Rose apple tarts

Inspired by the pictures of delectable apple tarts from the leaflet of the local grocery shop, I decided to make some myself this morning!

The ones from the leaflet used a a perfectly stripped skin of a peeled apple to make big apple-skin roses. I can never get how people manage to peel an apple in one single strip! Acknowledging my shortcoming, I found an easier way to make apple roses without testing the limits of my dexterity!

These roses are made with half-moon slices of apple, softened and caramelised with cinnamon sugar under low heat. I placed about 2-3 roses in one mini tart.

The base of the tarts are filled with chopped caramelised apples. It can be replaced with some chopped walnuts for some crunch! The roses may also be brushed with some warm strawberry preserve before serving to add sweetness and give them a more beautiful glow. But I think these would be sweet enough without. :) Serve warm.

Pastry crust
What?

• 100 g plain flour
• 50 g unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp milk

How?

1. Mix the flour and sugar together and cut in the butter (cold and diced) with a fork or a pastry cutter. 
2. When a crumbly coarse mixture is achieved, add in milk and lightly fold into a soft dough.
3. Divide the dough into portions for one tart (depends on what size tart is desired; I used about 18 g for one mini tart) and roll the dough into a ball.
4. Roll the ball into a round disc and place it in a muffin tin. Press the dough evenly up on the sides of the tin. Prick the dough in the tin with a fork.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degC for 15 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and let the tart shells cool in the tin.

Rose apples

What?

• 2 apples
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

How?

1. Finely slice 1 1/2 apples into thin half-moon shaped slices. (Great if you have a mandolin, but it can be done with a knife too!) Chop the rest of the 1/2 apple into small cubes.
2. Mix the sugar and the cinnamon together and spread the sugar mixture into a non-stick frying pan.
3. Heat at low heat and place the apple slices over the sugar mixture and cook for a minute.
4. When apple slices become soft, transfer them onto a plate. Let them cool.
5. Melt the remaining sugar mix,under low heat and mix in the cubed apples. Stir and cook for a minute and transfer them onto a plate to cool.
6. Divide the chopped caramelised apples among the baked mini tart shells.
7. To make the apple roses, roll one caramelised apple slice with the apple skin facing upwards, add another slice at the end of the roll and continue rolling. (I know this sounds a little awkward but it really is just that!) More slices of apple can be added to the roll depending on the size of roses desired.
8. Place the apple roses on top of the chopped apples.
9. Warm the apple tarts in a preheated oven at 180 degC for 10 minutes or until the tarts are golden brown.