Easy Air Fryer Apple Tart: Your Go-To Quick & Flavorful Fall Dessert
As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, there’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of a freshly baked apple dessert. This **Air Fryer Apple Tart** quickly became a new favorite, especially for those who love the classic flavors of fall without the long baking times. Imagine a perfectly flaky crust cradling tender, spiced apples, all golden and delicious – and ready in a fraction of the time it takes in a traditional oven!
I genuinely adore everything about apples, especially when it comes to crafting delicious fall recipes. This particular apple tart has quickly become one of my most cherished go-to recipes, primarily because of its simplicity and speed. If you appreciate a well-made apple tart, with its perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors nestled in a crisp crust, then this air fryer version is absolutely going to win your heart.
What makes this **easy apple tart recipe** even better is that you only need a couple of your favorite apples and a handful of common household staples that you likely already have in your pantry. No need for a special grocery run, making it ideal for those spontaneous dessert cravings or when you need a quick treat for unexpected guests. It’s truly a hassle-free way to enjoy a classic dessert with a modern twist.
Why Make Apple Tart in an Air Fryer?
The air fryer has revolutionized quick meals and snacks, and it’s equally brilliant for desserts. Here’s why it’s my preferred method for making this delectable apple tart:
- **Speed:** As mentioned, an air fryer dramatically cuts down on baking time. This tart cooks in less than half the time of a traditional oven, making it perfect for last-minute holiday desserts or a speedy weeknight treat.
- **Efficiency:** Air fryers heat up much faster than conventional ovens, saving you time and energy. Plus, they keep your kitchen cooler, which is a big bonus, especially during warmer fall days.
- **Crispiness:** The circulating hot air in an air fryer ensures an incredibly crispy crust all around, something that can be harder to achieve consistently in a standard oven without careful monitoring.
- **Perfect Portions:** Many air fryers are ideally sized for smaller baking dishes, like the 7-inch tart pan recommended here. This means you can make a modest dessert that serves a few, preventing excess leftovers and encouraging fresh baking.
If you’re already an air fryer enthusiast, or looking for more apple-centric recipes to try, you might also enjoy this Air Fryer Apple Turnover recipe. For a broader range of seasonal delights, don’t miss our comprehensive articles: 15 Fall Desserts to Make in the Air Fryer and 12 Must-Try Apple Recipes for Your Air Fryer.
Essential Supplies for Your Air Fryer Apple Tart
To whip up this delightful apple tart, you’ll need just a few key pieces of equipment:
- Air Fryer: Any standard air fryer model should work, but cooking times may vary slightly.
- 7″ tart pan: This size fits perfectly in most air fryer baskets and is ideal for two to six servings.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Simplicity is key with this recipe. You’ll find these ingredients are readily available and often already in your kitchen:
- **2 apples:** Peeled, cored, and thinly sliced. Granny Smith is a popular choice for its tartness, balancing the sweetness of the tart. More on apple choices below!
- **1/3 cup brown sugar:** For that rich, caramel-like sweetness that pairs perfectly with apples.
- **1/2 tsp cinnamon:** The quintessential spice for apple desserts, adding warmth and depth of flavor.
- **1/2 tsp vanilla extract:** Enhances all the other flavors, giving the tart a comforting aroma.
- **Juice of a 1/2 lemon:** A splash of lemon juice prevents the apples from browning and brightens the overall flavor.
- **1/4 cup butter:** Melted, to combine with the spices and create a glossy, rich topping for the apples.
- **1 refrigerated pie crust sheet:** The ultimate shortcut for a quick and easy dessert, ensuring a consistently flaky base.
How to Make an Apple Tart in the Air Fryer: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious Air Fryer Apple Tart in under 30 minutes!
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Prepare Your Tart Pan:
Lightly spray your 7-inch tart pan with a nonstick cooking spray. This will ensure your beautiful tart releases easily after baking.
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Mix the Apple Glaze:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the melted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until well blended. This mixture will be brushed over your apples to create that irresistible golden, spiced topping. Set this bowl aside for later.
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Prepare the Pie Crust:
Carefully unroll the refrigerated pie crust sheet. Most store-bought crusts are pre-rolled, making this step incredibly simple.
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Fit Crust into Pan:
Gently press the pie crust dough into the prepared tart pan. Make sure it lines the bottom and sides evenly. You can trim any excess dough or crimp the edges for a decorative finish.
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Pre-bake the Crust:
Place the tart pan with the pie crust into the basket of your air fryer. Before baking, use a fork to poke several holes into the bottom of the crust. This is crucial for preventing the crust from puffing up excessively while baking. This step is often called “docking” the crust.
