Crispy and fragrant, the apple puff pastry swirls are a last-minute dessert that can be prepared at home in no time, using only two basic ingredients: a roll of puff pastry – preferably rectangular, but round is also fine – and a couple of apples. To make them even more delicious, besides a bit of sugar, I add a pinch of cinnamon and a handful of raisins, but these are optional ingredients that do not compromise the success of the recipe. During autumn and winter, apple desserts are always appreciated, both as a dessert and for a tasty snack, perhaps accompanied by a steaming cup of tea. Personally, my favorite is the apple and cream puff pastry tart, which, however, requires more time and organization, especially to prepare and cool the custard. The apple puff pastry swirls, on the other hand, are a much simpler and faster solution, with a taste reminiscent of the classic strudel or apple puffs. Perfect for any occasion, these puff pastry swirls captivate with their genuine goodness and irresistible homey aroma.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 12 pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter
- Energy 128.39 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 13.94 (g) of which sugars 5.01 (g)
- Proteins 1.52 (g)
- Fat 7.39 (g) of which saturated 1.06 (g)of which unsaturated 5.95 (g)
- Fibers 1.18 (g)
- Sodium 49.27 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 30 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for 12 Apple Puff Pastry Swirls
If you are celiac, besides using gluten-free puff pastry, make sure that the icing sugar is also labeled “gluten-free”.
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 2 apples
- 15 g raisins (optional)
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 tsp sugar (optional)
- to taste powdered sugar (for garnish)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (to prevent apples from browning)
Tools
- 1 Small Bowl
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Grater with large holes
- 1 Baking Tray large
- Baking Paper
How to Prepare Sweet Puff Pastry Swirls Filled with Apples
To prepare the apple puff pastry swirls, start by soaking the raisins in warm water for 5-10 minutes (1). Meanwhile, peel the apples, cut them into wedges, and remove the core. Grate them with a large hole grater (2). Once done, sprinkle them with a teaspoon of lemon juice, which simply serves to prevent excessive browning (3).
Mix and add sugar, a pinch of ground cinnamon, and the raisins to the apples, after squeezing them thoroughly (4). Mix well to evenly distribute the seasoning (5). Unroll the puff pastry on the work surface and distribute the grated apples over it (6) trying to form an even layer and avoiding as much as possible pouring the juice they have released.
Starting from one of the short sides, roll the pastry on itself (7) pressing well to compact it. At the end, make sure to seal the edges and ends well. You will get a roll (8). Wrap it in baking paper or plastic wrap and let it firm up in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. This way, it will be easier to cut without the filling coming out. Then proceed to make 12 apple swirls by cutting the roll into slices about 1.2 inches thick with a sharp knife (9).
If they get slightly squashed when cutting, you can reshape them with your hands. Place them on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper, placing them well apart (10). Bake the apple puff pastry swirls in the preheated oven at 392°F (static) for 20-25 minutes, until they are puffy and golden. Then take them out (11) and let them cool down. Finally, garnish them with some powdered sugar (12).
You can serve the apple puff pastry swirls when they are still warm, to fully enjoy their flavor. Naturally, they are also delicious cold.
Storage
Apple swirls can be stored at room temperature for 2 or 3 days.
Tips and Variations
As mentioned, the basic version of these apple treats can be made with just puff pastry and apples, without any other additions. Depending on your taste, raisins can be omitted or replaced with chopped nuts, pecans, crumbled amaretti, etc.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How to make swirls with round puff pastry?
If you can’t find rectangular puff pastry, you can solve it in two ways: either by cutting the round pastry to obtain a rectangle or by distributing the apples on a round pastry – since it’s larger, you’ll need 2 and a half apples – and rolling it up the same way. The swirls obtained at the ends of the roll will have a more irregular shape but will still be delicious!
