Get ready to fall in love with the delightful charm of these simple apple rosettes! These delicate pastries, made by elegantly rolling apple slices in a flaky crust, are as pleasing to the eyes as they are to the taste buds. With its rose-like appearance and a hint of warm cinnamon, apple rosettes are the perfect treat to indulge in on a cozy afternoon or impress your guests with a touch of homemade sweetness.
For other apple desserts, let me share a few of my favorites from the blog.
Ingredients
- Pie dough- You can either use store-bought pie dough or make your own. My favorite pie dough recipe is light, flaky, delicious, and made with healthy whole wheat flour. Alternatively, you can also use puff pastry dough if you prefer.
- Apples- I love using Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, more on this below.
- Granulated sugar- This will be used for rolling and for sprinkling on top.
- Butter- What is an apple dessert without butter? They just seem to go hand-in-hand.
- Lemon juice- you will need this to prevent the apples from browning.
How to make
Slice the apples- Start by slicing the apples thinly, like 1/16 of an inch. The thinner they are, the easier the rosettes are to roll.
Soak and heat the apples- Next up, place your apples in lemon water to prevent browning. Heat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then let them soak until the apples are softened.
Drain the apples- Be sure to drain the apples and pat dry if they need it. You don't want the extra liquid in your rosettes when you are rolling and baking them.
Roll out your pie dough- Roll out the pie dough into 2x12 inches.
Prepare the strips- Brush the pie dough with the melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Layer the apples- layer the apple slices into the pie dough strips.
Roll- Fold over the pie dough and roll from one end to the other. Place the rosettes into a muffin pan.
Prepare for baking- Once they are all rolled and in your pan, brush on more butter and sprinkle with more granulated sugar.
Bake- Bake until the pie dough is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Serve- Once they have cooled for about 7 minutes, remove them from the pan and prepare to serve. More on this below.
What types of apples are best to make apple rosettes?
When it comes to making apple rosettes, both Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples bring their own unique qualities to the table. Honeycrisp apples are known for their sweetness and juiciness, making them a great choice for this delicate pastry. Their natural sweetness adds a lovely flavor profile to the rosettes, providing a pleasant burst of juicy goodness in every bite.
On the other hand, Granny Smith apples offer a tartness that balances the overall taste of apple rosettes. Their crisp texture and slightly sour flavor bring a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the pastry, creating a balance of flavors. The tartness of Granny Smith apples adds a zing that complements the flaky crust and enhances the overall taste experience.
By combining the sweetness of Honeycrisp apples with the tartness of Granny Smith apples, you can create apple rosettes with a perfect balance of flavors, ensuring a delightful and well-rounded treat that will tempt your taste buds.
How to serve the apple rosettes
There are several delightful ways to serve apple rosettes, allowing you to customize your presentation and enhance the overall experience. One simple yet elegant option is to sprinkle them with a dusting of powdered sugar. This adds a touch of sweetness and creates a beautiful, delicate appearance. The powdered sugar not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds a subtle sweetness that complements the natural flavors of the apple rosettes.
If you prefer to enjoy the apple rosettes in their purest form, you can savor them plain. With their flaky crust and tender apple slices, they are delicious and satisfying on their own. Each bite offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, making them a delightful treat for any time of day.
For those looking to take their apple rosettes to the next level of indulgence, serving them with a scoop of ice cream is a heavenly choice. The warm apple rosettes paired with a cold, creamy scoop of ice cream create a delightful contrast of temperatures and textures. The creamy ice cream melts slightly over the warm rosettes, creating a luscious combination that is sure to impress.
Alternatively, serving apple rosettes with a side of pastry cream adds an extra touch of richness and creaminess. The smooth and velvety pastry cream complements the flaky crust and brings an added layer of indulgence to the dessert. It adds a luxurious element that elevates the apple rosettes to a delectable and sophisticated level.
Why put lemon juice on apples?
Using a touch of lemon juice with apple slices is a clever way to keep them from browning without altering their flavor. The mild acidity in lemon juice acts as a natural barrier, preventing the enzymatic browning process and helping the apple slices maintain their fresh appearance. With just a subtle hint of tanginess, the lemon juice ensures that your apple slices stay visually appealing while still allowing the natural sweetness of the apples to shine through. So, with a little lemon juice, you can enjoy beautifully preserved apple slices without compromising their delicious taste.
Tips and tricks
- Be sure to soak apple slices in lemon water. If not, the apples will brown too much and not be pretty in your dessert.
- Be sure to soften the apples before trying to roll them. The water will need to be hot, but not boiling. Then let them sit in the water until they are soft and pliable.
- You can use other types of apples if you like as well. I have used pink lady apples with great success and have heard many others like Golden Delicious too.
- These are delicious served warm, cooled, or even cold.
- The apple rosettes can be stored for up to 4 days in the fridge. Carefully wrap them with plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container.
- If you want to reheat the rosettes, this can be done in the oven or microwave. I heat mine for about 30-45 seconds in the microwave. In the oven, heat them to 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes.
- These can also be made with puff pastry dough for more of a layered, crispy effect.
Simple apple rosettes
Ingredients
- 3 medium Apples I used both Granny Smith and Honeycrisp
- 1 batch pie dough
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Thinly slice your apples. You can leave the peels on or take them off as I did.
- Add them to the water and lemon in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 1-2 minutes. Set the apples aside for 5-10 minutes, until the apples are aoftened.
- Drain the apples and pat dry if needed.
- Preheat the oven. Spray your muffin tin for 10 rosettes. Mix together the cinnamon sugar and set it aside.
- Roll out your pie dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut into 2x12-inch strips. Brush each strip with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
- Layer the apples on 1 half of the pie dough strips. Fold the pie dough over then roll from one end creating the rosette.
- Place gently into the prepared muffin pan and repeat the process until you have made all the rosettes.
- Brush them with the remaining butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. The pie dough should golden brown and the apples should be tender all the way through.
- Gently remove the rosettes and serve them as you like!
Notes
- Be sure to soak apple slices in lemon water. If not, the apples will brown too much and not be pretty in your dessert.
- Be sure to soften the apples before trying to roll them. The water will need to be hot, but not boiling. Then let them sit in the water until they are soft and pliable.
- You can use other types of apples if you like as well. I have used pink lady apples with great success and have heard many others like golden delicious too.
- These are delicious served warm, cooled, or even cold.
- The apple rosettes can be stored for up to 4 days in the fridge. Carefully wrap them with plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container.
- If you want to reheat the rosettes, this can be done in the oven or microwave. I heat mine for about 30-45 seconds in the microwave. In the oven, heat them to 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!