Apple Rose Tarts | How to Make Puff Pastry Apple Roses

Whether you're throwing a wedding shower, baby shower, tea party, or Mother's Day celebration, wow your guests with these tiny glazed apple rose tarts. Perfect for serving alongside your other party appetizers, these individual mini desserts look adorable served in tea cups.

Apple Rose Tarts

2 sheets frozen puff pastry dough

2 medium pink or red apples like Pink Lady or Fuji

juice from half a lemon

4 Tbsp. strawberry preserves

1 Tbsp. water

powdered sugar for dusting

1. Thaw puff pastry sheets at room temperature.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin. Set aside.
3. Remove core from apples. Using a mandoline slicer, slice apples as thin as possible. (The thinner the apples, the more pliable they will be, which will prevent them from breaking when rolling.)
4. Place apple slices into a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Fill bowl with enough water to cover apple slices. Mix in lemon juice to prevent apples from browning. Heat bowl of apples for about 1-2 minutes in the microwave or until apples are soft and pliable.
5. Lightly flour a pastry board. Place puff pastry sheets on board and slice each sheet into six equal strips.
6. In a small bowl, add strawberry preserves and 1 Tbsp. water. Stir together and then heat in the microwave for about 20 seconds, or until warm and easy to spread. Spread a thin layer of  preserve mixture on one side of each strip of dough.
7. Line apple slices on the upper half of each strip of dough, so that they are sticking out partially, with the skin part of the slices sticking out above the dough. (You don't want too much of the apple sticking out above the dough, otherwise this part of the apple will overcook in the oven. You just want about 1/3 sticking out.) Overlap the apple slices when lining them on the strip of dough. Fold up the bottom half of the dough.
8. Starting at one end, carefully roll up the strip of dough, forming a tight spiral. Stretch the end of the dough and pinch to close. Place into greased muffin tin. Repeat with remaining dough.
9. Place muffin pan into the lower half of the oven. (This will prevent the apples from browning too fast.) Bake for about 40 minutes or until puff pastry is fully cooked.
10. Dust apple roses with powdered sugar right before serving.

If you're planning a party, make sure to check out these other recipes for finger foods:

• Gouda and Tomato Tea Sandwiches
• Classic Cheese Ball
• Chicken Salad Finger Sandwiches
• Sweet Corn Salsa
• Spinach Artichoke Dip