Elegant apple pastry recipe combines flaky puff pastry with a silky crème pâtissière filling and homemade apple purée. While it requires several steps and some patience, the result is a sophisticated French-inspired dessert. The combination of crisp pastry, creamy custard, and tart apple creates a perfect balance of textures and flavours that’s sure to impress.
Preparation time
1-2 hours
Cooking time
1 to 2 hours
Serves
Makes 8–10
Dietary
Vegetarian
By Daisy Terry
From Saturday Kitchen
This dessert is high in sugar and saturated fats from butter and whole milk. While apples provide some fibre and nutrients, the overall calorie density and sugar content contribute to a lower nutritional score. Enjoy in moderation as an occasional treat. more about nutri-score
Ingredients
For the crème pâtissière:
- Whole milk: 325ml/11½fl oz
- Free-range egg yolks: 3 medium
- Caster sugar: 75g/2¾oz
- Cornflour: 22g/¾oz
- Unsalted butter: 30g/1oz, cold and cubed
- Salt: a pinch
For the apple purée:
- Apple cores and peels: from 10 apples
- Bay leaf: 1
- Green cardamom pods: 3
- Caster sugar: 200g/7oz
- Lemon juice: from 3 lemons
For the apple pastries:
- Ready-rolled puff pastry: 320g/11¼oz
- Caster sugar: for rolling
- Cooking apples: 5, cored and sliced
Method
Prepare the Crème Pâtissière
- Heat milk in a saucepan, stirring regularly.
- Whisk egg yolks with sugar, then add cornflour.
- Gradually incorporate hot milk into yolk mixture.
- Return mixture to pan and whisk continuously until thickened.
- Add salt and butter, whisk until smooth.
- Refrigerate covered with cling film.
Make the Apple Purée
- Combine apple cores, peels, water, and remaining ingredients in a saucepan.
- Boil, then simmer until reduced by half.
- Strain and return to pan, boil until thick (200C).
- Whisk to emulsify if needed.
Prepare the Apple Pastries
- Roll puff pastry into a sausage shape and chill.
- Cut into 65g coins and flatten in sugar.
- Roll each coin into an oval shape.
- Add crème pâtissière, apple slices, and purée to center.
- Fold pastry and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Bake the Pastries
- Preheat oven to 230C/210C Fan/Gas 7.
- Bake pastries for 25 minutes until dark golden.
Nutri-score Health Check
This apple pastry recipe receives a Nutri-score of D, indicating it’s less healthy due to its high sugar and saturated fat content. The crème pâtissière, made with whole milk and egg yolks, contributes significant saturated fats. The apple purée and pastries contain high amounts of added sugar. However, the apples do provide some fiber and nutrients. To improve the score, consider reducing the sugar content, using low-fat milk for the crème pâtissière, and increasing the proportion of apples to pastry. As with most desserts, this should be enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat rather than a regular part of the diet.
