Apple Tart à la Mode with Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe
Apple Tart à la Mode is a delightful dessert featuring thinly sliced Granny Smith apples layered over a smooth cream cheese spread on flaky puff pastry, baked to golden perfection and topped with vanilla ice cream and a rich Bourbon caramel sauce. This elegant treat balances tart apples, creamy textures, and sweet caramel for a sophisticated yet comforting finale to any meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bourbon Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup (3.5 ounces) granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (1 ounce) water
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) heavy cream, room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon (0.5 ounces) bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Apple Tart à la Mode
- 2 to 3 small to medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 puff pastry shells, thawed
- Vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Bourbon Caramel Sauce: Add ½ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat without stirring until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and cover the pan. Cook without stirring for 5 minutes or until mixture turns a dark amber color.
- Add Cream: Remove pan from heat and carefully add ¼ cup heavy cream while whisking to combine, as the mixture will bubble vigorously.
- Combine Remaining Sauce Ingredients: Stir in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt until fully incorporated. Set aside the sauce; yield is about one cup.
- Prepare Apple Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced apples with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Toss gently and set aside to macerate.
- Sweeten Cream Cheese: In a small bowl, stir the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar into the room temperature cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Puff Pastry: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll each puff pastry shell to a 5 to 6-inch circle and cut to a 5-inch circle. Prick each circle thoroughly with a fork and place on a silicone-lined baking sheet.
- Assemble the Tarts: Spread a quarter of the sweetened cream cheese mixture evenly over each pastry circle. Arrange the apple slices on top in a single, spiral layer for an attractive presentation.
- Bake the Tarts: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven and cool slightly on a wire rack.
- Serve: Serve the warm tarts topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with the prepared Bourbon caramel sauce.
Notes
- Bourbon can be omitted from the caramel sauce for a non-alcoholic version.
- Small apples cut into many pieces work best for the spiral design, but larger apples can be used as well.
- Low-fat cream cheese works well to reduce richness.
- Watch the sugar closely when caramelizing, as it can burn quickly once it starts to color.
- Be careful when adding cream to hot caramel as it will bubble vigorously and may cause burns.
- Apple tarts can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving to save time during entertaining.
Keywords: Apple tart, bourbon caramel sauce, puff pastry dessert, fall dessert, apple dessert, easy tart recipe, baked apple tart
