This simple warm apple crostata is like an easy-to-make, rustic apple pie. Crisp, buttery pastry encasing a filling of soft cinnamon apples is totally comforting and perfect with caramel sauce drizzled all over the top.

It’s one of the easiest desserts to make and the perfect way to use up loads of apples. You could also try this Rustic Almond Plum Tart, Caramel Apple Pie Bars or maybe this Apple Plum Cobbler.

A slice of apple crostata with almonds around.

Table of contents

What is crostata?

Crostata is the Italian name for a tart or pie and is often a rustic style dessert where the pastry is wrapped around the filling around the edges.

This style of tart is very easy to make for the fact that the crostata dough is topped with fillings before being pulled up and over at the edges to hold the filling in place.

Crostata vs Galette

Crostata and galette are basically the same thing – just free form tarts. Crostata is Italian while Galette is the French term.

How to make Warm Apple Crostata

A collage showing how to make apple crostata.
  1. The crostata dough starts with a few basic ingredients being blitzed together in a food processor just until the dough starts to clump.
  2. Let it rest in the fridge for ½ an hour before rolling out into a large circle.
  3. Mix some sliced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and flour then arrange them over the dough leaving a 1.5 inch edge all the way around.
  4. Now just fold the edge over the apples, brush with a little egg wash and scatter over some demerara (turbinado) and flaked almonds.

Now just bake the crostata until the edge is crispy and golden.

If you notice the edges getting dark too quickly, just place a little foil over them until the cooking time is finished.

I serve this tart with this homemade quick caramel sauce.

The best apples for baking

Granny smith apples are not only great eating apples but they also hold their shape very well during baking. They are just sweet enough but also add a nice tartness.

Some apples will be juicier than others though so the flour in the filling is there to help thicken up any juices and prevent a soggy bottom to your tart. If you notice lots of juice during the baking process, you can use some paper towel to remove a little of the excess moisture. I grew up with comforting fruit pies and crumbles and there’s nothing better than a crisp and buttery crust filled with soft, warm fruit.

5 slices of apple crostata on a wooden board.

How to make flaky pastry

Good, flaky pastry happens when the fat in the dough (butter in this case) melts in the oven, creating little pockets of steam that puff the layers of dough up. The only way to make sure that happens is to make sure the butter doesn’t melt before going into the oven.

  • Keep cold ingredient cold right up until you use them. In fact, if it’s summertime, I’ll often put everything (including the flour) in the freezer for 15 minutes before proceeding.
  • Don’t pulse for too long in the processor – you want it to look crumbly, not like a solid dough. As soon as the sour cream has all been dispersed and it’s starting to clump you can stop.
  • Use your hands as little as possible – just gently press the processed dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap before the next step.
  • Make sure to rest the dough in the fridge for half an hour before rolling it out. This gives that all-important butter some time to get nice and cold again.
  • Move quickly (especially in warmer weather) – I love, love, love making this pastry because it is the work of mere minutes. I swear. The whole objective is to keep everything as cold as possible so move quickly and confidently and get it back in the fridge. In 5 minutes you’ll have dough resting waiting for its delicious filling.

I grew up with comforting fruit pies and crumbles just like this, and this classic combo of apples and caramel works a treat.

With or without the caramel sauce, I would serve this warm apple crostata with ice cream in the warmer months but a warm custard, or crème anglaise, during the cooler months. Either way, it’s a luscious dessert you’ll make time and time again.

Closeup of a slice of apple crostata.

Other apple recipes you’ll love

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An apple filled crostata cut into slices.

Warm Apple Crostata with Quick Caramel Sauce

Yield: 7 serves
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Resting time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
5 from 3 ratings
This Warm Apple Crostata recipe is comforting and quick to prepare. Slices of fresh apple mixed with cinnamon wrapped in a buttery crostata dough then baked until crispy.
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Ingredients

FOR THE SOUR CREAM PASTRY

  • 150 g plain flour (all purp flour) (1 cup + 1 tablespoon) (notes)
  • 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar (notes)
  • Pinch salt
  • 113 g unsalted butter, cubed and chilled (1 stick / ½ cup)
  • ½ cup sour cream (light or full fat)

FOR THE FILLING

  • 3 medium granny smith apples, whole
  • 50 g light brown sugar (¼ cup packed)
  • 1 tablespoon plain flour (all purp flour) (notes)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • squeeze of lemon
  • 2 tablespoons flaked almonds (notes)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon demerara sugar

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Equipment

Instructions
 

FOR THE SOUR CREAM PASTRY

  • Place the flour, sugar, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse until it looks like wet sand. Add the sour cream and pulse until the dough just starts clumping together and the sour cream is completely dispersed.
  • Turn the dough out onto a board and just gently pull it together – don’t knead it too much. Wrap it in plastic wrap or baking paper and place it in the fridge for ½ an hour to rest.

FOR THE APPLE FILLING

  • Peel the apples, then chop each apple into quarters. Slice out the core of each quarter and then cut each quarter into 4 or 5 slices.
  • Place the apples in a bowl and add the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice.
  • Preheat the oven to 200C / 395F / 180C fan forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
  • Sprinkle some flour over the bench top, place the dough on top and sprinkle the top with a little flour too. Gently roll it out to about a 10 inch circle (about 4mm thick).
  • Place the rolling pin near the furthest side from you, wrap the top of the dough over the rolling pin and roll it back towards you, rolling the dough around the rolling pin.
  • Roll it back out in revers onto the prepared baking tray.
  • Arrange the apples in the centre of the disk of dough, making sure to leave a 1.5 inch ring clear around the edge. Discard any remaining juice that may have come out of the apples in the bowl.
  • Gently gather the edges of the dough and fold over the edge of the apples, leaving the centre uncovered.
  • Brush the egg around the edge of the pastry and sprinkle with the demerara (turginadsugar and almonds.
  • Bake for around 45 minutes until the edges of the pastry are golden and puffed up.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Please take a moment to leave a comment & rating. It's appreciated and so helpful.

Notes

  1. I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (= 4 teaspoons worldwide)
  2. For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
  3. Serve it with this homemade caramel sauce or creme anglaise
MORE PIES AND TARTS!
Calories: 284kcal
Author: Marie Roffey
Course: Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Snack, Sweets
Cuisine: Various
Have you tried this recipe?Don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.