Honey-Ginger Apple Tartlets

I love using puff pastry, because the things you can do with it are limitless. After making some appetizers for a party the other day, I had a second sheet that needed to be used.  Since I also had several apples on the counter, I decided to make some mini apple tartletts.  These turned out absolutely delicious and were really easy to make. Since they are bite-sized, you don’t feel guilty about having one or two, and the topping of Kahlua whipped cream sent them over the top!  These disappeared quickly, and I’ll definitely be making them again!

Honey-Ginger Apple Tartlets

inspired by “Puff” cookbook by Martha Holmberg

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon peeled, finely grated fresh ginger
• 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon (or more to taste)
• pinch kosher salt
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°.

Heat butter in large skillet over  medium-high heat until sizzling. Add apples and stir to coat.  Sauté until much of the moisture has steamed off and the apples start to soften and brown, 8-10 minutes.  Add the honey, ginger, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine.  Set aside to cool.

On lightly floured counter, roll pastry into 14 inch square, and prick all over with a fork. With a 3 1/2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out 16 rounds.  Stack and reroll scraps to cut more circles.  Tuck a pastry round into each cup of a mini muffin pan, pressing firmly to secure it.  Chill for about 10 minutes.

Fill each shell with the apple filling, and bake for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.  Let cool and top with a small scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.  I topped each with Kahlua flavored whipped cream…see recipe below.

Kahlua Flavored Whipped Cream

1 cup chilled whipping cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 T Kahlua

Chill bowl and utensils. Whip cream and sugar until soft peaks form.  Add Kahlua and combine.

Liz’s Tidbits:

Pepperidge Farm is the brand that can be found in the freezer section of just about every store, but it’s made with vegetable shortening instead of butter.  If you can find a puff pastry made with butter, such as Dufour, I think you’ll find it to have a superior flavor. If you can’t find it, Pepperidge Farm will work just fine.