Flaky Apple Pie Recipe With Puff Pastry

Yes, making apple pie with the traditional flaky butter crust is great, but I wanted to share an easier idea for a Flaky Apple Pie Recipe With Puff Pastry. With this process, you get to skip the pie dough step and move right into the filling for easy baking. 

This particular pie recipe is a slab pie recipe with a crumble topping. It is a combination of a slab apple pie and a Dutch apple pie. 

If you love apple pies and are looking for other recipes, what about this apple blueberry pie? Apple cranberry pie is another favorite of mine, especially during the holiday season. 

What is puff pastry?

Puff pastry is a light, flaky pastry made from laminated dough composed of layers of butter or solid fat between layers of dough. The dough is rolled out and then folded over and over again to create multiple layers. During baking, the water in the dough and the butter create steam, causing the pastry to puff and become airy and flaky.

Puff pastry is known for its crisp, buttery layers and is used in both sweet and savory dishes. It's a versatile pastry that can be used for items like croissants, danishes, turnovers, and, as mentioned, alternative pie crusts for recipes like the one you were asking about. In the context of desserts like apple pie, using puff pastry can provide a different texture and flavor compared to a traditional pie crust.

I will use store-bought puff pastry for this particular recipe but know you can also make it homemade if you prefer. 

Ingredients

• Puff pastry sheet- If you are using frozen like I did, be sure to let it thaw before working with it. I like to soften it a little cooler than room temperature to work with it. 
• Apples- I used the same mix I do for all my pies, which is a blend of Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp. They are tart apples and sweet apples- the perfect combination in my mind. 
• Sugar- I am using granulated sugar in the pie filling and brown sugar in the crumble topping. 
• Spices- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. 
• Salt- it won't take much, but makes all the difference in enhancing the flavor. 
• Lemon juice- This will keep the apples from browning. 
• Cornstarch- My preferred thickener. 
• Egg- This is used for the egg wash that is brushed on the edges for that beautiful golden color. 
• All-purpose flour- For the crumble topping
• Butter- Also for the crumble topping and filling. 
• Oats- for the crumble topping.

How to make

• Start by rolling out your puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin. You will want the finished size to be 14 inches by 20 inches. Place this on a piece of parchment paper and move it to your baking sheet. Place in the fridge until you finish rest. 

• Make your crumble topping by combining the flour, brown sugar, and spices. Cut in the butter and blend it until the butter is in small pea-sized pieces. Place this in the fridge as well. 
• Now it is time to make the filling. Peel and slice your apples. Pour the lemon juice over them and mix gently. 

• Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the apple slices. 
• Cook over medium heat in a large skillet for about 10-15 minutes until the apples are JUST SLIGHTLY softened. Don't overdo this, or they will turn to mush when they are baked. 

• Let the mixture cool then pour the apple pie filling into the middle of the puff pastry sheet, leaving about 1 inch all the way around without filling. 
• Top with the crumble topping and brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash using a pastry brush. 

• Move to the oven and bake until the edges of the pastry are golden brown and the apples are tender. 
• You can serve this right away or wait until it has cooled. 
• I highly recommend you top this apple pie with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Tips and tricks

• The puff pastry must stay chilled until it is baking time. You will get the best results if it doesn't get too warm before baking. So, after it is rolled out, make sure and move it to the fridge. 
• The types of apples you use matter. Read in the section below for ideas on which are best. 
• If you don't want to use the crumble topping,  you can also cover the top with the other sheet of puff pastry. Brush egg wash on the bottom edges, sealing the 2 layers together. Press the edges onto each other and crimp with a fork. Cut slits in the top to vent the pie. Then brush the top of the pie with egg wash as well. If you want, you can also sprinkle with raw sugar (demerara sugar) before baking. Bake until it is golden brown.

Type of apples to use for baking apple pies

I recommend a mix of Honeycrisp apples and Granny Smith apples for a perfect apple pie. The Honeycrisp adds sweetness and a juicy texture, while Granny Smith brings a tart balance.

Here are some additional Apple ideas:

1. Braeburn: Offers a sweet and slightly tart flavor with a firm texture that holds up well in baking.
2. Fuji: Sweet and crisp, Fuji apples contribute a pleasant sweetness and maintain their shape during baking.
3. Jonagold: A blend of Jonathan and Golden Delicious, Jonagold combines sweetness with a hint of tartness, making it great for pies.
4. Cortland: These apples are known for their tender, snow-white flesh, making them ideal for pies and baking.
5. Pink Lady: Sweet and slightly tart, Pink Lady apples hold their shape and add a vibrant color to the pie.
6. Gala: Sweet and fragrant, Gala apples bring a mellow sweetness to pies and pair well with other apple varieties.
7. Golden Delicious: Known for their sweet and mellow flavor, Golden Delicious apples add a rich, buttery taste to pies.

Variations on this recipe:

• You can easily make these into hand pies by cutting the puff pastry into 4-inch by 6-inch rectangles. Fill the puff pastry rectangle with the pie filling and bake as directed above. 
• If you have 6-inch pie pans, you can also make this recipe into 3 mini apple pies if you want. Cut the puff pastry dough into 8-inch circles and fit it into your pie pans. Fill and bake as directed above. 
• I love adding chopped walnuts to the apple mixture or in the crumble mixture. Pecans are a close second. They add delicious flavor and texture. 
• You can top these pies with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or just a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

Other apple dessert recipes:

• Pie
• Baked