Apple Rose Pastry by Wardah of 'The Best of Wardah'

{Ramadan Special} – Apple Rose Pastry by Wardah of ‘Best of Wardah’

The much loved, much appreciated and much adored…..’Joy From Fasting To Feasting – VIII’ has come to end….This 32 day long saga is going to end of sweet note…with a humble promise to return InshaAllah….No celebration is complete….until unless a sweet/dessert is served. So for the finale of the event….we have Wardah Arif of ‘Best of Wardah’. Creative Wardah has some got many feathers in her cap…Apart from cooking and exploring…she loves to paint Ostrich eggs….Custom made….

“Ramadan all over the world is the most spiritual time in the lives of Muslims. In America, though we may be spread far and wide, Muslims still feel a sense of spirituality and community during this blessed month. On this 29th fast, as we all wait anxiously to hear news about the Eid moon, these apple rose pastries are the perfect treat to pop in the oven. When we are blessed with the news of Eid, we can pass them out to our neighbors and friends so they can share in our excitement. The beautiful appearance of roses is sure to bring smile to everyone’s faces this month. I hope you enjoy and good luck in the kitchen!”

Apple Rose Pastry

(Makes 6)

Source: Cooking
with Manuela

INGREDIENTS:

1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed
2 red organic apples (I used red delicious)
half lemon, juice
some flour for dusting
2 tablespoons of fruit preserve (I used strawberry)
cinnamon (optional)
powder sugar for decorating (optional)

PREPARATION:

Thaw the puff pastry if you haven’t done so yet. It should take about 20-30 minutes.
Prepare a bowl with some water and the lemon juice. Cut the apples in half, remove the core and cut the apples in paper thin slices, as shown in my picture. Leave the peel so it will give the red color to your roses. Right away, place the sliced apples in the bowl with lemon and water, so that they won’t change color.
Microwave the apples in the bowl, for about 3 minutes, to make them slightly softer. If you prefer, you can also simmer the apple slices in the water in a small pan (on the stove).
Unwrap the puff pastry over a clean and lightly floured counter. Using a rolling pin stretch the dough a little, trying to keep it in a rectangular shape. Cut the dough in 6 strips. These are about 2 in x 9 in (5 cm x 22 cm).

In a bowl, place three tablespoons of apricot preserve with two tablespoons of water. Microwave for about one minute, so that the preserve will be easier to spread. Spread the preserve on the dough.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Drain the apples.
Place the apples on the dough, as shown in my picture. Sprinkle with cinnamon if you’d like.
Fold up the bottom part of the dough.
Carefully roll, seal the edge, and place in a silicone muffin cup. No need to grease the muffin mold if it’s silicone. Otherwise, make sure to grease it.
Do the same for all 6 roses. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 40-45 minutes, until fully cooked.

NOTE:

Make sure the pastry is fully cooked on the inside before removing the roses from the oven! If after 30 minutes the apples on top look fully cooked, move the pan to a lower rack in the oven, and wait for 10-15 more minutes to avoid under cooking the puff pastry. Sprinkle with powder sugar and enjoy!

These beautiful Apple Rose Pastries are made with flaky puff pastry, thinly sliced apples, fruit preserves and a touch of cinnamon. They look impressive, but they are surprisingly easy to make. With their pretty rose-shaped apples and golden pastry, they make a lovely easy apple dessert for fall, afternoon tea, brunch or festive gatherings.

If you love baking with apples, you may also enjoy my Easy Apple Cinnamon Loaf Cake, a soft and comforting apple cake made with fresh apples, cinnamon and jaggery.

These puff pastry apple roses are one of those desserts that make you feel like you have put in hours of effort when, in reality, the preparation is quite simple.

The idea is beautifully straightforward: thin apple slices are softened, layered over strips of puff pastry and rolled into little roses. Once baked, the pastry becomes golden and flaky while the apples become tender and lightly caramelized.

What Are Apple Rose Pastries?

Apple Rose Pastry is an elegant dessert made by arranging thinly sliced apples over puff pastry and rolling the pastry into a rose shape before baking.

The naturally curved apple slices create the appearance of rose petals, while the puff pastry forms the base and holds everything together.

A little fruit preserve adds sweetness and helps the apple slices adhere to the pastry. Cinnamon is optional, but I highly recommend it because apple and cinnamon are such a wonderful combination.

