how to make beautiful apple roses!

The world’s most beautiful comfort food might be apple roses. It’s the perfect treat—beautiful, buttery and flaky. It’s also surprisingly easy to prepare. You should be able to get your apple roses in the oven in about 20 minutes! Serve with a hearty breakfast casserole or as a Sunday snack.

How to Make Apple Roses

This recipe was developed by Tessa Arias for her blog, Handle the Heat.

Ingredients

2 apples (Pink Lady, Braeburn or Honeycrisp)
Juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 tablespoon flour, for dusting
3 tablespoons apricot or strawberry preserves
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

Step 1: Get organized

Though I’m usually not a good planner, prepping ahead of time makes the process easier. Make sure you have all of the ingredients necessary, and that your puff pastry is at room temp. Grease a muffin tin. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Step 2: Prep your apples

Core the apples. Use a sharp knife or mandoline to cut super-thin slices, but keep in mind that you want the apples to have some red visible on the edge. Toss in the lemon juice to prevent browning. (This trick will keep apples from browning, too.)

Toss apples in the butter, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Microwave the slices for 45 seconds, or until they’re soft enough to mold.

Step 3: Create the apple roses

Apple slices on dough Handle the Heat

Roll out your dough on a lightly floured service. (It should create a 9 by 12-inch rectangle.) Cut into six 2-inch wide strips. In a small bowl, combine the preserves with 2 tablespoons of water. Spread evenly on the dough. Arrange about 10 apple slices lengthwise in a straight line, overlapping slightly, on the dough. (I put mine peel side up to add some red to the roses.)

Folding dough over apple slices Handle the Heat

Fold up the bottom part of the dough and tightly roll the dough to form a rose shape.

Rolling up the apple rose Handle the Heat

Put in a muffin tin. Repeat for all the roses!

Step 4: Bake away

Apple roses in muffin tin Handle the Heat

Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Relax and bask in your greatness for making such a delicious treat. These are best when you dust with powdered sugar and eat them immediately, while they’re still warm!

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