This Apple Cream Cheese Tart highlights the flavors of the holidays with an enticing combination of apples, nutmeg, and rum extract! Impressive to look at, easy to make!
Our readers LOVE apple recipes, including this delicious Apple Crumble! Or give these easy Apple Hand Pies a try for dessert tonight.
Why this Recipe is Amazing
There’s something sneaky inside this apple cream cheese tart. Something that when you take your first bite, you dream of the holidays, and family, and cozy slippers.
Yep. It’s the rum extract and nutmeg. Add those two together and you’ve got eggnog impersonators!
No actual eggnog is used, but that warm, comforting flavor paired with the brown sugar apples is such a delicious treat!
The star of this Apple Cream Cheese Tart are the beautiful Apple Rings.
You may remember first seeing these apple rings when I shared this Apple Ring Fritters recipe. Oh my gosh, those were so good. And I still can’t decide which way I enjoyed them more…dipped in caramel or chocolate!
Today I’m sharing an EASY (yes E-A-S-Y) dessert idea. Using puff pastry and apple rings you’ll LOVE whipping up this treat and impressing your family and friends.
The powerful flavors of rum and nutmeg shine in this apple fritter. This will the your go-to recipe this holiday season!
Ingredient Notes
- Puff pastry – Frozen pastry should be thawed before using in the recipe.
- Rum extract – You can find this in well stocked grocery stores (near the vanilla and almond extracts), or order it online .
- Apple Rings – Use the crunchpak apple rings to make your life easier! Or, you can core whole apples and slice into 1/4 inch thick rings yourself.
- Butter – Unsalted is best. Melt the butter before using in the recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1. Unfold the pastry
Unfold the thawed pastry sheet on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut the pastry into 9 pieces.
STEP 2. Assemble the apple tarts
Beat cream cheese with the rum extract, half the brown sugar and the nutmeg until smooth. Spread a generous spoonful onto each pastry square.
Top each square with one apple ring.
Whisk together the other half of the brown sugar and the melted butter. Drizzle the butter mixture over the apple rings using a spoon or a ladle, distributing it as evenly as possible.
STEP 3. Bake
Bake the apple tarts for 20 to 22 minutes; they should look light golden brown. Let them cool for a few minutes on the pan before transferring to a serving plate.
Sprinkle each one with powdered sugar just before serving–enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
I can’t rave enough about Crunch Pak apple rings. They are sliced into perfect sizes, sealed and ready to use which is a huge time saver! You can find them in the produce section with the other pre-cut fruits (or sometimes near the whole apples).
Yes, the cream cheese apple tarts will taste good without rum extract but they won’t have the same POP of eggnog-like flavor that makes these stand apart from the crowd. Trust me when I say it is totally worth picking up a bottle to make this recipe.
I don’t recommend making cream cheese apple tarts ahead of time. They are at their best when the pastry is flaky and fresh from the oven! Thankfully they are so quick and easy to assemble that you can make them even when you’re crunched for time.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure your baking pan has sides to it! You don’t want the butter and brown sugar mixture to drip off the pan and into your oven.
- Serve these the same day as baking for best taste.
- You’ll need to let your frozen puff pastry thaw for about 40 minutes on the counter. I place it (folded and frozen) on a silpat baking sheet. Now’s a good time to hop on the treadmill, burn a few calories BEFORE you even take one bite, haha!
- If you prefer a more GOLDEN color to your tart, beat an egg yolk and brush it onto your tart before baking.
- Once these are done cooking, you’ll wonder if they are done, as the melted butter and sugar will be all over the pan. Allow them to cool a few minutes, then use a metal spatula and move them from the baking sheet to a serving platter. You’ll love that gooey cream cheese center.
- Don’t forget to add the powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. DELISH.
More Apple Recipes
- Applesauce Cake
- Caramel Apple Bundt Cake: no denying, this cake is a a hit with family and friends!
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Cranberry Apple Muffins
Easy Dessert Recipes
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Apple Cream Cheese Tart
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 4 ounce cream cheese softened
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed, divided
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 9 Apple Rings
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Unfold thawed puff pastry on a silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheet (make sure the baking sheet has sides). Cut the puff pastry into 9 equal sized pieces. Separate slightly on the baking sheet.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar, rum extract, and nutmeg until smooth. Spread about 1-2 Tbsp onto each piece of puff pastry. Place one apple ring onto each piece.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar with melted butter. Drizzle over the apple rings. Bake for 20-22 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool about 5 minutes on pan, then transfer each piece to a serving plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure your baking pan has sides to it! You don’t want the butter and brown sugar mixture to drip off the pan and into your oven.
- Serve these the same day as baking for best taste.
- You’ll need to let your frozen puff pastry thaw for about 40 minutes on the counter. I place it (folded and frozen) on a silpat baking sheet.
- If you prefer a more GOLDEN color to your tart, beat an egg yolk and brush it onto your tart before baking.
- Once these are done cooking, you’ll wonder if they are done, as the melted butter and sugar will be all over the pan. Allow them to cool a few minutes, then use a metal spatula and move them from the baking sheet to a serving platter. You’ll love that gooey cream cheese center.
- Don’t forget to add the powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. DELISH.
Nutrition
Is there an Apple Cream Cheese Tart in the world that can compare to these? With the powerful punch of nutmeg and rum flavors, the soft cream cheese and the juicy apples, these easy holiday tarts will steal the show!
Thanks for the recipe!
I have a girls night coming up, and this looks like the perfect dessert!
This is such a delicious idea for fall! YUM!
I LOVE this idea! Especially with the ice cream on top!!
It’s like the icing on the cake 🙂
I just so happen to have everything I need to make this on hand : ) Hooray
My boys would go NUTS for this!!
How do you like dem apples? I love this!! The presentation is so clever and the flavor is bound to be just as good. You always wow me with your timely and beautiful creations. <3
Oh thank you!!! And yes, dem apples are GOOD.
I love Crunch Pak apples! I’ll keep my eye out for the rings!
These apple rings are fantastic! I’ve never seen them in my grocery store, but I’m definitely going to ask about them next time!
Love the eggnog flavors in the cream cheese! My family would love these!
I am a SUCKER for any apple desserts…especially when cream cheese is involved! Perfect for the fall!!
Those apple rings are so fun! They are perfect for baking–or snacking! My kids would love them.
They are fun!! Making little peanut butter and granola sandwiches is delicious!
Girl, that eggnog flavored cream cheese is calling my name! I can’t wait to try it with the apples. I love that you always make and post such similar recipes. Great minds do think alike!
Haha, this is why we are the Crunch Pak girls 🙂
Make that “Crunch” :/ I need another cup of coffee!
Always coffee! And it would go great with this tart too 🙂
OMG I want to be a Cruch Pak girl too, where do I sign up?? I’ve never seen apples packaged this way, what a fabulous idea ~ I can’t wait to see what you come up with this week!