This Easy Skillet Apple Pandowdy uses a store-bought puff pastry topping, combined with apples in a butter and brown sugar sauce.
Sometimes, Sundays just need a little something sweet to cap off the weekend. Easy desserts like this Skillet Apple Pandowdy are my answer to that need. Store-bought puff pastry, sliced apples and a quick, sweet brown sugar sauce combine in one skillet, for a delicious, but easy dessert.
Pandowdy is typically make with a pie crust type dough on top, but this version uses store-bought puff pastry, for a quick and easy dessert you can enjoy anytime!
I love the pre-rolled puff pastry sheets and I always keep a box in my freezer. For this pandowdy, just thaw and cut into irregular 1-inch-ish squares and scatter them overtop of a bed of sliced apples. A lovely butter and sugar sauce is poured over top, that blends with the apples for a baked apple kind of taste. Saucy and sweet!
And you don't have to wait for a Sunday to make it! Easy enough to enjoy anytime :)
Cook's Notes for Easy Skillet Apple Pandowdy
While you can use any apples here, you will have the best results with an apple that is recommended for pies. Northern Spies would be the perfect choice. Cortland, Empire, Spartan and Honeycrisp are other good apples for pies, as they hold their shape well.
If your puff pastry looks like it might over-brown before the apples are cooked, simply lay a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over-top for the last part of baking.
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This is the cast-iron pan I used here. I love it and it's a perfect size for desserts like this!
Lodge L5RPL3 8" Round Cast Iron Pan
Easy Skillet Apple Pandowdy
Ingredients
- 1 roll puff pastry (thawed)
Filling:
- 5-6 large apples (cooking/pie apples, peeled and cored)
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp water
- 6 Tbsp white sugar
- 6 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Topping:
- 2 Tbsp white or turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature to low and stir in cinnamon. Keep warm while you prepare the apples.
- Grease an 8-inch round skillet, pan, pie plate (or equivalent sized) pan. Set on a baking sheet and set aside.
- Peel and core apples, then thinly slice. Add to prepared baking pan, filling the pan about 2/3-3/4 full.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut thawed puff pastry into irregular, 1-inch-ish shapes. Scatter about 1/3 of the pastry pieces randomly over top of apples. Slowly pour the sugar mixture over-top, pouring all around the pan to make sure the filling reaches all parts of the pan. Pour slowly so it drips down into the apples and not over the side. Place the remaining pastry pieces on top, overlapping, as necessary and leaving a few small open spots (to allow steam to escape). Sprinkle a bit of sugar on to the top of pastry.
- Place into preheated oven (on baking sheet to catch overflowing juices!) and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350F and continue baking for an addition 35-40 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and pastry is golden brown and puffy. Let stand a few minutes before serving. Lovely served with a dusting of icing sugar and a scoop of ice cream.
Irene says
Made this recently as I had a mix of apples (Cortland, Paazazz & Juici) that needed to be used up. Plus there was one puff pastry left. Used a casserole dish as I didn’t want to clean up an overflow! Turned out great and went well with Praline Caramel ice cream! Delicious!!
Jennifer says
Sounds delicious, Irene! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks :)
Holly says
I made this the other night and it turned out great! Such a tasty way to use up an old bag of apples :) Thanks for sharing! Hoping you come out with a cookbook in the near future!
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Holly! So glad you enjoyed it :)
randi says
This is really nice. I made a smaller version with the leftover puff pastry trimmings from last week's chicken pot pie recipe which we had yesterday. Loved them both!!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it and a perfect use for leftover puff pastry! Thanks :)
Barbara says
I wasn’t sure whether to put the cinnamon in with the dry ingredients. I ended up putting it on the apples and mixing by hand to combine.
This is delicious and easy, the puff pastry sold me. Another SeasonsAndSuppers winner!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed this, Barbara. Thanks! (Also sorry about forgetting to detail the cinnamon to the instructions. I've added it now :)
Yuri says
Oh !!! This is so easy and tasty. And even when I eat Puff Pastry part were some of crispy !! Always I love your recipe ! This time again ! Thank you so much ! Definitely I 'm going to make repeat !
Jennifer says
Thanks Yuri!
Milena says
I never heard of a pandowdy before! This dessert is so much fun and you are right - sooo easy to make. Will definitely be happening in our house.
Jennifer says
Thanks Milena :) It's a very old dessert I think, usually made with pie crust. Maybe to use up scraps?
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I've never heard of a 'pandowdy' before, but I know I'd love it! And puff pastry? Can't beat it....super convenient and I just love how buttery it is :)
Jennifer says
Thanks Dawn :)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Such a cozy fall and winter dessert Jennifer! Love the store-bought puff pastry! I';m always up for making things a bit easier!
Jennifer says
Thanks Mary Ann and yes, makes sweet treats like these so much easier :)
Therese says
Did I read this wrong? You mention simmering the butter, sugars, flour etc twice as if cooking two separate batches?!
Jennifer says
Sorry Therese. Yes, it was in there twice. You only do it once :) I have fixed now. Thanks!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
We love apple pandowdy - and I love that you used puff pastry! I bet it tastes fantastic because it looks great! The perfect weekend treat - pinning ;)
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Tricia ;)