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You are not going to believe how easy it is to make my recipe for Apple Crostata! With luscious layers of baked apple in an easy tart pastry, it has all of the irresistible flavors of an apple pie in a beautiful tart. It makes the perfect Fall dessert recipe, and it bakes in under an hour!
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Apple Galette Recipe
If you’ve never heard of a galette, or have heard about it through the apple galette Ina Garten makes, think of an apple pie combined with a rustic apple tart – without all of the fuss!
Apple pie lovers, you’re going to be obsessed with my homemade apple galette recipe. It has all the comforting flavors of a pie, but it’s ready in half the time! This flavors of this easy French apple crostata recipe are heaven-sent, and it makes a beautiful presentation at a holiday table.
The combination of cinnamon and apples comes together beautifully in a buttery, flaky crust. It’s comforting, stunning, and sure to impress family and friends. You don’t need a fancy tart pan, and clean up is so easy.
Thank you for this recipe, I’ve made it twice in 2 weeks! The crust is so flaky! I’ve never been able to get it just right but your recipe is perfect!
Maureen
Rustic Apple Tart FAQ
A galette is a rustic, free-form French pastry that comes in many variations from sweet to savory. For example, the galette des rois (king cake) or galette bretonne (breakfast galette with buckwheat crepes) are both popular variations. All galettes, just like my apple galette recipe, form on a baking sheet instead of inside a tart dish.
A crostata is an Italian baked tart or pie, also known as a coppi or sfogliate in different parts of Italy. It consists of shortcrust pastry and a chunky filling such as fruit or savory options like meat and vegetables. Galette and crostata are typically used interchangeably to refer to the same type of pastry.
Prepare the galette according to the recipe and allow to cool completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Any variety of apples can be used; granny smith are best for their sweet and tart flavor, and their ability to hold shape while baking.
A pastry cutter or fork can be used instead of a food processor to make the tart pastry for galette.
Apple Galette Recipe Ingredients
Shortcrust Pastry Dough Recipe
- all-purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- salted butter, cubed and chilled
- ice water
- large egg, lightly beaten
Homemade Apple Pie Filling
- granny smith apples
- packed light brown sugar
- all-purpose flour
- cinnamon
- squeeze of lemon
- egg
- turbinado sugar
How to Make Apple Tart
- Create the pastry dough: Combine flour, powdered sugar, and butter using a food processor, pastry cutter, or fork. When the butter pieces are pea-sized, add egg and ice water. Pull the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and rest in the refrigerator. Roll out the dough to half an inch thickness.
- Preheat and prep: Preheat the oven to 395°F, and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Cut and spice the apples: Mix sliced apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
- Arrange the apples in the dough: Arrange the apple slices around the pastry, leaving an inch and a half of a margin from the edge. Carefully pull the dough over the edges of the apples to hold them in place, then brush the edge with egg.
- Bake and serve: Bake for around 45 minutes, until the edges of the pastry are golden and crisp. If there are any pools of liquid in the galette, you can just soak a little away with paper towel. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- The water and butter need to be COLD: After you chop the butter, you may want to put it in the freezer (but don’t put it in for too long). Both the water and butter should be ice cold for the crust!
- Don’t knead the dough too much: It’s important not to play with the dough or knead it too much. You want the cold butter to stay cold and not melt into the dough for a crisp, flaky pastry.
- Be careful not to over-stuff: Too much filling may may make the galette bake improperly. Carefully follow the directions so you don’t over-stuff the pastry.
- Put a dab of butter on top: Adding a pat of butter to the top of the crostata while it bakes adds an extra rich layer to an already delicious dessert!
What to Serve with an Apple Crostata
- Ice Cream: Classic vanilla ice cream pairs makes a delicious pairing for this recipe. Want a boost of flavor? Try a different ice cream variety! I love using buttered pecan or rum raisin!
- Crème anglaise: Crème anglaise is French for “English cream”, and it is essentially a smooth custard sauce made with a mix of sugar, egg yolk, a little vanilla, and hot milk. It pairs so well with this French apple tart!
- Thick, clotted, or whipped cream: Homemade whipped cream tastes amazing with this tart pastry. We recommend adding a little cinnamon on top!
- Try my butterscotch sauce or quick caramel sauce! Caramel and butterscotch are both amazing choices to pair with this easy apple tart recipe! For greater depth of flavor, use salted caramel.
My apple galette recipe is an absolute crowd-pleaser. Simple, everyday ingredients are magically transformed into a rustic yet stunning baked apple dessert everyone will love!
Did you try this easy French pastry recipe? Let me know in the comments below and with a rating! I love to hear from you.
Pin it for later!
