This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This Apple Tart is a looker! It’s crowned with a beautiful rose pattern of sliced apples (and it’s easier than you think!). The juices from the cinnamon-sugar coated apple slices, bake into the buttery soft crust. We love that this apple rose tart is lightly sweet (my kind of dessert!) and completely irresistible.
I had quite a time naming this; a tart, apple pie, or maybe it’s a giant apple scone? I settled on apple tart because it looks most like an elegant tart but that crust is honestly more like a buttery soft scone. Watch the video tutorial and you’ll know exactly why we are so excited about this recipe!!
Watch How to Make Apple Tart Recipe:
It’s truly a lovely dessert and is surprisingly easy and inexpensive to make! You might recognize the rose design from this scrumptious cake. You will dazzle your friends and family with this apple tart. It’s perfect for company because it’s simple and quick to make.
The Lazy Method: if you’re pressed for time, by all means, just dump all of the sugared apples evenly over the surface and bake – your tart will taste just as delicious.
Ingredients for Apple Tart Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (186gr)*
1/4 cup granulated sugar (48 gr)
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, chilled
1 large egg, chilled and beaten with a fork
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
*measured correctly (see our tips for how to accurately measure ingredients)
Ingredients for Apple Filling:
1 lb (3 medium) granny smith apples, peeled cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter to dot the top
Tools You Will Need (Amazon affiliate links):
- Hand-held Pastry Cutter/ Blender
- Mixing Bowls
- 9″ Springform Mold
How to Make Apple Tart Recipe:
1. Preheat Oven to 375˚F and butter a 9″ springform pan. Sift 1 1/2 cups flour together with 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt and 2 tsp baking powder. Slice 1/2 cup chilled butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry blender, for 1 to 2 minutes or until butter is in pea-sized crumbles.
2. In a small bowl, beat 1 large egg well with a fork. Add 1/3 cup cream and stir until well blended. Drizzle this mixture over the flour mixture and fold with a spatula just until it comes together. Do not overmix. Transfer dough in clumps to the buttered springform pan and spread it out evenly (its ok if it’s not perfect, but try to get it to the edges to prevent the apple juice from escaping.
3. Peel, core and thinly slice apples (about 1/16″ thick). Transfer to a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon then sprinkle over the apple slices and toss to combine.
4. Right away, arrange slices in rings starting with the largest ones at the edges and working your way in, overlapping the slices halfway as you go. Once there is only 1/2″ space is left in the center. Layer 3 of your thinnest apple slices in a long strip and roll them together to form a little rose and place it in the center. Dot the top with 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter and place the pan over a foil lined baking sheet to catch any stray apple juices then bake at 375˚F for 30 minutes.
This French apple tart is so pretty and it tastes even better.
Print-Friendly Apple Tart Recipe (Apple Rose Tart):
Apple Tart Recipe (Apple Rose Tart)

Ingredients
Ingredients for Apple Tart Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled, (8 Tbsp)
- 1 large egg, chilled
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
Ingredients for Apple Filling:
- 1 lb granny smith apples , (3 medium apples)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter , (to dot the top)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 375˚F and butter a 9" springform pan. Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt. Dice 1/2 cup chilled butter and cut it into the flour with a pastry blender, for 1 to 2 min or until butter crumbles are pea-sized.
- In a small bowl, beat 1 egg well with a fork. Add 1/3 cup cream and stir until blended then drizzle over flour mixture and fold with a spatula just until it comes together. Do not over-mix. Transfer dough to prepared springform pan and spread out evenly (it won't be perfect, but try to seal the edges to keep the apple juices in).
- Peel, core and thinly slice apples (about 1/16" thick). Transfer to a large bowl. In a small ramekin, stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon then sprinkle over apple slices and toss gently to combine.
- Right away, arrange apple slices in rings starting with the largest slices at the edges and working towards the center, overlapping the slices halfway as you go. Once there is 1/2″ space is left in the center, layer 3 thin apple slices in a long strip. Roll strips together to form a little rose and place in the center.* Dice up 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter and dot the top of the tart with butter. Place pan over a foil lined baking sheet to catch stray apple juices then bake at 375˚F for 30 min.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Make this and everyone will be so impressed with your skills! And don’t forget to snap a picture of your beautiful tart and share it in our private Facebook group. I would LOVE to see your creation :).
