Apple Desserts for Fall
It’s time to trim the holiday table with some beautiful mini apple tarts! This time of year, many of us have tasty desserts that we remember from our childhood, along with some new ones that we have picked up along the way, which have become new traditions.
I hope this little holiday tart will become part of your Thanksgiving apple dessert recipe collection.
When creating this new recipe, I was thinking of small portions of something tasty that could go from the holiday table to the holiday gift box for family and friends!
Since there are still a few local apples around the local farms and farmers’ markets, I wanted to incorporate them to trim my holiday table. I also wanted to make little individual desserts to provide flexibility in how they could be used and encourage healthy portion sizes. It is much harder to bring over a piece of pie or a pie with pieces missing than it would be to bring over little tarts to your next-door neighbor after Thanksgiving.
It has been a little while since I worked very much with Filo, but this video is a great refresher for those of us who haven’t worked with Filo in a while!
Video How to Make Phyllo Shells
Today, I am using frozen filo sheets.
Apple Cream Cheese Dessert
Mini Apple Filo Tarts
I was looking for small portions, less sugar, and lots of flavor for this apple cream cheese dessert! The filo crust is light and crisp! You can easily make it into a vegan apple dessert using plant-based cream cheese.
Makes 12 servings.
Two apples, cored and sliced (you can also peel if desired, but I did not)
One tablespoon of lemon juice
One teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
One tablespoon flour (use gluten-free if desired)
Cream cheese filling
1/2 cup cream cheese that has reached room temperature (if you are looking for a vegan alternative to dairy, try this one from Kite Hill)
One teaspoon of vanilla extract
One tablespoon flour (gluten-free if desired)
Two tablespoons of confectionery sugar
Muffin tins
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core, and slice apples. Place in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice, brown sugar, and flour. In a medium bowl, add cream cheese, vanilla, flour, and confectionery sugar. Mix all the ingredients well. Spray the muffin tin cups with baking spray. Take a large piece of wax paper or pie rolling mat and spray with baking spray.
Lay a piece of filo on the paper, spray again, and lay the next piece over it. Continue to spray and layer until it is seven pieces thick. Spray the very top. Cut the filo into four pieces and gently press into four muffin tins to make the filo crust. Do this three more times until all 12 cups have filo crusts.
Divide the cream cheese between the muffin cups. Cover the cream cheese with apples. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove and cool on a baker’s rack. Place them on a platter for the big event or put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and they will keep fresh for several days. They even reheat very well.
Make an Apple Cream Cheese dessert
I hope you enjoy making, eating, and giving this mini apple tart for the holidays, and it becomes one of your new family traditions. It can also easily be adapted as a vegan apple dessert.
As a registered dietitian nutritionist in Asheville, I love helping clients, family, and friends with new healthy menu ideas and recipes to make our lives easier! I am glad you stopped by, and I hope you come back to see what I am cooking this holiday season! I will be posting lots of tasty things!
Here are some delicious holiday breakfasts that you may also like 10 Vegetarian Brunch Recipes for the Holidays – Vine Ripe Nutrition.