Did you enjoy this page? Save it on Pinterest for later!Apple Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
- Ina’s Apple Crisp
- How to Make Candied Apples
- Puff Pastry Apple Tart
- Homemade Apple Pie
- Apple Dump Cake
- Caramel Apple Empanadas
Recipe
Apple Crostata
Equipment
- Food processor, pastry cutter, or a fork
Ingredients
Shortcrust Pastry Dough Recipe
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1⅓ sticks salted butter cubed and chilled
- 2-3 Tablespoons ice water
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
Homemade Apple Pie Filling
- 3 medium granny smith apples
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1½ Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- squeeze of lemon
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons turbinado sugar
Instructions
Making the Dough
- Place the flour, sugar and butter in a food processor and pulse for 20 seconds or until the largest piece of butter is the size of a pea.1½ cups all-purpose flour, 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar, 1⅓ sticks salted butter
- Add the egg and process just until combined. With the processor on low, drizzle in the ice water just until the dough starts to clump.1 large egg, 2-3 Tablespoons ice water
- Then, turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board and just gently pull it together – don’t knead it too much. Wrap it in plastic wrap or baking paper and place it in the fridge for ½ an hour to rest.
Making the filling
- Preheat the oven to 395°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Peel the apples, then chop each apple into quarters. Slice out the core of each quarter, and then cut each quarter into 4 or 5 slices. The result should be thin, even slices of apple.3 medium granny smith apples, ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- Place the apple slices in a bowl and add the sugar, flour, cinnamon and lemon juice. Toss so all of the apples are evenly coated.1½ Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, squeeze of lemon
Assembling the galette
- Flour a clean surface. Place the dough on top, then sprinkle the top of the dough with a little flour, too. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the dough to about a 10-inch circle (about ½ of an inch thick).
- Place the rolling pin on the dough on the furthest side from you. Wrap the top of the dough over the rolling pin and roll it back towards you so the dough rolls around the rolling pin.
- Roll it back out in reverse onto the prepared baking tray.
- Arrange the apples in the center of the disk of dough, making sure to leave an inch and a half (1½) of space clear around the edge. Discard any remaining juice that may have come out of the apples in the bowl.
- Gently gather the edges of the dough and fold over the edge of the apples, leaving the center uncovered.
- Brush the egg around the edge of the pastry and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar.1 egg, 2 teaspoons turbinado sugar
- Bake for around 45 minutes until the edges of the pastry are golden and crisp. If there are any pools of liquid in the galette, you can just soak a little away with paper towel. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- The water and butter need to be COLD: After you chop the butter, you may want to put it in the freezer. Both the water and butter should be ice cold for the crust.
- Don’t knead the dough too much: It’s important not to play with the dough or knead it too much. You want the cold butter to stay cold and not melt into the dough for a crisp, flaky pastry.
- Be careful not to overstuff: Too much filling may may make the galette bake improperly. Carefully follow the directions so you don’t overstuff your galette.
- Put a dab of butter on top: Adding a pat of butter to the top of the galette while it bakes will add an extra rich layer to an already delicious dessert!
Nutrition
Photos by Marie Roffey.
Maureen Larkin says
Thank you for this recipe, I’ve made it twice in 2 weeks! The crust is so flaky! I’ve never been able to get it just right but your recipe is perfect!
Em Beitel says
Yay, Maureen! Thank you so much! We’re so glad you enjoy this recipe! Have you tried our Caramel Apple Empanadas? I have a hunch you might like those, too. Thank you for your lovely comment!
Jana P Pearce says
Hi there- any suggestions for if this needs to be made a bit in advance? I plan to make it right before a dinner, but will need to take it in the car with me for about 30 mins, then of course we won’t eat it until after dinner!
Em Beitel says
Hi Jana! You can pre-bake the whole thing at home and heat it up again at 350 for 10-15 minutes. We like to use a disposable aluminum container on the go. They come with a plastic top and are perfect to take along to a friend’s house because there is no clean up. Enjoy, and please let us know how it goes! We would love to hear what you think of the galette!
Lauren T says
Love this recipe! You mentioned it can be made in advance and frozen. If freezing after baking, how would it be warmed up for serving? Thank you so much!!!!
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Lauren! We’re so glad you enjoy it! To reheat from frozen, place it on a sheet pan (from frozen) and bake at 350°F until it’s heated through, also about 45-50 minutes.
Francesca says
I’m sorry but what kind of measurement is 1/3 stick of butter? Can you please list ingredients by weight (grams or ounces)? It’s so much more precise and eliminates any confusion.
Em Beitel says
Hi Francesca! 1/3 stick of butter is 1.33 oz or 37.8 g.