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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 :).
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Hello! This apple tart looks amazing! I plan on making it tomorrow. I do, however, have a few questions. Can I use a food processor to make the dough? Also, does the dough need to rest or be frozen before putting in the oven to reduce shrinkage? Thank you so much.
Hi Chrystal, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Hi Natasha,
I just made this!! Sooo good! I really love the texture, taste and the look too. I didn’t have any pastry blender, so i froze the butter a bit and then grated it. I was worried if it’ll works out but it did. I’m so happy i found your website and can’t wait to try other recipes. Love from Austria.
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Aqilah!
Can you make this recipe a day ahead? It looks yummy and beautiful!
Hi Debbie, this cake is scone like in consistency and will taste best fresh, but you can cover and refrigerate any remaining slices overnight.
Can I do it with pear?
Hi Silvia, I haven’t tried with pear but that would be a good experiment. If you test that out, please let me know how it goes! 🙂
I think it would be great with pear- just make sure you use unripened fruit so it doesn’t turn mushy. I’d use allspice, cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. Happy baking!!
Could you put the apples on your almond cake recipe? What would be the changes, if so?
Hi Diane! I love that idea and yes! Several of our readers have added apples in the almond cake recipe. Here is what one of our readers wrote ” I have tons of apples so I made an upside-down apple cake!!!! I use butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a pan and mix it. I pit some sliced apples on top. I make your cake recipe exactly and pour it on the apples. I bake in the same pan and is an incredible super yummy cake!!!” I hope that helps.
I just made this today and it’s amazing! I need to practice the rose pattern but I’m thrilled with how it looks and tastes! This one is staying in my repertoire!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I made this recipe twice already and just love it! It has also made its way into my blog, where I also reference you, Natasha, and your lovely blog.
I made this tart today and it tasted so good! The apples were quite dry; I followed the recipe as written. If I add some melted butter to the apples before arranging them on the crust so you think that would help?
Hi Kate! Did you use “1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter to dot the top” per recipe? If that was skipped that may have caused that. Were any other changes made that we can troubleshoot?
Yes I used the butter to top the pie.
I had the same problem! Are our apples not ripe enough? It was still delicious, and was gone before I got the kitchen cleaned up!
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
It’s so delicious. My Family love it.
That’s so great, Martina! I’m so happy you loved it!
Hi Natasha,
I made your apple tart recipe yesterday and substituted the cream for about 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk. It came out lovely! Thank you for the recipe.
That’s so great! I’m so happy that worked for you Susannah! Thank you for the great review!
We just got a bunch of apples from my in laws and I can’t wait to make this!! Might go ahead and make 2 🙂
I’d love to hear how you like it!
We love it so much! Thank you:) Fall deliciousness :)))
I’m so happy you loved it! Thank you for the great review!
Hi dear Natasha
I made this tart, it was great
But I had a problem! After 40 min in oven the apples still were row!l
Hi Farnaz, I’d be happy to troubleshoot. Was anything altering in the recipe? Were the apples cut nice and thin?
I’m baking this for the 5th time for the past 2 weeks, it’s that good. Perfect with a cup of milk or coffee, especially in the fall season.
Sounds like you found a new favorite, Evinka! Thank you for sharing your great review with us!
Recipe looks wonderful! Can I bake this in a glass pie dish?
Hi Lyuba! I think that could work. Here is what one of readers stated “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 hope this helps.
Can I use a regular round pan? I don’t have a spring pan
Hi J, I think that could work if your cake pan has fairly tall walls (at least 1.5″)
I normally don’t like fruit tarts/pies because I prefer crust over fillling. This tart was perfect for me because there is more “crust” to fruit. I made some caramel sauce to drizzle over it, and it was GREAT.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Kay! I’m so happy you enjoyed that! Thank you for the awesome review!
Hi Natasha, this looks great. I was wondering if it would be as good if baked 1 or 2 days in advance? Would it hold or do you recommend making it the same day you want to eat it? Thanks…look forward to trying it.
Freshly baked apple pies usually last 4-5 days in the refrigerator as long as they are covered loosely with either foil or saran wrap. Our tart was eaten too quickly to test out, but I think 1 to 2 days may work since the dough has a tougher/ scone like consistency! I hope this helps, Betsy!
Thanks Natashas, will try it out and let you know. Thanks for the timely response!!!
Want to try this gorgeous recipe. Can I substitute with a softer variety of apples – want to use apples from my back yard. Also do you have any recipes for apple jam, etc. Thank you!
Hi Galina! I don’t have a recipe yet for apple jam but I will definitely keep that in mind. Sounds really good!
Hi Natasha!
I’ like to bake this delicious tart but I’m wondering if I can sustitute Whipping cream with Greek yogurt.
Hi Nayeli, without testing that, I’m not sure how it would affect the texture and rise of the cake since it does have a different fat content using Greek yogurt. If you experiment, let me know how it goes.
Making the tart for the second time, but didn’t have any cream so used natural yoghurt instead, fingers crossed either way it will still look fantastic. Can’t wait for the berry season Pears would work too. Great Recipe Thanks my little gardening club will love it
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Yummylicious apple tart!❤it! Thanks Natasha.
You’re welcome Kim, I’m glad you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
If I don’t have heavy cream on hand, would half and half work? Should I add melted butter to the half and half to make it fatter lol trying to think. Really want to try this.
Hi Snizhana, I haven’t experimented in that way so it is difficult to recommend that. I think it could work but you may need less half and half since it is thinner in consistency than heavy cream. If you experiment, let me know how it goes 🙂
I just baked this apple tart yesterday. It came out so beautiful and delicious! Thank you Natasha! I enjoy watching your cooking videos so much! 🙂
You’re welcome Lydia! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe. Thanks for following and sharing your fantastic review!
Hello Natasha,
Will this freeze, or would it break down the apples too much and make the base too soggy? Also, can it reheat successfully?
Hi Misty, I honestly haven’t tried freezing this recipe so I’m not sure. Sorry I can’t be more help with that. If anyone else has tried freezing, please share your experience and thank you in advance! 🙂