A is for Apple Rose Tart

To launch off my food glow up challenge, I'm taking it back to the basics. Hey apple, hey!

Let me take you back to 2011. After watching an episode of Masterchef US, I wanted to learn how to make an apple pie. The ingredients were simple but the show made it seem that it would be difficult to execute.

Back then, I didn't have a pie pan, so I resorted to using one of the dinner bowls. Thank goodness it didn't crack in the oven! Back then, I used to oversaturate photos on Instagram. Prior to being a hot spot for influencers, Instagram was known for its novel filters so it was inevitable for users (me) to go heavy-handed on editing. Who needs a professional photo editor when you had mad skills like me?

Looking back at it, I wanted to improve on my editing and the presentation. After binging on a bunch of food photography videos, I felt that I had a good handle on the editing side.

Now it was about the pie. Sure, I didn't want to make the same lattice apple pie again. But here's the thing, it's 2020 and I still don't have a pie pan. I could've bought one but after the 2019 Christmas panic shopping, I needed to be more mindful about my coins this year.

So I was looking through some free-form pies and tarts. Tarte Tatin was a strong contender until I saw the apple rose tarts from Food Wars. That was when I knew...my wallet get to live another day! Despite how intricate and elegant these apple rose tarts look, they're quite simple to make. I would definitely recommend these for a spring/summer potluck!

How do they taste? These are basically apple pie bombs masquerading as delicate dainty treats. The secret relies on that cinnamon butter which brings both the flaky pastry and thinly sliced apple petals together.

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APPLE ROSE TART

Adapted from Rosanna Pansino

Ingredients:

Apple petals

• 2 red apples - I prefer Ambrosia or Fuji because they're sweet and crisp)

• 1/2 tbsp sugar

• 1/2 tbsp butter

• Juice of half a lemon

Cinnamon butter

• 1/2 cup butter

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp salt

The crust

• 2 sheets of puff pastry - thawed

• Some flour

For added drama (for garnish)

• Powdered sugar or warm apricot jam to place over the apple petals before serving.

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Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°C. Grease the muffin pan.

2. Wash and dry your apples. Cut the apples in half then carefully scoop out the core.

3. Cut the apples in quarters then proceed to thinly slice the apples. Now you have apple petals.

4. Toss your apple petals in a bowl with lemon juice, sugar, butter and water.

5. Mix then cover the bowl with a plastic wrap.

6. Pop it in the microwave in 30-second intervals for 3 minutes or until apples are pliable.

7. Let the apples cool. In the meantime, mix the butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to create your cinnamon butter.

8. Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Roll it a bit then cut into six strips.

9. Take your cinnamon butter and spread a thin layer on one side of the puff pastry strips.

10. Place your apple petals on the upper half of the pastry strip, you want to overlap them so that they look like tight-knit hills.

11. Fold the bottom part of the dough as if you're tucking the apple petals to sleep.

12. Start to carefully and tightly roll from one end of the puff pastry trip until it resembles a cinnamon roll.

13. Place your roll into your muffin pan and repeat with the rest.

14. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

15. Let it cool when it is done. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar or glaze it with warm apricot jam. Enjoy!