A Mothering Sunday Tea Time Treat
Mothering Sunday, which the correct title for Mother’s Day in the UK, is just three days away now – this year the date falls on Sunday the 6th March, and just in time for this special day, I have created the prettiest tarts I’ve seen in a long time. I am an avid Pinterest fan, and about six or seven months ago I saw a pin for some Apple Rose Tarts which intrigued and fascinated me; the pin showed a step-by-step photo how to make these gorgeous little apple tarts, and with a special day looming on the horizon, I decided to make a batch of Apple Rose Tarts for Mother’s Day.
The first thing I noticed was just how few ingredients you need for these “picture perfect” wee pies – all that is needed is a pack of ready-rolled puff pastry, some red skinned apples (I used Pink Lady apples), some apricot jam, ground cinnamon, lemon juice and some icing sugar…..and, after a bit of chopping, rolling and baking, you are rewarded with these pretty little fruit tarts. I also decided to bake these little tarts in my fabulous Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave, on the enamel shelf in the middle position, and they came out perfectly crisp and flaky, as you can see from the photos.
As well as baking these tarts yesterday, I was also in receipt of an early mother’s day present myself, a fabulous selection of The Caravan Trail china and picnic-ware arrived for me, as part of my ongoing partnership with Churchill China and The Caravan Trail as their UK ambassador. This special range is a journey of surprise…..
inspired by her memories of family holidays in the UK, designer Cara recreated nostalgic patterns from caravanning in the 1960’s. Capturing the essence of the Great British countryside with its wild nature walks and colourful market towns, The Caravan Trail was created.
With a mix and match of patchwork prints and an explosion of jolly colours, these products join Cara in her love for all things retro and take us on a trip down memory lane, and I absolutely LOVE the whole range, from my original Penzance dinner set to my most recent arrivals from the new and extended Riviera, Beach Break, Festival and Dorset Day Trip range, if you need anything extra to buy for your mum this year, then take a peep at what is on offer here: The Caravan Trail Shop.
But back today’s recipe for my little Apple Rose Tarts – these can be whipped up in under an hour from start to finish, and as you can see from my accompanying photos, they are so pretty, and would bring a smile to any mother’s face this Mothering Sunday! I served my tarts on The Caravan Trail Beach Break side plates with tea in a matching mug, as well as using the Riviera Polruan salad plates along with a Fowey pattern teapot and cream jug. These Apple Rose Tarts can be frozen at the pre-baked or baked stage, which is handy if you are at work all week, and they can be baked from frozen, allowing an extra 5 minutes or so, or can be re-heated once they have defrosted.
The only important tips for making these tarts is to use VERY red skinned and pigmented apples, so they show a bit of colour after baking and also to make sure that the pastry is re-rolled to make it thinner and therefore crisper on baking. If you are lucky enough to have the same Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave that I have, then I can tell you these tarts baked perfectly on the convection setting at 200C; you can read my review about this amazing oven here: Testing the Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave, and I have two more recipes to share which were specially developed for the oven – Weight Watcher’s Cauliflower Cheese and Bread Rolls. Sadly I won’t be with my mum this Mothering Sunday, so I sent her this recipe instead, so she can bake a batch herself! (But I have ordered flowers and chocolates of course!) Have a wonderful weekend and see you soon with more traveller’s tales, as well as some BRAND NEW original recipes, Karen
Disclaimer: I receive samples regularly from The Caravan Trail free of charge, in exchange for recipe development and promotion on my social media channels. All views and opinions are my own and I choose to share this china on Lavender and Lovage, as it is a unique British designed (and British made in certain cases) company based in Staffordshire. I was not compensated financially for this recipe post.
Disclaimer: I was sent the Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave NN-CS894S for free and in return for an honest and unbiased review; all views and opinions are my own and I was not paid to write this post. I shared this review with my readers as I was very impressed with the performance and ease of use with this combination steam microwave oven.
