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I’m not going to lie to you and tell you this is one of those easy recipes that you can throw together on a whim…because it’s not.
It’s one of those things you make when maybe you’re feeling angsty and need to get lost in the process for awhile. You need to be a patient person. Maybe someone who likes to listen to music and think about their life…
If you are, then this is for you.
It also helps tremendously if you make the pistachio butter and pie crust the night before. And I’ll even go far as to say that you can use store-bought pie crust, too because this is a good amount of work.
Some people on the Instagram said they tried to make roses out of apples already and their apple slices kinda snapped and wouldn’t roll correctly.
Here are some tricks I found:
1. First step – Use nice crisp apples. I used a combo of Granny Smith and these fancy Pink Pearls Josh found at the market.
2. Send step – Get you a mandolin. You can’t do this without one.
3. Third step – Mandolin the slices thinly, until they’re bendable. This will depend on your apple. Test a few slices, see if you can roll them up, if not, then they need to be thinner.
ALSO, the thinner they are, the better they are to use at the start of your rose. I found this was key. The thicker slices can be used at the end when they don’t have to be so bendable. Does this make sense?
4. Get other people involved – This goes much quicker if there’s more than one person involved. Obvious advice, I know, but seriously get some helpers!
This tart is an updated version of this apple tart I made a super long time ago AND also inspired by Alain Passard’s very famous apple tart. I watched his Chef’s Table and I loved what he said. If you haven’t watched it, I’ll paraphrase. He basically said what he loves the most is design and construction.
I think I love that, too. ARE THE SAME?! I kid…
Tips and Tricks
- Keep everything cold – the dough, the apples, your hands, everything. It makes for a flakier crust.
- A dash of rose water in the apples can really elevate the “rose” in this tart.
- Glaze the apples with a bit of warmed apricot jam post-bake for a shiny, professional touch.
- Roughly chopped pistachios not only add texture but also a pop of color that screams gourmet.
- When serving, a dollop of crème fraîche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream isn’t necessary, but, come on, we both know it’s a good idea.
Recipe faqs
Aha! Slice ’em thin and give them a quick zap in the microwave to make them pliable. Careful, though – too long and you’ll end up with apple mush.
No tart pan? No problem. A good old pie dish will do the trick, just might not be as easy to get out.
You bet! Assemble it, chill it, then bake it fresh when you need to impress.
Sure thing. Try a crumble topping or a sprinkle of oats for texture if nuts are a no-go.
A thin layer of almond paste or apricot jam on the crust before you lay down the apples can be your armor against sogginess.
Rose Apple Pistachio Tart
Ingredients
- 1 store-bought or homemade single pie crust
- 1/2 batch of pistachio butter, you can also use store-bought almond butter if you want to skip a step!
- 4 to 5 crisp apples, about 3 pounds of choice (I used a combo of Pink Pearl + Granny Smith)
- Juice from 1 lemon, squeezed into a small bowl
- 1 to 2 teaspoons powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Remove your pie crust from the fridge and roll it out into a 13-inch circle (this can be eyeballed). If you’re using a homemade batch, you may need to let it chill on a lightly floured surface before rolling it out. Lightly flour your rolling pin and roll the pie crust, moving it every so often, and adding flour underneath it, if needed. Roll it over the rolling pin and onto a 9-inch tart pan. Gently give the pie crust some slack so it can lay flush to the crevices to the tart pan. Do this all the way around the tart.
- Take your rolling pin and roll it over the tart pan; the edges of the tart pan will cut the pie crust. Remove the scraps and set them aside. Transfer to the freezer to chill for 5 minutes (this will help with spreading pistachio butter onto the surface). Smear pistachio butter in an even layer to the bottom of the tart shell.
- Remove the core and slice the first apple in quarters. Using a mandolin, thinly slice the apples. You should be ending with sort of moon shape slices (see photo above for visual assistance). Lay about 15 to 17 slices (for bigger roses) or 8 to 10 (for smaller roses) side by side, overlapping them slightly, horizontally. Brush them with a bit of lemon juice.
- If you have any super thin slices, place them at the start of the “rose.” Roll up the apples, gently, going from the very thin slice to the end. Transfer it to the tart and push it slightly into the pistachio butter. This should hold it in its place. Repeat with the remaining apples.
- This does take a bit. It took me a solid hour and a half to do. I know, insanity. But it’s so much better with some music and a friend. I actually enjoyed myself.
- I alternated by putting the red apples roses next to the green apple roses. And made sure to include small roses next to big ones. When you’re all done, transfer the tart to a baking sheet and place that in your fridge for 1 hour. This will really firm up the pie crust and apples.
- When you’re ready, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Transfer the baking sheet with the tart to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges of the tart crust is lightly golden brown and the apples’ tops are lightly golden brown, too.
- Allow to cool slightly before slicing it up with a very sharp knife. Dust with powdered sugar if you like and serve with whipped cream or ice cream
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my goodness! This is just beautiful! I’ve never actually heard of pistachio butter before…
Pistacio and apples together? Sounds like an autumnal heaven. And I think that Autumn and Winter are perfect for these kind of projects. You can sit down and take your time by creating these beautiful roses. Details are what makes it so special. So inspiring. Thank you for the recipe!
Exactly! You don’t have anywhere to go! It really is the perfect afternoon project.
WOW – this is amazing! Adding this to future rehearsal dinner/bridal shower ideas for sure!
This is a work of art!! Looks delicious!!
I have made the individual apple roses (you roll them up with strips of pie crust), and for those I blanched the apple slices in boiling water that has a bit of lemon juice. That makes them just soft enough to bend. Drain and pat dry so your crust doesn’t get soggy.
I imagine it would work for these, too.
Another tip: I roll out my pie crust dough as soon as I make it and then chill it. I read that the reason for letting dough rest is so the fats and proteins bind before baking. So while the dough is soft, I roll it out, then I let it do the resting.
Oh that’s a great tip, too.
Congratulations! Your tart is absolutely stunning! You must have the patience of a saint, but lucky those that will get to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Cheers!
hahah i think i do but only for tarts. ppl….not so much!
Wow, looks so great! I’m sure it tastes great as well! Yummy!
Nina of Pearlsheaven
This tart is stunning!
Lovely! I’ve made just the apple roses by themselves, and you can do it without super-thin slices if you zap them in the microwave for about 15 seconds with a bit of lemon juice. Then they’re nice and bendy. However, then you wouldn’t be able to stick them into the pistachio butter and have them hold. I would probably jut use a toothpick or something stuck in very close to the open end to hold it together until the next rose is holding it in place. I love the look of the pink pearl apples – gorgeous! If you’re one of those people who can peel a whole apple in one long, curly piece, you could use the peeling edges here and there for a bit of extra color. But having the peel on the edges of the slices looks nice, too…
ummm this is an amazing tip! I will definitely try this next time. If they’re bendable then they might be fine sitting and standing up in the pistachio butter. thank you SO much for this awesome tip. x
Oh my goodness, what a thing of beauty! I would feel so proud to serve something like that at a dinner party. Not sure I could get my ‘roses’ so perfect but worth giving a go! xxx
you can do it!!!