This rustic easy apple tart is made with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples nestled in a flaky, buttery crust that bakes up golden and flaky your family will think you bought it at a bakery!
You'll want to serve this apple dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a dessert your guests (and family!) will devour.
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 20 min | Bake: 25–30 min | Difficulty: Easy
What it is: Fresh apple slices layered on flaky pie dough and baked until golden with warm cinnamon flavor for a simple, cozy fall dessert.
Why you’ll love it: Quick to assemble, full of classic apple-cinnamon goodness, and perfect when you need an effortless treat.
How to make it: Use refrigerated pie crust for a time-saving shortcut, layer with cinnamon-sugar apples, and bake until the crust is golden and the apples are tender.
👉 Serving this apple tart for Thanksgiving? Grab my printable Thanksgiving Leftover Labels here » — the cutest way to send guests home with extra dessert!
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- Looking for more Apple Desserts?
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Thanksgiving Printables Your Family Will Love
- 💬 Comments
Pie-making feel intimidating? Try this rustic apple tart recipe—just roll out the dough, add fruit with sugar and spices, fold the edges, and bake.
No crimping or special pan is needed, and whether you use homemade dough or your favorite refrigerated pie dough...it's okay!
Looking for more Apple Easy Dessert Recipes? Try my Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings, Apple Pie or my Apple Puff Pastry Braid...yum!
Recommended Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
Check out my list...
My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
Apples – Use your favorite variety: Granny Smith for tartness, Honeycrisp for sweetness, or a mix for balance.
Spices – Swap cinnamon for apple pie spice or add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves for deeper flavor.
Crust – A store-bought pie crust works perfectly, but you can also use puff pastry for extra flakiness.
Toppings – Add sliced almonds, pecans, or a drizzle of caramel sauce before serving.
Serving Ideas – Pair with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even a dollop of Greek yogurt for a lighter touch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Heat oven to 400°F. Sauté apples in butter with sugars, lemon juice, and spices, covered, 15–20 min until tender; cool.
Step 2: Roll out a prepared pie crust or my Homemade Pie Crust Recipe into a 14-inch circle. Arrange the apples in the center, leaving a 2-inch border around the edges.
Step 3: Fold the dough over the apples, gently pressing at the creases to seal. Don’t worry about folding the dough perfectly—this tart is meant to look rustic and homemade.
Step 4: Lightly brush the crust with water, then sprinkle with sugar.
Step 5: Bake for 45 minutes or until the dough is golden.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO keep the folds loose and casual—the beauty of this tart is its rustic look.
❌ DO NOT stress about making the edges even or perfect; uneven folds add charm.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap the cooled tart tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw and Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm in a 300°F oven for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Looking for more Apple Desserts?
LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
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📖 Recipe Card
Easy Apple Tart
Ingredients
- Prepared pie crust
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 pounds apples about 9 cups, cored and sliced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add apples, brown sugar, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss together, reduce heat, cover, and cook until apples are tender, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
- Roll out the dough of either a prepared pie crust or my Homemade Pie Dough Recipe to a 14 inch circle. Place this on either a round baking stone or baking pan. Arrange apples in the center of the dough, leaving about 2 inches around the edge.
- Fold the dough over the edge of the apples and press gently where the dough creases to seal. Brush the crust with water and sprinkle with the granulated sugar.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the dough is golden.
- Serve warm with ice cream, if desired.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp so they hold their shape while baking. Read my post on The Best Apples for Baking and Eating for more suggestions.
- Slice apples evenly for a uniform look and even baking.
- Don’t stress about perfect folds—this tart is meant to look rustic.
- Brush the crust with water (or milk) and sprinkle with sugar for extra crunch and shine.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Thanksgiving Printables Your Family Will Love
Quick to print and beautiful to display—these cards help you decorate in minutes!
Leftover Labels $2.99
Vintage Gratitude Cards $3.99Scripture Gratitude Cards $3.99
This recipe has been updated since 2022 with new tips and helpful details to make baking this easy apple tart even simpler.
Kerryanne says
What a fabulous recipe for fall or anytime of the year Lois.
Thank you for sharing your easy apple tart recipe at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring this recipe at the party tomorrow and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne