Apple Puff Pastry (Easy Pastry Braid Recipe) (2024)

Apple Puff Pastry

This delicious dessert starts with puff pastry sheets. I fill them with a sweet apple filling and a sweet and tangy cream cheese filling. Then, I braid strips of puff pastry over the top and bake the pastries to golden brown perfection. When I’m all done, I have a delicious, golden, flaky puff pastry loaded with all the delicious fruit and cream cheese flavors we love in classic pastry recipes. The best part is that while these look fancy, they’re actually super easy to make!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Puff Pastry Recipe

• It’s absolutely delicious with the flavor combination of the flaky puff pastry, the apples and the sweet cream cheese filling is simply irresistible.
• It is relatively easy to make with a few simple steps and straightforward instructions.
• It’s versatile and can be made with all sorts of different summer berries, and peaches and tailored to your family’s likes.
• It is the perfect dessert recipe for any occasion, such as a special occasion or a weeknight after-dinner treat, this dessert is sure to please everyone.

Apple Puff Pastry Ingredients

You’ll only need a few basic ingredients to make every part of this recipe. Both fillings are made with simple ingredients, and they can all be found at your grocery store.

• Granny Smith applesare a great choice for the homemade apple filling because they are tart and hold their shape well when cooked.
• Cinnamon enhances the flavor of the apples.
• Water, along with sugar and cornstarch, helps to thicken the apple filling and helps give the filling it’s creamy texture..
• Sugar helps sweeten the apple filling.
• Cornstarch helps thicken up the filling.
• Cream cheese is a classic ingredient in many dessert recipes because it adds rich and creamy flavor.
• Egg yolk adds richness to the cream cheese filling.
• Lemon juice helps the apples from browning and adds a touch of flavor to the cream cheese filling.
• Vanilla extract adds flavor to the filling.
• Large egg is mixed with water and helps give the pastry it’s golden brown crust.
• Store-bought puff pastry sheets are a flaky, buttery pastry that are perfect for braiding and they are easy to work with.
• Coarse sugar adds a bit of crunch and sweetness to the apple pastry.

How to Make Apple Puff Pastry

Making this puff pastry is much easier than you might think by looking at it. It has a lovely look and homemade fillings, but there’s nothing complicated about it!

Step 1: Make the Apple Filling

Combine water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Then, bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until thickened. Then, add the apples, stir, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Filling

Beat the cream cheese until fluffy in a medium bowl. Then, add the sugar, egg yolk. lemon juice, and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Step 3: Fill

Unroll the puff pastry a few times until square on a lightly floured surface. Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture down the center of each pastry, leaving about 1 ½ inches of dough at each end. Then, top the cream cheese mixture with three heaping tablespoons of the apple mixture.

Step 4: Cut and Braid

Cut two 1-inch slits at each end of the pastry and fold them over the top of the filling. Then, cut cut off the top and bottom side pieces at an angle (see photo). Continue making cuts into the pastry along each side, being sure not to cut too close to the filling. When the ends are secured, fold the side pieces over each other like a braid and secure.

Step 5: Bake

Brush the pastries with egg wash and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Slice and enjoy.

Recipe Tips

• Be sure to fully soften your cream cheese to avoid raw pieces of cream cheese in your filling.
• Stir your apple mixture constantly to prevent scorching.
• An electric mixer makes it much easier to make the cream cheese filling.
• The egg wash is key to golden pastry dough. Don’t skip it!

Variations

• You can use any of your favorite fruits for the filling.
• For a different, but equally delicious flavor, use crescent dough, instead.
• Try sprinkling chopped nuts over the pastries before baking.

What to Serve with Apple Puff Pastry Braid

Serve this delicious pastry on its own with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea or pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s also incredibly delicious when dipped in a cream cheese or whipped cream-based dessert dip!

Recipe FAQ

How to Store Leftover Apple Puff Pastry Braid

Store this puff pastry braid in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

Try This Delicious Apple Puff Pastry Recipe Today

This apple puff pastry braid is full of sweet apple filling and rich cream cheese filling and then baked to golden, flaky perfection. It’s a super easy, classic puff pastry variation that’s so easy even beginners can make it and so good that everyone will devour it. Give it a try and get ready to fall in love!

More Delicious Apple Desserts You’ll Enjoy

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Apple Fritters

This homemade apple fritter recipe is loaded with bits of Granny Smith apples, fried to golden perfection and coated with a sweet glaze.

Check out this recipe

Apple Puff Pastry

Great Grub, Delicious Treats

This apple puff pastry recipe is loaded with a sweet cream cheese mixture and a homemade apple filling, baked in a flaky puff pastry "braid" that is absolutely delicious and easy to make. The perfect apple dessert for any occasion.

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 168mgPotassium: 91mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 312IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg