Want a delicious apple dessert that is easy to make? This apple pastry recipe is made with a beautiful twisted puff pastry dough that is filled with a creamy sweet cream cheese mixture and a homemade apple pie filling, then it’s baked to golden, flaky perfection, and drizzled with a sweet glaze. The flavor combination of the flaky pastry, the cream cheese and apple filling is simply irresistible.
If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I love pastries. I just love the flaky crust combined with fruit and cream cheese. Oh, it’s so good. I’ve made all kinds, and I’ll probably continue to experiment with them for as long as I’m able to bake. Today, I’m bringing you my delicious apple pastry. It combines the sweet flavor of homemade apple filling, a sweet and tangy cream cheese mixture, and golden, flaky puff pastry to create a delicious snack or sweet breakfast that everyone loves.
Apple Pastry
This delicious pastry starts with a homemade apple filling made with tart, firm Granny Smith apples that I cook down until they’re soft and sweet. Then, I make a sweet cream cheese mixture. Finally, I create a pinwheel with braided puff pastry, top it with the cream cheese and apple mixtures, and bake until golden. I finish it off with a simple glaze and then serve it with coffee for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Puff Pastry Recipe
- The puff pastry dough is twisted and creates a beautiful base for the sweet cream cheese mixture and apple pie filling.
- The combination of flavors of the flaky puff pastry, the sweet cheesecake mixture, and the apple pie filling is simply irresistible.
- It’s an easy, delicious, and family-favorite apple dessert recipe that even beginning bakers can make with ease.
Apple Pastry Ingredients
Both fillings used in this recipe are made with simple ingredients. Almost all of them are kitchen staples, so you might not have to shop for anything!
- Puff pastry sheets
- Granny Smith apples
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon
- Cornstarch
- Cream cheese, room temperature
- Egg yolk
- Vanilla extract
- Large egg
- Powdered sugar
How to Make Apple Pastries
This pastry looks as fancy as anything you’ll find in a bakery, but it’s actually incredibly easy to make. The fillings come together quickly, and even braiding the puff pastry is simple. Even beginners can make this with ease.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Apple Filling
Bring water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens, then add the diced apples. Continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Braid the Pastry
Cut each pastry sheet into 8 strips. Take two of the strips and pinch the ends together to create one long strip. Twist the strip until it forms a braided piece. Repeat with the other 6 strips.
Step 4: Make the Pastry Pinwheel
Place one end of the long, twisted strip in the center of the parchment paper and wrap the dough around itself to create a pinwheel. Repeat with the other braided strips.
Step 5: Make the Cream Cheese Mixture
Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Then, add the egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat for two more minutes.
Step 6: Top the Pinwheel
Add a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture to the center of each pastry, followed by a spoonful of the apple filling.
Step 7: Add the Egg Wash
Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl. Then, brush each pastry with the egg wash.
Step 8: Bake
Bake the pastries for 23 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.
Step 9: Make the Glaze
When the pastries have cooled, mix the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla together. Then, drizzle each pastry with the glaze and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to stir your apple filling frequently to prevent sticking and scorching.
- Fully soften your cream cheese to avoid any little bits of raw cream cheese in your filling.
- Be gentle when braiding the puff pastry so you don’t rip it.
Variations
- Use your favorited diced fruits or berries to make different fillings for the pastries.
- You can use pizza dough to make a softer, chewier pastry. It’s good!
- Your favorite apples will work for the filling. I just prefer Granny Smith.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce along with the glaze drizzle for added sweetness.
What to Serve with Apple Cream Cheese Pastries
Serve these as a snack with a glass of milk or cup of coffee or tea. Fresh fruit and a little dark chocolate is a great way to add more flavor to your snack, as well. Finally, add these to a larger breakfast with all your savory favorites.
Recipe FAQ
The apples that consistently take the top spot when it comes to baking include:
Granny Smith
Honey Gold
Jonathan
Fuji
Newtown Pippin
Honeycrisp are excellent apples for baking. They’re firm and crisp with a sweet flavor, making them perfect for traditional desserts or sweet and savory combos like apple pie topped with cheddar cheese.
Apple cream cheese pastries will last for about 4 days in the refrigerator.
Puff pastries like this one are freezer-friendly and will last for up to a month when stored properly.
Apple pie with cheddar cheese can be traced back to 17th century England when fruit pies were first paired with dairy-based additions like custard or cheese.
How to Store Leftover Homemade Apple Pastries
Refrigerate these pastries in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the pastries in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or leave on the counter to enjoy.
Try This Delicious Apple Cream Cheese Danish Recipe Today
This apple cream cheese pastry is easy to make and is the perfect snack, sweet breakfast, or sweet addition to a larger breakfast or brunch with savory favorites. With all its sweet, tangy flavor in a buttery, flaky package, this is one pastry you have to make. And once you do, you’ll fall in love with it just like my family and friends have!
More Delicious Apple Desserts You’ll Enjoy
This Caramel Apple Pecan Cobbler is an amazingly delicious cobbler recipe made with juicy, sweet, and tart green apples, chopped pecans, and a homemade caramel sauce, then it’s topped with a delicious cobbler topping, baked to golden perfection, and drizzle with more homemade caramel.
Apple Pastry
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, diced small (about 2-3 cups)
- ¾ cups water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoon water
Glaze Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1½ teasooons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box puff pastry sheets
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Apple Filling
- In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, bring water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Continue stirring until the sauce thickens up, then add diced apples. Continue cooking for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pastry
- Cut each pastry sheet into 8 strips.
- Take two strips of puff pastry and pinch the ends together to create one long strip.
- Twist the strip until it forms a braided piece.
- Place one end of the long, twisted strip down onto the parchment paper and wrap the dough around it, starting in the center and creating a pinwheel base. Poke the center 4 to 5 times with a fork.
Cream Cheese Mixture
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat for 2 more minutes.
- Add a heaping spoonful of cream cheese mixture to the center of each pastry followed by a spoonful of apple filling.
Egg Wash
- In a small bowl, whisk egg and water together until combined.
- Brush easy pastry with egg wash.
- Bake for 23-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
Glaze Drizzle
- Once the pastries have cooled, mix powdered sugar and vanilla together.
- Drizzle each pastry with glaze and enjoy.
Nutrition
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