These festive cranberry apple puff pastry squares are delightful little mini apple tarts perfect for autumn or holiday dessert. Baked until flaky and golden, they’re ideal topped with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
An Easy Christmas Puff Pastry Recipe
This recipe is wonderfully simple. Thinly sliced apples are tossed with brown sugar and cinnamon, then combined with dried cranberries, raisins and chopped pecans for a touch of festive flavor and crunch. Using store-bought puff pastry keeps the process quick while delivering a crisp, buttery crust for every square.
These mini tarts are baked until the pastry puffs and the apples turn tender and caramelized. They’re especially good warm, a la mode, with vanilla ice cream or dusted with powdered sugar for a breakfast treat alongside a cozy cup of coffee.
These Apple Pie Puff Pastry Squares Are Even Better A La Mode
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cloud of whipped cream and a light sprinkle of cinnamon. They’re versatile enough for brunch, dessert, or as a sweet addition to a holiday buffet.
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This rustic, individual-style apple dessert is quick to assemble and ideal for holiday gatherings. Puff pastry sheets form a buttery base while the simple apple filling—just a few pantry staples—bakes into an irresistible, fragrant filling.
Use crisp, fruity red apples such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala for the best texture and flavor.
Ingredients To Make Quick Christmas Apple Pie Puff Pastry Squares
- 2 sheets thawed store-bought puff pastry (two sheets per box)
- 3 large Honeycrisp apples (or Gala or Pink Lady), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional) or 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Make Quick Christmas Cranberry Raisin Apple Pie Puff Pastry Squares
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/4-inch thin slices and place them in a large bowl.
Sprinkle the apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and almond extract (or vanilla). Toss to coat.
Add Dried Cranberries and Raisins
Add the dried cranberries and raisins to the apple mixture. Toss everything together until evenly coated. Let the mixture sit for 15–20 minutes so the fruit releases some juices and the dried fruit softens slightly.
It’s normal for the dried fruits to settle toward the bottom; stir before filling the pastry to redistribute them.
Roll Out the Puff Pastry Sheets For The Mini Apple Pie Squares
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheets and roll each into an 11 x 13-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Keep the dough cool so it rolls smoothly without tearing.
Working With Frozen Puff Pastry
Make sure puff pastry is fully thawed before unfolding to avoid cracking at the folds. Leave sheets on the counter 20–30 minutes before you start if needed.
Brush The Puff Pastry with Melted Butter and Cut Into Squares
Brush each rolled pastry sheet with melted butter. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, divide each sheet into nine equal squares. Transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheet using a thin spatula.
Cut Borders Into The Puff Pastry For the Apple Filling
Lightly score a border about 1/2 inch in from the edge of each square with a paring knife. Score only the top layer so the pastry will puff around the filling and form a neat rim.
Top The Puff Pastry with the Apple Mixture
Fill each square with the apple mixture. If the dried fruit settled, stir the bowl to lift some of the juices and fruit before spooning. Layer apple slices neatly inside the scored border and drizzle a teaspoon of the released juices over each tart for extra flavor.
Bake The Individual Apple Pie Squares Until Golden and Puffy
Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or until the pastry borders are puffed and golden and the apples are tender.
Serve These Easy Apple Cranberry Puff Pastries Warm with Ice Cream or Dust with Powdered Sugar
Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, or let cool and dust with powdered sugar. These open-faced squares can also be folded into turnovers if you prefer a covered hand pie—just use larger squares and seal the edges before baking.
These flaky puff pastry apple squares are an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert for the holiday season or any time apples are in abundance. Enjoy with coffee or tea after a festive meal.
If you try this recipe, feel free to adapt the dried fruit and nuts to your taste—dried currants, golden raisins, or walnuts all work well. The method stays the same and the result is always a warm, comforting bite of autumn or holiday flavor.