Buttery, flaky pastry and tender slices of apple glazed with a delicate Calvados syrup — this Apple Tart is French baking at its most effortless and beautiful. It’s a dessert that feels both rustic and refined, letting simple ingredients shine without fuss.
Rustic enough for a cozy afternoon tea but elegant enough for dinner guests, it captures the pure, simple magic of good apples and golden pastry. If you love unfussy, fruit-centered bakes, you might also enjoy our Peach Ana Dessert, another celebration of seasonal fruit with minimal effort.
With a glossy, lightly boozy glaze and soft layers of fruit, this easy Apple Tart recipe lets you savor fall flavors at their finest — with very little effort but maximum reward. And if you’re looking for a lighter, colorful side to complete a fall meal, our Fig Salad makes a bright, refreshing companion.
✅ Quick Recipe Snapshot
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 8 slices
- Difficulty: Easy
🧾 Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed if frozen
- 3 medium apples (like Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25g)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (28g)
For the Calvados Syrup:
- ¼ cup apple juice (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons Calvados apple brandy (30ml)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (12g)
👩🍳 How to Make a French-Style Apple Tart
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out the puff pastry slightly to smooth and enlarge.
- Arrange the apple slices neatly in overlapping rows over the pastry, leaving a ½-inch (1 cm) border around the edges.
- Brush the apples with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden, and the apples are tender.
- Meanwhile, prepare the syrup: combine the apple juice, Calvados, and sugar in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Brush the warm tart generously with the Calvados syrup before serving.
📌 Handy Tips for Success
- Slice the apples thinly for even baking and a pretty layered look.
- Choose slightly tart apples for the best balance of sweetness.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
🔄 Fun Variations to Try
- Swap Calvados for regular brandy or omit alcohol and double the apple juice.
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg over the apples before baking.
- Use a homemade buttery tart crust instead of puff pastry for a sturdier dessert.
🥄 Nutrition Information (Per Slice)
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 14g
🌍 A Taste of French Simplicity
Simple fruit tarts have been a cornerstone of French baking for centuries, celebrated for letting seasonal produce shine.
Rustic puff pastry apple tarts like this one offer an accessible way for home cooks to create bakery-quality desserts without complicated techniques.
Today, they’re cherished worldwide for their elegance, charm, and timeless, buttery goodness.
🍽️ Best Ways to Serve Apple Tart
This tart is best enjoyed slightly warm, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream, crème fraîche, or a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
It’s perfect for casual gatherings, elegant dinners, or afternoon tea with friends.
❓ FAQs About Apple Tart
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes — you can bake the tart up to a day ahead. Warm slightly before serving for the best texture.
What’s the best apple for tarts?
Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, or Granny Smith work beautifully.
Can I freeze an apple tart?
It’s best fresh, but you can freeze baked and cooled slices for up to one month.
✨ Final Thoughts
Light, buttery, sweet, and just a little boozy, this Apple Tart brushed with Calvados syrup captures the cozy spirit of fall in every bite.
A true simple pleasure — and a very elegant one too.
