Cream Cheese Puff Pastry with Apples
A delightful dessert featuring sweet apples baked in a flaky puff pastry crust with a tangy cream cheese filling. Perfect for a cozy autumn evening.
Ingredients
- * 1 sheet 14.1 oz frozen puff pastry, thawed
- * 8 oz cream cheese softened
- * 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- * 1 large egg beaten
- * 2 medium apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- * 1/4 cup brown sugar
- * 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- * 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- * 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- * 2 tablespoons butter melted
- * Optional: 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- * Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out the thawed puff pastry slightly to a 12x14 inch rectangle.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
- In a separate bowl, toss the apple slices with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
- Arrange the apple mixture over the cream cheese layer. If using nuts, sprinkle them over the apples.
- Fold the 1/2-inch border of the puff pastry over the apple filling. You can either fold it in half or create a rustic edge by folding it over in sections.
- Brush the top of the pastry with the melted butter and then brush with the beaten egg.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Let cool slightly before slicing and serving. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Notes
For a richer flavor, use a combination of brown and granulated sugar. You can substitute other fruits for the apples, such as pears or berries. If using a different type of apple, adjust the amount of sugar to your preference. Don't overbake the pastry, or it will become dry.