This phyllo apple tart is sweet, fruity and crispy and a quick and easy apple dessert as it start with store-bought phyllo dough! For ultimate enjoyment, serve warm with ice cream.
It’s supposed to snow here today, the first of the season. Snow around Halloween is more the rule than the exception around these parts, but for me, it marks the annual death of the dream – the dream of a winter that starts around Christmas and ends by the first of March. It’s a sport for me, living with that dream every year. I think it’s a Canadian thing ;)
So with that dreamed dashed for another year, I’ll turn to the only thing that winter is good for – ample, quality cooking time! This week I was cooking with phyllo. I made a delicious quiche earlier in the week with a phyllo crust (you’ll find the recipe on the Mushrooms Canada blog early next week!). With half the roll of phyllo left, this frilly fruity tart was born. It’s great for using up left-over phyllo!
(As an aside, phyllo can be re-frozen, as long as it was keep moist while it was thawed. It will also keep (well-wrapped) in the fridge for about 2 weeks. I know this because I googled it a few days ago, but thought I’d share to save you the time, in case you were wondering :)
This apple tart is a quick and easy dessert that’s perfect eaten warm with some vanilla ice cream. Although I baked it up in a pie plate I honestly didn’t think I would be able to slice it as you would a pie. In fact though, I was surprised at how sturdy it ended up being. Nonetheless, I scooped it out with a spoon and plopped it in to to a bowl to enjoy.
If you’re just serving adults, a splash of some booze in the filling would be a nice touch. Rum, brandy, whiskey, calvados – all good choices.
Tips for working with phyllo: Thawing in the refrigerator (in the box) is best. Don’t get your phyllo out of the fridge until you have everything ready to go (melted butter/oven pre-heated) and your filling is cooked and cooled. You can use melted butter or cooking spray between your phyllo layers. Cooking spray is easier, quicker and of course, would have less calories that using butter (but if you’re making a dessert, that is maybe a moot point ;). Be sure to have damp, clean tea towel handy to cover your phyllo while not working with it. Wrap any leftovers well as soon as you’re done and refrigerate or freeze.
Phyllo Apple Tart
Ingredients
For the apple filling:
- 4 Tbsp. butter
- 5 medium apples peeled, cored and sliced in to 1/2 inch slices
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream or a lighter 18 or 10% cream mixed with 2 tsp. of cornstarch
- Optional: splash of rum brandy, whiskey or calvados
For assembly:
- 5-6 sheets phyllo dough thawed
- 2 Tbsp. melted butter
Instructions
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Prepare the filling: Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Cut your peeled apples in to quarters, remove the core, then slice into 1/2-inch slices. Add apple slices to your pan and cook, stirring, until apples are tender. Sprinkle with cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Add brown sugar and cream. Stir to combine. Allow mixture to cook, bubbling, until sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature (or make ahead and refrigerate until ready to assemble).
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To make tart: Preheat oven to 350° F. Melt butter and have a pastry brush ready. Have a damp, clean tea towel handy. Brush your pie plate with a bit of melted butter. Remove thawed phyllo from fridge. Take one full sheet and brush lightly with melted butter. Keep the remaining phyllo covered with damp towel while you aren't working with it. Drape the phyllo sheet over the pie plate. Don't try to press it down at this point, as it may tear. Butter another sheet of phyllo and lay it over the bottom sheet at an angle to the first one. Repeat with a third sheet of phyllo, buttering and then laying it over the pie plate at an angle to the first two. At this point, you should have covered all of the pie plate. If not, add another layer.
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Gently press down in the centre of the pie plate to make a cavity. Using kitchen scissors, trim the excess phyllo to within 1 inch of the edge of the pie plate. Reserve scraps. Add your cooled or refrigerated apple filling to the pie plate. Fold the edges of the phyllo in towards the filling to make a neat edge. Brush with melted butter. Take the reserved phyllo scraps and one piece at a time, scrunch them up and place on top of the filling until the top is covered (you may need to use an additional sheet of buttered phyllo to cover it all). Dap lightly over the scrunched up phyllo with butter. Place pie plate on to a baking sheet and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes. Be sure to watch closely near the end to ensure the phyllo doesn't burn. It should be a lovely over-all golden colour. As the filling is already cooked, you don't need to worry about the apples being cooked. Just be sure the phyllo is cooked and golden.
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Transfer pie plate to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before eating. Lovely served with vanilla ice cream.
Dreaming for snow to begin at Christmas is DEFINITELY a Canadian dream. I remember having so many of my costumes go over my snowsuit as I walked around the streets looking porky instead of cute. Ahhhh well!
I can’t possibly express how much I want to make this. The title alone suits this recipe perfectly! It certainly IS frilly and totally gorgeous! Lovely. Just lovely.
Thanks Katrina! I feel badly for the little trick or treaters tonight. They’ll need to bundle up … and break out the snow boots.
Ugh. Snow. I’m so not ready. But I’m totally ready for this tart. And I think I will now require that every recipe has the word “frilly” in the title. Because it’s so darn cute!!
Thanks Liz and I love that word, too. Just seemed so appropriate here :)
I have to admit it, phyllo dough scares me, but I think I could actually do this, and what a gorgeous texture this tart has. As for the snow, all I can say is, count your blessings, here in Los Angeles we haven’t had a drop of moisture in I don’t know how long, and until today it’s been in the 90s. It’s super hard to get in the holiday spirit!
Thanks Sue. This one is super easy, especially since most of the phyllo gets scrunched up. Honestly, I don’t mind snow. I think I’d just like a little less of it :)
What a pretty fall tart, I love the combination of flaky phyllo and apples!
Thanks Laura. It was perfect together!
SO beautiful Jennifer – it looks so fancy!
Thanks Millie. It may look fancy, but so simple to make!
This tart is absolutely stunning! I just love the texture that the frilly phyllo adds – beautiful!
Thanks Katie. Bakes up lovely and crispy!
I just want to grab one of those toasted phyllo pieces off top and pop it in my mouth! This looks incredible Jennifer – pinned!
Thanks Jessica. That topping might have been my favourite part ;)
Just GORGEOUS! It just snowed here in Michigan, too. I woke up to snow caked to our windowsill and nearly cried. I’m never going to give up on the dream, though. Never.
Thanks so much, Sarah. And yes, Michiganers can definitely relate, too :)
What a pretty dessert! Just love the ripples from the pastry – impressive dessert to serve to guests!
Thanks so much, Jessica. And yes, a lot of pretty for a simple dessert!
I am absolutely in love with this apple tart. So flaky and dreamy! Absolutely gorgeous, Jennifer. Wow! Still around 18C-20C in London but I definitely appreciate our weather after returning from St Petersburg, Russia earlier this week where it was -8C!
Thanks Julia! Yes, we’re not in Russian territory … yet :)
Oh good heavens, this is the prettiest thing I ever did see! And now I know how I’m going to use the phyllo dough languishing in my freezer. I just want to cozy up with a giant slice of this goodness :)
Thanks so much, Amy. Yes, this is the perfect use for your leftover phyllo!
Such a fun spin on a classic tart – and it sounds incredibly good! SO gorgeous too :) Love those flaky phyllo bits on top.
Thanks Alexandra. It was fun to make and delicious!
Gorgeous! I have to say, I am in love with your blog now. :D
Thanks very much!