–
Hi, my daughter & I are both lactose intolerant. Usually if I see cream anywhere near a recipe, I just don’t make it. Our house hold loves apple deserts, so I wondered if there is a way I could make this without the cream? There must be something I could do, but avoid the cream? Many thanks in advance 😊.
Hi Claire, the only substitute that I can think of which may work well is homemade coconut whipped cream. I’ve seen several recipes online for making it. I haven’t tested this substitution but it’s the only thing that comes to mind. If you experiment, please let me know how you like it 🙂
Thank you for your quick response. That sounds a good idea & I know we are fine with coconut usually 😊.
In Germany, we call this apple cake aka Apfelkuchen
Hi Natasha, i made this tonight and omigosh its so so yummy. I didnt have any cinnamon onhand so i did without one and its still so so yummy. I do have a question about the crust, i did bake for like 35min and the center of it still was very ‘doughylike’ urs look more crumbly. What did i do wrong? I did follow the recipe the only thing that i might have done differently is add a lil more butter to the top
Hi Viktoriya, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! It could have been the butter and it also could happen if you add more apples than what is called for in the recipe – in that case I would give it an extra 3-5 minutes in the oven.
Hi Natasha! Was wondering if I could double the recipe and make it in 9×13 Pan? Would I have to adjust the cooking time? I check your website every.single.day for new recipes and love each and every single recipe of yours I’ve tried! Thank you and keep up the good work 😃
Hi Tanya, I think that could work. You could probably get away with doing 1 1/2 times the recipe and it will probably need a little longer baking time. I haven’t tested it that way to provide specific baking instructions though.
Came out excellent! Will definitely make again!
I’m happy to hear that Svetlana, thanks for sharing!
This recipe is hands-down outstanding. The crust is amazingly good. I baked it in a 9inch deep dish glass pie pan and there was no leakage or anything and it baked through beautifully. Will definitely make again.
I’m happy to hear how much you enjoy the recipe Vera! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Wow! Amazing!! Made it today and loved it!! Added some lemon juice to the crust and walnuts over the crust. Will def make it again. Show stopper. Thank you for the recipe!!
I’m happy to hear how much you love the recipe Vera! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Made this today and it’s so delicious, now I’m wondering if this would work with raspberries? Thank you
Hi Tani, I’m so happy you loved it! I haven’t tried it with raspberries, but I think it could work. If you experiment, please let me now how it goes 🙂
Amazing recipe! Easy to follow, great results! Thank you!
You’re welcome Natasha! I’m glad you love the recipe! 🙂
Just made this on Sunday….everyone loved it. Thanks so much!
You’re welcome Tammy! I’m glad to hear the recipe is a hit. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Natasha! Can I substitute heavy whipping cream with regular milk?
Hi Maria, I have not experimented with this recipe specifically but from my experience, for a scone-like dough to form properly, it really needs the extra fat (i.e. heavy cream).
Omg. Wow. It was amazing.
I’m glad you love it Siran, thanks for sharing!
I want to make this ahead of time to take to a conference. How long will the finished tart last in a refrigerator. Can it be frozen and thawed?
Hi Wanda, I honestly haven’t tried freezing this so it is difficult to make that recommendation. It has a scone-like consistency on the dough and scones are generally freezable so it might be worth experimenting before your conference. Sorry I can’t be more help with your question.
8 slices!
Hi Natasha,
I enjoyed watching this video over on YouTube. The tart is absolutely gorgeous!! Plus, I am confident that it is delicious. You are a wonderful baker!!
Love, Mary
Thank you so much Mary! The recipe tastes as good as it looks, I hope you love it!
This recipe is so delicious! It goes really well with whip cream, too. Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome Kayli! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
I baked your apple tart this morning.
It looks so pretty and is absolutely delicious. The entire family has nothing but praises for it.
Your recipes are always amazing and have never failed me.
Thank you for everything you share with all of us.
I’m happy to hear the recipe is a hit! Thanks for following and sharing your excellent review!
I just love apple desserts and this looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
My pleasure Natalie, I hope you love it!
I think it’s more like to dahlia flower. anyway it’s beautiful and lovely. i liiiiike it.
Thanks Zahra! It tastes as good as it looks, I hope you try it!
Yumm!!! That looks sooo delicious. I need to make this sometime. The design is very pretty.
Thank you Julie, I hope you do try it!