The result is a beautiful apple dessert with puff pastry that is perfect for serving warm with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Rose Pastry Recipe

There are plenty of reasons to try these puff pastry apple roses:

They look beautiful and elegant.
You only need a handful of simple ingredients.
Store-bought puff pastry makes the recipe quick and convenient.
Thinly sliced apples create naturally pretty rose petals.
Cinnamon adds a lovely warm flavour.
They are perfect for fall and festive baking.
You can prepare them ahead of time and bake when needed.
They make a lovely homemade dessert for guests.

If you enjoy simple apple desserts, my Apple Compote with Cinnamon is another delicious recipe to try. It is made with just a few ingredients and can be served with cake, ice cream, toast, waffles and other desserts.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Puff Pastry – Use one sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed according to the package instructions. Puff pastry gives these apple roses with puff pastry their beautiful flaky texture. Do not overwork the dough while rolling it. You want to retain those delicate layers.
Apples – Red apples are ideal because the red peel creates the beautiful rose-petal effect. I used Red Delicious apples. Choose apples that are firm and fresh. They should be easy to slice very thinly without breaking.
Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice is added to water to prevent the apple slices from browning while you prepare them.
Fruit Preserve – A smooth fruit preserve adds sweetness and flavour while helping the apple slices stick to the pastry. The original recipe calls for apricot preserve, but you can use strawberry preserve too. Either works well. Apricot gives a more subtle flavour, while strawberry adds a slightly sweeter, fruitier note.
Cinnamon – Cinnamon is optional, but it complements the apples beautifully. For a classic apple cinnamon pastry, sprinkle just a little over the apples before rolling.
Powdered Sugar – A light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving gives the finished pastries a beautiful bakery-style appearance.

How to Make Apple Rose Pastry

1. Thaw the Puff Pastry

Remove the frozen puff pastry from the freezer and allow it to thaw for about 20–30 minutes, or according to the package instructions.

It should be soft enough to roll but still cool.

2. Prepare the Apples

Fill a large bowl with water and add the juice of half a lemon.

Cut the apples in half and remove the core. Keep the peel on because the red skin gives the pastries their beautiful rose colour.

Slice the apples very thinly. The thinner the slices, the easier they will be to bend and roll.

Immediately place the apple slices into the lemon water.

3. Soften the Apple Slices

Apple slices need to be soft and flexible enough to roll without breaking.

Place the apple slices in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes. Alternatively, you can gently simmer them in a small pan until just softened.

Do not overcook them. They should be flexible but still hold their shape.

Drain the apples well and allow them to cool slightly.

4. Prepare the Fruit Preserve

Place the fruit preserve in a small bowl with about 2 tablespoons of water.

Microwave for approximately 1 minute, then stir until smooth and spreadable.

If your preserve is already thin enough to spread, you can skip adding the water.

5. Roll and Cut the Pastry

Lightly flour your work surface and gently roll the puff pastry into a rectangle.

Try not to roll it too thin.

Cut the pastry into 6 strips, approximately 2 inches wide and 9 inches long.

6. Arrange the Apple Slices

Preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C.

Take one strip of pastry and spread a thin layer of fruit preserve over it.

Arrange the softened apple slices along the top edge of the pastry. Let the rounded, red edges of the apples extend slightly above the pastry. This creates the appearance of rose petals.

Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon if using.

7. Fold the Pastry

Fold the bottom half of the pastry strip upward so that it covers the lower part of the apple slices.

Press gently so everything stays in place.

8. Roll Into a Rose

Starting from one end, carefully roll the pastry into a spiral.

Take your time with this step. If you roll too tightly, the centre can become dense. If you roll too loosely, the rose may open during baking.

Tuck the end underneath and place the apple rose into a silicone muffin cup or a lightly greased metal muffin tin.

Repeat with the remaining pastry and apples.

9. Bake

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake at 375°F/190°C for approximately 40–45 minutes.

This is an important step: don’t judge the pastry only by how golden it looks on top.

Because the apples can cook faster than the pastry inside, the outside may appear finished while the bottom and centre are still undercooked.

If the apples are nicely done after about 30 minutes but the pastry needs more time, move the tray to a lower oven rack and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes.

The pastry should be fully baked, crisp and golden.

10. Finish and Serve

Allow the pastries to cool slightly before carefully removing them from the muffin tin.

Dust generously or lightly with powdered sugar and serve.

These easy apple pastries are especially beautiful when served warm.

Which Apples Are Best for Apple Rose Pastry?

Firm red apples are my first choice for this recipe because the peel provides the gorgeous red colour that makes the roses look realistic.

Red Delicious works particularly well, but you can experiment with other firm varieties.

Avoid apples that become extremely soft very quickly, as they may lose their shape during baking.