Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Cups are a cozy, fall-inspired dessert featuring tender cinnamon-spiced apples combined with luscious homemade salted caramel, all nestled inside flaky, buttery puff pastry cups. Perfectly balanced between sweet, salty, and tart, this easy-to-make treat is individually portioned for parties, snacks, or desserts and is highly customizable to suit various dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Filling
- 3 cups fresh tart apples (such as Granny Smith), diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
Puff Pastry Cups
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
Optional Garnishes and Variations
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
- Chopped toasted nuts (pecans or walnuts)
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apple Filling: Dice the fresh apples into small chunks and toss them with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. This mixture keeps the apples crisp and flavorful while adding warm spice notes.
- Make the Salted Caramel Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and brown sugar together, stirring constantly. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and continue stirring until smooth and silky. Finish by adding a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry Cups: Cut the puff pastry sheets into equal squares large enough to fit into a muffin tin or small ramekins. Gently press each square into the cups to form little pastry shells. Pre-bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden.
- Assemble and Bake: Fill each pre-baked pastry cup with the spiced apple filling, then generously drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the top. Return to the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until the apples are tender and the pastry is golden and flaky.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cups to cool slightly so the caramel sets but remains gooey. Serve warm for the best comforting flavor. Optionally, garnish with powdered sugar, chopped toasted nuts, or serve alongside vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith to avoid mushy filling.
- Pour caramel when it’s warm but not too hot to prevent soggy pastry.
- Don’t overfill the pastry cups to avoid spillage during baking.
- Keep puff pastry cold until the last moment before baking to maximize flakiness.
- Watch baking time closely to prevent burning the caramel or pastry edges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg