apple butter tart;
This luscious fall-inspired apple butter tart is packed with sweet apple butter flavors that’s out of the ordinary when you want to impress. Think of an apple cinnamon version of a pumpkin pie, where flakey, buttery crust enrobes a smooth apple cinnamon filling. And it tastes even better when you make your own homemade apple butter. It’s so easy too, a crock pot recipe that will leave your kitchen smelling amazing. Go for a thicker apple butter, it will help the filling set up.
This luscious fall-inspired apple butter tart tastes even better when you make your own slow cooker homemade apple butter! Go for a thicker apple butter, it will help the filling set up.
secret to success
If you make slow cooker homemade apple butter, you might be wondering what to do with all that delicious apple butter. And what better way to use it up than to work it into a sweet little dessert tart? I love this recipe because it’s so festively fall, and surprisingly easy to make. Caramelized honey pumpkin pie will always be a Thanksgiving dessert table staple, but I like making an apple butter tart to bring to family’s or friends’ houses in the fall. That way even if your hosts have spent time to make a pumpkin pie, an apple butter tart is perfectly complementary to any dessert table.
When it comes to the tart itself, have fun dressing it up to look a little fancy! I have these little cookie press cutters that are perfect for cutting out decorations with extra pie crust to top your apple butter tart. This isn’t the exact set I have, but they’re close–and this set would be perfect for this tart. The set I have has a pumpkin instead of an acorn, which comes in handy for pumpkin recipes but is less relevant to an apple butter tart.
Let the apple butter tart stand on its own plain and simple, or use cookie cutters or cookie presses to make some fun decorations, or even free-form some hand vine and leaves.
secret to success
Even if you don’t have these patterned cookie press cutters, you could alternatively use regular cookie cutters though they’ll make much bigger crust accouterments. The ones I’ve linked are ~2½”. Or even free-form some hand vines and leaves or little pastry apples. You could even dress up the apple tart with a Halloween theme if it’s closer to October than November with little jack-o-lanterns and some Halloween sprinkles. Or of course, just let the apple butter tart stand on its own plain and simple.
When it comes to the crust, you have two options. Make it yourself, or use a pre-made crust. I used puff pastry crust this time, and I love the buttery flakey crust without the extra steps to make my own. However, puff pastry does just what it says–puff! So I actually only pressed the puff pastry up ⅔ of the tart pan and it puffed up nicely.
The filling bubbles up and aerates as it cooks. It will settle back evenly upon cooling, but the goal is to keep it from spilling over.
secret to success
The apple butter tart recipe makes enough filling for a single 9″ pie plate or tart pan, which is actually too much filling for my rectangular tart pan. I filled up my 14”x4.6”x1” pan, leaving roughly ⅛” at the top. The filling will bubble up and aerate as it cooks, but you need to leave a little buffer to keep it from spilling. It will settle back evenly upon cooling, but the goal is to keep it from spilling over.
If you’re looking for something to pair with the apple butter tart, you can always go with a classic whipped cream. Or if you’re looking for something a little heartier, then maybe some good vanilla ice cream or even some cinnamon ice cream! You can never go wrong with playing up the cinnamon in the apple-cinnamon combo.
If you’re looking for something to pair with this apple butter tart, go with a classic whipped cream. Or some homemade brown sugar cinnamon ice cream.
secret to success
secrets to success;
Want all the best tips and tricks to make this recipe a success? Check out the blog post above to find out more!
more recipes;
Fall means sugar and spice and everything nice! Here are some favorite fall recipes!
- I used the same cookie press cutters for little fall leaves in these chocolate dipped maple shortbread cookies. I love that they’re bite-sized and so cute and adorable.
- Halloween is coming up, check out halloween-cocktails to make your party a scream! Use potion bottles for an extra festive spooky flair.
- Pumpkin patch pumpkin spice truffles are delicious pumpkin-bread based truffles, dressed up like little mini pumpkins on a pumpkin patch of chocolate!
apple butter tart;
Ingredients
- ½ cup apple butter (or make your own homemade apple butter in the slow cooker)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups whole milk (or use 1½ cups skim/1%/2% and ½ cup heavy cream or half and half)
- pastry (for tart pan or 9" pie dish)
Instructions
- Spray your tart pan (or 9" pie plate) with cooking spray, and add your pastry to the pan. Press the dough into the edges and trim the excess as needed.
- (Optional) Use any scraps of dough to cut out decorations to bake. Bake alongside the pie but remove from the oven early, once browned to prevent blackening. For extra color, swipe with a quick egg wash.
- Add 2 eggs to a medium bowl with the ½ cup sugar, 2 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ½ cup apple butter. Mix until well combined.
- Add in the 2 cups milk slowly, whisking as you pour until the filling comes together.
- Pour the apple butter filling into the prepared tart pan (or pie dish). You want to fill it, but leave about an ⅛" at the top to get that classic crust look.
- Bake at 375° for 60-65 minutes or until the center is set. To check if the pie is done, remove from the oven and shake slightly. The center should jiggle but not slosh, and a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the pie should come out mostly clean.
- Cool the pie for 45-60 minutes or until set. Refrigerate after cooling. Top with pie scrap decorations or sprinkle powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar over top. Serve with whipped cream, or chai whipped cream as desired.