Apple Rose Tarts
Print recipe
| Serves | 8 to 10 apple rose tarts |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 25 minutes |
| Total time | 40 minutes |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Dessert, Snack |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Easter, Formal Party, Valentines day |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 2 x 215g ready rolled butter puff pastry
- 2 to 3 Pink Lady apples (or any red skinned eating apples)
- juice of half a lemon
- 3 to 4 tablespoons apricot jam glaze
- ground cinnamon
- icing sugar
- cake release spray
Note
Apple Rose Tarts - These pretty little tarts are easy to make and would be perfect for Mother's Day, Easter or as an edible gift for any special occasion! They make between 8 and 10 tarts and I used Pink Lady apples to make mine with. I baked these little tarts in my Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave, on the enamel shelf in the middle position, and they came out perfectly crisp and flaky. (You can use low-fat puff pastry to make a healthier version of these tarts)
Directions
| Step 1 | Pre-heat oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 and spray a 12 x hole muffin or bun tray with the cake release spray. (I baked these little tarts in my Panasonic Steam Combination Microwave, on the enamel shelf in the middle position) |
| Step 2 | Cut the apples in half, from top to bottom, core the two halves then slice each half very thinly; place the cut slices into a large microwaveable bowl filled with water to cover the apples, and with the lemon juice added. |
| Step 3 | Microwave the apple slices for 4 minutes on high, then drain and pat dry between 2 clean tea towels or with kitchen paper. (If you don't have a microwave, place the apples, water to cove them and the lemon juice in a pan and heat until boiling for 4 to 5 minutes until JUST soft but NOT cooked) |
| Step 4 | Place the ready rolled pastry onto a lightly floured pastry board, and using a rolling pin, roll it out to add 2" to 3" (5cms to 8cms) to the length of the pastry. |
| Step 5 | Cut the two pastry sheets lengthways into 4 to 5 strips, or if the pastry is too long, cut widthways - you need strips long enough to place between 8 to 12 apple slices along the length. |
| Step 6 | Brush the pastry strips with the apricot jam glaze and then sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Place the apple slices (peel size up) along the top third of the pastry strips, overlapping them slightly as you lay them out. |
| Step 7 | Fold the bottom two thirds of the pastry up and over the bottom of the apple slices and then gently roll each strip to make a small "muffin shaped" tart - see photos. Place the apple rose tarts into the prepared muffin or bun tray. |
| Step 8 | Bake the apple tarts in the pre-heated oven on the middle shelf for between 20 to 25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp, golden brown and puffed up and the apples are cooked, but not too dark. |
| Step 9 | Allow them to cool in the tin for 2 to 3 minutes, then gently ease them out of tin and place them on a wire cooling rack. |
| Step 10 | Dust with icing sugar to serve; they are fabulous when served warm with ice cream, cream or crème fraiche. |
| Step 11 | Can be frozen at the pre-baked and baked stage. Allow to defrost before baking or re-heating. |
Mothering Sunday Recipes:
Mothering Sunday (Mother’s Day) Recipes:
Cakes, Scones, Tarts & Sandwiches It’s British Mothering Sunday, (Mother’s Day)
Mothering Sunday and Blue & White China: Little Victoria Lemon Daisy Cakes
Mothering Sunday ~Tea in the Parlour ~ Little Chocolate & Violet Fancies
Old Fashioned Sweet Violet Syrup for Easter & Mothering Sunday Cakes & Bakes
An Afternoon Tea with Buttermilk Scones
Dom says
these are so pretty… I too have seen these a lot on instagram and Pinterest and have been meaning to make them for a while but they’re just one of those things i’ve not got round to doing yet. Yours looks so lovely and you’re so right, they are ideal for mother’s day xx
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Dom – they are pretty and I also LOVED making them, as well as eating them!
Corina says
These are just beautiful! I’ve also seen them recently on Pinterest and have been so impressed but haven’t had a go myself yet. They are certainly the perfect mother’s day treat and I know my mum would love them except she’s enjoying herself on holiday at the moment so I won’t see her either!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks so much Corina – they seem to have been very popular on Pinterest for a while now, and finally I have made them!
Rebecca says
Delightfully pretty little cakes. Lovely crockery too, do you have any stockist links?
Karen Burns-Booth says
If you click on the link to the Caravan Trail Shop in my post Rebecca, it will take you to the site and there are stockists mentioned, but I know Lakeland, Amazon and John Lewis stock them!
Kate says
Hi Rebecca,
You can buy direct from ourselves at http://www.thecaravantrail.com 🙂
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Kate – I added that link in the post, but it’s a good idea to have it here too! Karen
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
They are just gorgeous!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks very much Angie!
karen Crossan says
Oh WOW! how absolutely gorgeous these are, thank you for sharing, I am going to make these for my mum she will love them! Thank you
Karen Burns-Booth says
I am so pleased – I had hoped that some of my readers would have time to make these before Sunday by sharing the recipe today Karen!
monique says
You did a great job..what a pretty post w/ those dishes too..just lovely.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks so much Monique – they are pretty aren’t they?
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Your apple roses have come out so beautifully Karen. I love the crockery too, so pretty 🙂
Angela x
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Angela – I was amazed how easy these were to make and yet how wonderful the results were!
Elinor Hill aka Beachhutcook says
These look so pretty and who wouldn’t want them for Mothers Day? They look so delicate.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Elinor – they taste fabulous too – especially when warm with a dollop on cream on top!
annjenny says
Such pretty little tarts and lovely china too.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Ann Jenny – love the China as well as the tarts!
Jean Lacey says
They look so pretty. I’m really looking forward to having a try at making them myself.
I find mother’s day hard since my mum died many years ago. It’s the one anniversary that makes me feel so sad every year, not being able to spoil her again. She would have loved these so I will make some in her memory.
Karen Burns-Booth says
I know there will be many of my readers out there that will feel the same way Jean, and I am so lucky to still have my mum, who is in her early 80’s……I think that is a WONDERFUL thing to do, to bake a batch in her memory! Karen xxx
anna@annamayeveryday says
These look beautiful Karen, well done you!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Anna – I enjoyed making them as much as eating them! Karen
All That I'm Eating says
These are so pretty Karen, it seems almost a shame to eat them! Love the caravan-ing inspired prints too!
Karen Burns-Booth says
The patterns are pretty aren’t they? Thanks so much – these have all gone now! K xx
Spanish HomeMade says
Delicious! Since we came to the UK, we love desserts with apple and this one looks great! The way you prepared it seems easier than I thought at the beginning, so we´ll try to make it one of these days after coming from a paella catering around London, Sussex or Surrey.
How do you reccon it´d taste with custard?
thanks!
Karen Burns-Booth says
I bet these will taste brilliant with custard! Go for it! Karen
Brian Tonelli says
I really appreciate the refinement of this recipe and the flavor delicacy. Really great!