This indulgent yet effortless tart combines tender caramelized apples with crunchy walnuts on a buttery puff pastry base. Simple yet stunning, it celebrates seasonal apples and offers an elegant-dessert crowd-pleaser. Customize with warming spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, then finish with a dusting of icing sugar for visual flair. Whether served after a cozy family dinner or at a festive gathering, this tart evokes comfort and sophistication.

Full Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

• 2 Tbsp sugar

• 1 Tbsp butter

• Juice of 1 lemon

• ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts

• 1 sheet puff pastry

• 1 egg yolk (for glaze)

• ¼ cup almond milk (for brushing)

• Icing sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add apple slices and sugar. Stir to coat.

3. Squeeze in lemon juice, and cook 5–6 minutes until apples begin to soften and lightly caramelize. Remove from heat.

4. Roll puff pastry onto parchment-lined baking sheet, gently flattening the edges to form a border.

5. Spread the caramelized apples evenly in the center of the pastry. Sprinkle walnuts on top.

6. Whisk egg yolk and almond milk, then brush this glaze along the exposed pastry edges.

7. Bake 20–25 minutes, until puff pastry is golden and crisp.

8. Let cool briefly, then dust with icing sugar before slicing and serving.

Preparation Time

• Prep time: 15 minutes

• Cook time: 25 minutes

• Total time: 40 minutes

• Serves: 6–8

Nutritional Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 250 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 30 g

• Protein: 3 g

• Fat: 15 g

• Fiber: 3 g

• Sugar: 15 g

• Sodium: 100 mg

The Origins & Popularity of Apple Tarts

Apple tarts date back to medieval Europe, where apples were abundant and fresh pastry was a special treat. By the 18th and 19th centuries, puff pastry elevated fruit tarts to elegant desserts. The classic French Tarte Tatin, with caramelized apples baked upside-down, is a perfect example. Adding walnuts—an homage to rich European nut desserts—brings texture and depth to this timeless confection. This apple and walnut puff pastry tart is a perfect combination of sweetness, crunch, and buttery goodness. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion, a cozy family dinner, or simply as a weekend treat, it’s sure to impress with its delicious flavor and beautiful presentation. The light and flaky puff pastry provides the perfect base for the caramelized apples, while the walnuts add a satisfying crunch. With easy-to-follow steps and simple ingredients, this tart is sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection. Enjoy this delightful dessert on its own or paired with your favorite topping for a memorable treat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love this apple and walnut puff pastry tart for several reasons. First, it’s incredibly easy to make yet looks and tastes impressive, making it the perfect dessert for any occasion. The puff pastry provides a light, flaky base that contrasts beautifully with the soft, caramelized apples and crunchy walnuts. The sweetness of the apples is perfectly balanced with the richness of the butter and the slight bitterness of the walnuts, creating a harmonious flavor profile.

This tart is also highly customizable—you can adjust the amount of sugar, add your favorite spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or even swap out the walnuts for other nuts like pecans or almonds. The golden, glossy finish from the egg yolk glaze makes it look professionally made, adding a touch of elegance to your dessert table. Whether you’re a beginner baker or an experienced cook, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that anyone can make with ease.

Health Benefits of This Recipe

While this apple and walnut puff pastry tart is a delicious treat, it also offers a number of health benefits thanks to its wholesome ingredients. Apples are a great source of fiber, particularly pectin, which helps with digestion and keeps you feeling full longer. They also provide vitamins A and C, which support immune function and promote healthy skin. The walnuts add healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation.

Puff pastry is typically made with butter, which contains essential fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and E, although it should be consumed in moderation due to its high-fat content. The almond milk used in the glaze provides a dairy-free option with a mild flavor and fewer calories than traditional cream or whole milk. The addition of almond milk instead of regular dairy products makes this tart suitable for those who are lactose intolerant or following a dairy-free diet.

Serving Suggestions

• Top slices with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for richness

• Serve alongside berries for a fresh, vibrant contrast

• Pair with coffee or tea for a cozy brunch vibe

• Present with a cheese platter (brie, goat cheese) for an elegant buffet touch

Tips & Variations

• Work with cold puff pastry for maximum flakiness

• Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the apple filling for warmth

• Replace walnuts with pecans or almonds—or caramelize them for extra indulgence

• Make it vegan by substituting butter with plant-based spread and skipping the egg glaze

• Add other fruit slices (pears, peaches, berries) for a blended fruit tart

Conclusion

This Apple & Walnut Puff Pastry Tart is a delightful blend of flavors and textures—sweet, tart, buttery, crunchy—making it a versatile and stunning dessert. With simple, quality ingredients and an easy method, it’s both impressive and approachable. Whether you’re baking for a quiet evening at home or entertaining guests, this tart embodies comfort and elegance in every slice.

Apple and walnut puff pastry tart is an indulgent yet surprisingly simple dessert that perfectly blends the sweetness of apples with the richness of buttery puff pastry. This easy-to-make tart is a perfect way to highlight seasonal apples, and the added walnuts bring in a satisfying crunch. The use of puff pastry creates a crisp and flaky base that complements the tender apples and crunchy walnuts. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner, a holiday gathering, or just a weekend treat, this apple walnut tart will undoubtedly impress everyone who tries it. It’s also customizable with the addition of spices like cinnamon or nutmeg if you like a little extra warmth in your desserts. Topped with a light dusting of icing sugar, this tart has the perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it the ultimate comfort dessert for any occasion.