Apple Cream Cheese Tart Recipe with Walnuts
Our Apple Cream Cheese Tart consists of juicy apples atop a cream cheese base with crunchy walnuts and baked in a puff pastry shell. Just a hint of cinnamon warmly spices the tart. So delicious your family and friends ask for it time and again.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to the terms page for more information.
This Apple Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tart is reminiscent of an apple cheesecake – but much easier and quicker to make. This free-form tart, also known as a ‘galette’ is made without the use of a baking pan.
Tips for making the apple galette with cream cheese:
Ingredients:
You only need a few ingredients for this recipe:
- Cream cheese and an egg: bring these ingredients to room temperature before starting the recipe. This will ensure you have no lumps for the cream cheese layer.
- Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg
- Granulated sugar for the cream cheese layer and brown sugar for the apple layer.
- Tart apples: core, peel and slice the apples into 1/3″ slices.
- Corn starch: this will prevent the juices from the apples seeping into the cream cheese layer and tart crust.
- Puff pastry: one sheet of store-bought puff pastry. These are available in the freezer aisle of most grocery stores. If you are feeling ambitious – make your own!
- Egg wash: lightly whip an egg. Use this to apply to the bottom crust of the tart to help prevent the filling from seeping into the bottom crust. Additionally, apply to the top crust before baking.
- Cinnamon sugar mixture: lightly sprinkle a bit of cinnamon mixed with sugar over the top of the Apple Cream Cheese Tart.
Make the cream cheese filling for the tart:
First, place the cream cheese, granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a bowl. You may use a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Begin mixing on medium speed until the filling is lump-free. Next, add the egg and mix well. Finally, stir in chopped walnuts (if using).
Assemble the apple cream cheese tart:
Assembling this tart could not be easier! There is no pie dough to roll out and only a few apples to chop. Follow the steps listed below:
- Peel, core and cut apples into 1/3″ slices. Place in a bowl and toss with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cornstarch.
- Cut a 10″ circle from a sheet of puff pastry.
- Spread the cream cheese filling to within 1 ½” to the edge of the puff pastry.
- Arrange apples in circles on top of the cream cheese filling.
- Lightly brush apples with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Roll puff pastry around the apples and cream cheese filling. Brush egg wash on exposed portion of puff pastry.
I hope you enjoy this simple apple galette as much as my friends and family do!
Puff pastry is a laminated pastry with alternating layers of butter and dough. It is light and flaky. Check out this article for an in-depth description.
A galette is a type of French pastry made with a buttery, flaky crust. It is created freeform and no pan is needed for baking.
Cream Cheese Apple Tart in Puff Pastry
Ingredients
Tart Shell
- 1 Sheet Puff Pastry, defrosted Cut to 10" circle
- 1 Large Egg, whipped lightly For brushing on pastry
Apple Filling
- 2 Medium Tart Apples (e.g. Granny Smith) Peeled, cored and cut to ⅓" slices
- ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch All-purpose flour may be substituted
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, full fat Room temperature
- ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
- ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Large Egg Room temperature
- ½ Cup Walnuts, chopped Optional
Egg Wash and Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1 Large Egg, lightly whisked
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon Butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
Tart Shell
- Unfold defrosted puff pastry, Cut into a 10" circle
Prepare Apples
- Peel, core and cut apples into ⅓" slices. Place in a bowl and toss with brown sugar, ground cinnamon and cornstarch. Set aside.
Cream Cheese Filling
- Add cream cheese, granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to a bowl. Mix until no lumps remain.
- Add the egg and mix well.
- Optional: stir in chopped walnuts
Assemble Tart
- Lightly brush the puff pastry with the whipped egg.
- Place cream cheese filling on puff pastry circle. Spread filling to within 1 ½" to the edge of the puff pastry.
- Arrange apples in circles on top of the cream cheese filling.
- Lightly brush apples with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Roll puff pastry around the apples and cream cheese filling. Brush egg wash on exposed portion of puff pastry.
Bake Tart
- Place tart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or heat-resistant silicon mat.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before serving (approximately 1 hour).
John Walyo