Go Back
Print
Pastry-Covered Baked Apples
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
 

This delightful pastry-covered apple is a true indulgence, featuring a juicy, baked apple filled with a warm cinnamon-walnut mixture. The rich, spiced filling adds a crunchy texture that pairs beautifully with the soft, tender apple encased in a golden, flaky pastry shell. Top off this earthy dessert with homemade salted caramel sauce.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apples, pastries
Servings: 4
Author: Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
Ingredients
APPLES AND EASY CRUST
  • 4 Apples (small or medium), peeled, partially cored
  • 2-4 crust Make your own crust or buy pre-made frozen crusts. 2 crusts for a thinner apple wrap of 4 apples. Buy a second double crust package to cover extra apples, thicker dough wrapping and leaves.
HOMEMADE DOUBLE CRUST
  • 2-1/2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup Vegetable shorten
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 6 tbsp Unsalted butter, chilled and chopped
  • 1/2 cup Ice water, add teaspoon at a time, as needed
  • 1 egg, for wash
  • 1 tbsp milk, for egg wash
FOR THE FILLING
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp apple pie spice or all-spice
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
Instructions

  1. Whisk salt and flour. Use food processor (or pastry cutter), to combine chilled butter and shortening.

  2. Add ice water one teaspoon at a time, until dough comes together. Pour out onto a flat surface and knead the dough into a soft ball.

  3. Cut into quarters, flatten each section into an oval shape. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least one hour.

  4. Lightly spray or grease a baking dish.

  5. Peel the apples and partially core them. Do not core the apple all the way through. You'll need a base to contain the filling.

  6. Melt the butter for the filling. Combine butter and brown sugar.

  7. Add chopped walnuts (or pecans) and mix. Add all spices and mix thoroughly.

  8. Gently spoon the filling into the center of the cored apple. Press lightly to ensure the cavity is full and tight. Place apples on greased baking dish and refrigerate until ready to wrap in pastry dough.

  9. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  10. Roll out each pastry section into a circle, as flat as possible without tearing. Place single apple in the center and gently drape it over the apple, making sure to cover the entire fruit.

  11. Use excess dough to cut out leaf shapes.

  12. Pinch at the top of the apple to seal the dough. Use hands to gently smooth dough over the apple.

  13. Whisk egg and milk to create a wash. This will give the dessert a lovely brown bake.

  14. Gently brush egg wash over the apple. Use the egg wash to attach dough leaves to the top of the apple.

  15. Bake at 375 degrees for 55-1:05 minutes, or until golden brown. Test the tenderness of the apple with a wooden skewer.

  16. Serve with vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with salted caramel sauce (optional).