Willow Bird Baking is a contestant in Project Food Blog, a contest comprised of a series of 10 challenges to find the next food blog star. Voting for Challenge #7 is now open! I would be SO grateful if you’d consider voting for me in this round! Just sign in to your Foodbuzz account (or register if you don’t already have one). Then go to my cheesecake video entry here and vote by clicking the heart next to the words “Vote for this Entry.” I appreciate your support so much!

I just arrived in Orlando after 9 hours in a car (thankfully, I was accompanied by a fun coworker, Kyle). I’m in town to give a presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English convention, but after that road trip, I’m not even sure I can still speak English, much less teach others how to teach it.

I kind of expect the next few days to be a blur. Wayyy too much Coke Zero, wayyy too much work done this week, and wayyy too much bustling around this morning means that I’m currently feeling crumpled and headachy.

Kyle and I spent the last 45 minutes of the trip searching for food in a starvation-induced trance. We’d already ruled out Steak ‘n Shake, but every exit had one (and almost nothing else), as if taunting us. Lots of hotels, lots of outlet malls, lots of big-neon-lit-Orlandoy places — but no normal, honest-to-goodness FOOD. Lulled by hunger delirium and the soporific British accent of Kyle’s GPS, I had almost lost touch with reality when we finally spotted a Chick-fil-a. We definitely needed one of those easy buttons you see on TV. Easy dinner for people with currently confuzzled brains, please!

Well, an easy dinner didn’t happen, but here’s an “easy button” for dessert, at least. These apple puff pastry tarts are truly painless in addition to being warm and comforting. I served these treats at my parents’ anniversary dinner. Before beginning dinner prep, I made sure my puff pastry was thawed, cut into squares, and ready to go. After dinner, the family retired to the living room to relax while I mixed my apples and spices and baked up the tarts. Just before serving, we topped each tart with almond whipped cream, which turned out to be my favorite component.

The entire dessert was fancy-looking enough for company, but easy enough for any busy weeknight (easier, obviously, than my food quest with Kyle).

Okay, enough bleary-eyed blogging. Before I say anything too silly, I’m signing off and heading to bed (in the condo bedroom that’s decorated entirely in Disney characters — no confusion about what city I’m in!)

Make some tarts, y’all!

Easy Apple Puff Pastry Tarts with Almond Whipped Cream


Recipe by: Pioneer Woman
Yields: about 6 individual tarts

Tart Ingredients:
homemade or store-bought puff pastry sheets, thawed and cut into rectangles
4 apples, cored and sliced but not peeled
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
optional spices to taste: cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.

Almond Whipped Cream Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
5-6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar (to taste)
1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 415 degrees. Put the puff pastry rectangles on a greased baking pan (with edges, so the juices don’t run down and caramelize on your oven, or on your mom’s freshly cleaned oven . . . not that I’m speaking from experience, or anything. Combine apple slices, sugar, salt, and any spices you’re using in a bowl and allow them to sit for a few minutes. Then arrange the apple slices on the puff pastry in a straight line, overlapping.

Bake 18 – 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffy and golden brown. While pastry is baking, whip together cream, sugar, and almond extract in a medium bowl to soft peaks. Place this in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Remove pastries from the oven and immediately serve with a dollop of cold almond whipped cream (allow diners to place this on their own tarts to ensure it doesn’t melt before it gets to them!)

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by | 25 Comments

25 Comments on Easy Apple Puff Pastry Tarts with Almond Whipped Cream (Voting Now Open in Project Food Blog!)

  1. Lauren
    November 18, 2010 at 10:23 am (14 years ago)

    Hi Julie-
    I don’t know if I’ve ever commented before on your blog, but I just wanted to tell you how incredible your video was for the Project Food Blog. Yours was one of the first ones I watched, and I just thought it was so very creative. I have really been enjoying your Project Food Blog posts, and can’t wait to read more. Thanks for putting so much hard work into it and making it fun to read and watch!

    Reply
  2. Lisa @ all things * jane
    November 18, 2010 at 12:22 pm (14 years ago)

    Gonna have to save this one – impressive (+ impressively easy) dessert recipes always come in handy!

    Reply
  3. Maranda
    November 18, 2010 at 2:05 pm (14 years ago)

    Mmmmmm….this looks GEWD!

    Reply
  4. Joanne
    November 18, 2010 at 3:12 pm (14 years ago)

    The one thing i hate about Florida is the overabundance of strip malls and the underabundance of real food. I’m sorry you had to experience that! These tarts do look uber delicious! Definitely the perfect throw-together quick and easy dessert!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      November 18, 2010 at 3:19 pm (14 years ago)

      Thanks Joanne! You know, everything we were lacking last night in food options, the WEATHER is making up for today. It’s SO warm, sunny, breezy, and perfect!! We’re totally loving it.

      Reply
  6. David
    November 19, 2010 at 8:53 am (14 years ago)

    The worst thing is to lack decent food when you are hungry! Good luck in the competition- You got my vote

    Reply
  7. Rachel
    November 19, 2010 at 11:50 am (14 years ago)

    Hi!

    I used to live in Kissimmee/Orlando. Go to Celebration if you get the chance- there’s some pretty decent restaurants there and it’s relaxing. TuTu Tango is also really yummy; they serve small appetizers/tapas and you can order a few to share. They’re both away from the usual touristy stuff!

    Reply
  8. Ben
    November 19, 2010 at 2:29 pm (14 years ago)

    I always have some puff pastry in the freezer and some apples in the fruit bowl, so this was a perfect instant recipe for me to make.

    Reply
  10. Monica H
    November 20, 2010 at 4:07 am (14 years ago)

    ha ha! Please take pictures of your Disney room. please!

    These do look simple and delicious. That whipped cream sounds good enough to eat without the tart 🙂

    Reply
  12. Sharon
    November 25, 2010 at 12:09 pm (14 years ago)

    Tarts are my favorite especially this cause it looks so appetizing…

    Reply
  13. Julia @ Mélanger
    November 26, 2010 at 7:12 pm (14 years ago)

    Delicious. Baked apples anyway is a hit with me. Will have to remember this one. 🙂

    Reply

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