Our Apple Puff Pastry Braid recipe is an amazing combination of sweet, warm apples that are layered over sweetened ricotta, and wrapped in a crispy, flaky crust—all with minimal effort! Thanks to store-bought puff pastry, this recipe is quick, easy, and consistently delicious.
This delectable pastry is stuffed full of incredibly tender, cinnamon-infused apples that meld perfectly with the buttery layers of puff pastry. Each bite is a delicious balance of sweetness and crispiness, plus richness from the ricotta — it truly feels like the ultimate indulgence.
Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply craving a fruity, decadent dessert, this apple puff pastry braid is sure to deliver. With its impressive presentation and unforgettable flavor, it’s bound to become a favorite in your baking repertoire!
Table of Contents
- Easy Apple Puff Pastry Braid
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Flavor Variations
- Transform Your Dough to a Delight with Our Apple Puff Pastry Guide
- Tips for Success
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store and Reheat
- Can I Freeze This Apple Puff Pastry Braid Recipe?
- Common Questions About This Apple Puff Pastry Braid Recipe
- More Ways to Use Puff Pastry
- Apple Puff Pastry Braid Recipe
Easy Apple Puff Pastry Braid
We love a classic apple pie, but we don’t often have the time to make one from scratch. Luckily, this apple puff pastry braid is the next best thing!
A sweet cinnamon apple filling is layered over creamy ricotta cheese and encased in flaky puff pastry. Baked in the oven, it requires minimal prep time and has a cook time of about 30 minutes.
It’s fancy enough for holidays yet simple enough for an everyday treat!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Puff Pastry – Find this in the frozen or refrigerated section of your local grocery store. If frozen, just make sure to thaw it first!
- Apples – We like Honeycrisp apples, but any baking apples will work.
- Butter – Unsalted butter is best!
- Ground Cinnamon – Adjust to taste.
- Vanilla – This adds extra depth and helps enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
- Brown Sugar – This combines with the butter and caramelizes to create a rich filling.
- Ricotta Cheese – We recommend using a full-fat variety for the best taste and texture.
Flavor Variations
- Swap the Fruit – Not a fan of apples? Use pears or berries instead!
- Include Different Spices – Enhance the flavor with warm spices like nutmeg, allspice, cloves, or cardamom.
- Add Mix-Ins – Sprinkle mix-ins like chopped nuts or shredded coconut flakes over the apple filling for added flavor and crunch.
Transform Your Dough to a Delight with Our Apple Puff Pastry Guide
- Prepare. Before you begin, preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with
parchment paper . - Make the apple pie filling. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then, add the chopped apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar, stirring to combine. Cook the mixture until the apples soften and are coated with the caramelized sugar. Stir in the vanilla, and remove the pan from the heat.
- Prepare the puff pastry. Unroll the pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface, shaping it into a rectangle.
- Fill. Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over the center third of the pastry, leaving a border of crust along the top and bottom. Then, spoon the apple mixture on top.
- Braid the pastry. Next, cut diagonal strips on the left and right sides of the puff pastry sheet, leaving the center third with the filling untouched. Starting from the top, fold the border over the filling, and braid the dough strips.
- Bake. Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet, and bake until it is golden brown and puffed up.
- Cool. Allow the baked apple puff pastry to cool on the pan slightly before slicing and serving.
Tips for Success
- Use cold pastry – You want your puff pastry to be fully thawed but still really cold. This will make it easy to work with and ensure it bakes evenly in the oven, creating a rich buttery flavor and flakey texture.
- Work on a floured surface – Find a clean spot on your counter, and spread all-purpose flour on it. This will prevent the dough from sticking, making it easier to work with.
- Add egg wash – Brush whisked eggs over the pastry before baking for an extra gold and crisp texture.
Serving Suggestions
We love to serve our apple puff pastry braid warm with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. However, it’s also super tasty topped with options like:
- Whipped Cream
- Caramel Sauce
- Hazelnut Spread
- Chocolate Syrup
- Honey
- Vanilla Ice Cream
How to Store and Reheat
This recipe is best served fresh. However, leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container and stored at room temperature for two to three days.
Reheat them in the microwave or in the oven at 350 degrees just until warmed through. Be careful not to burn!
Can I Freeze This Apple Puff Pastry Braid Recipe?
Yes! Freeze unbaked apple pastries for up to two months. Then, bake straight from frozen, adding a few minutes as needed until they’re cooked through!
Common Questions About This Apple Puff Pastry Braid Recipe
Not at all! It looks fancy, but the braiding is just a simple crisscross of pastry strips over the filling. It’s super forgiving, and even if it’s not perfect, it still bakes up beautifully.
Firm, crisp apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady work great because they hold their shape while baking. They balance the sweetness with a nice tart bite.
Cinnamon is a must, but nutmeg, cloves, and allspice add cozy, warming notes. A splash of vanilla or lemon zest also brightens the flavor.
Absolutely! Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts, dried cranberries, or even a drizzle of caramel can take it to the next level. It’s easy to customize!
More Ways to Use Puff Pastry
We are so in love with flaky puff pastry! If you are too, then these recipes are going to become your new faves!
- Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
- Puff Pastry Pecan Pie Bites
- S’mores Braided Pastry
- Easy Peanut Butter Puff Pastry Braid
- Puff Pastry Walnut Tart
Apple Puff Pastry Braid
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 apples cored and chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cinnamon sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Apple Filling:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.4 Tablespoons butter
- Add the chopped apples, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar to the saucepan.2 apples, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup brown sugar
- Stir well to combine.
- Cook the apple mixture for about 5-7 minutes, or until the apples are softened and coated with the caramelized sugar and cinnamon. Add the vanilla extract, and remove the pan from the heat. Set it aside to cool slightly.1 teaspoon vanilla
Prepare the Puff Pastry:
- Unroll the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. If it’s not already in a rectangle shape, gently roll it out to a rectangular shape, approximately 10×12 inches.1 sheet puff pastry
Add the Ricotta and Apple Mixture:
- Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over the center third of the puff pastry sheet, leaving about a 1-inch border on the top and bottom.1/3 cup ricotta cheese
- Spoon the cooked apple mixture on top of the ricotta cheese.
Braid the Pastry:
- With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut diagonal strips on the left and right sides of the puff pastry sheet, leaving the center third with the filling untouched.
- Starting from the top, fold the 1-inch border over the filling at an angle to cover the top.
- Alternating sides, fold the diagonal strips over the filling, creating a braided pattern. Continue until the end of the pastry is reached.
- Brush with whisked egg and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake:
- Carefully transfer the pastry braid onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
Serve:
- Remove the apple pastry braid from the oven, and let it cool slightly.
- Slice and serve warm. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top for a decorative touch, if desired.
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