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Air Fry Crust:
Air fry the pie crust at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) for 4-5 minutes. This quick pre-bake helps create a firm foundation for your tart and prevents a soggy bottom.
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Slice Your Apples:
While the crust is pre-baking, thinly slice your apples into even pieces. Using a sharp knife or a mandolin will ensure uniform slices, which helps them cook evenly. Aim for slices that are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
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Arrange Apples on Crust:
Once the crust is pre-baked, carefully remove the tart pan from the air fryer. Artfully arrange the sliced apples over the pre-baked pie crust. You can create a beautiful spiral pattern or simply layer them, ensuring even distribution.
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Brush with Glaze:
Evenly brush the tops of the arranged apples with the melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, and brown sugar mixture you prepared earlier. This will give the tart its beautiful shine and infuse the apples with incredible flavor.
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Final Air Fry:
Carefully place the tart back into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) for another 16-20 minutes. Keep an eye on it to ensure the crust doesn’t over-brown. The apples should be tender and the top beautifully caramelized.
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Cool and Serve:
Once baked to perfection, allow the tart to cool slightly in the pan before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set, preventing a messy slice. A warm tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is pure bliss!
NOTE: This recipe was developed and tested using a 1700 watt 5.8 quart Cosori Air Fryer. Air fryers can vary significantly in wattage and cooking performance. Therefore, if you are using a different brand or model of air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking times and temperatures slightly. Always keep a close eye on your tart, especially during the final cooking stage, to prevent over-browning or undercooking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Air Fryer Apple Tart:
What apples do you recommend using for an apple tart?
For an apple tart, you want apples that hold their shape well during baking and offer a good balance of sweet and tart flavors. I am a huge fan of **Granny Smith apples** because their tartness provides a wonderful contrast to the sweet brown sugar and cinnamon, resulting in a perfectly balanced flavor profile. However, you can certainly use your other favorites! Great alternatives include **Golden Delicious** for a sweeter, softer texture, or **Jonagold** and **Honeycrisp** for a crisp-tart flavor that holds up beautifully. Feel free to mix and match varieties for a more complex taste and texture in your tart.
How many apples do I need for an air fryer apple tart?
For this specific recipe, using a 7-inch tart pan, I found that just **2 medium-sized apples** were sufficient to create a full and visually appealing tart. The key is to slice them thinly and arrange them thoughtfully to cover the surface. If you opt for a larger tart pan, or if your apples are on the smaller side, you might want to slice an additional apple to ensure you have enough filling for your desired thickness and coverage.
What’s the best way to slice apples thin for a tart?
Achieving uniformly thin apple slices is important for even cooking and a beautiful presentation. While you don’t strictly *need* a special tool, I highly recommend using a mandolin slicer. A mandolin allows you to quickly and safely create consistently thin slices, ensuring that every apple piece cooks perfectly tender at the same rate. If you don’t have a mandolin, a sharp chef’s knife and a steady hand will also work – just take your time to slice them as evenly as possible.
Can I use puff pastry instead of pie crust?
Yes, absolutely! Puff pastry makes an excellent substitute for a traditional pie crust and can create a beautiful, flaky tart. Simply thaw your puff pastry according to package directions, then fit it into your tart pan. You might need to adjust the pre-baking time slightly, as puff pastry tends to cook faster than pie crust. Keep a close eye on it!
How do I prevent my tart crust from burning in the air fryer?
Air fryers can cook quickly and sometimes lead to over-browning, especially on delicate crusts. If you notice your crust browning too quickly during the final air frying stage, you can loosely tent a piece of aluminum foil over the tart. This will protect the crust from direct heat while allowing the apples to continue cooking and softening.
We truly hope you enjoy making and savoring this **Air Fryer Apple Tart** as much as we do! It’s consistently one of my top choices for an easy, comforting, and utterly delicious fall dessert, bringing warmth and joy to any occasion.
MORE DELICIOUS AIR FRYER RECIPES:
Looking for more ways to use your air fryer to create amazing apple desserts? We’ve got you covered with these fantastic recipes:
- **Air Fryer Apple Pie:** A classic dessert made incredibly simple and fast in your air fryer.
- **Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies:** Perfect individual portions of apple pie, great for lunchboxes or on-the-go treats.
- **Air Fryer Blooming Apples:** An impressive yet easy dessert that looks as good as it tastes.
- **Air Fryer Apple Crisp:** A warm, comforting dessert with a buttery, crispy topping and soft, spiced apples.
- **Air Fryer Apple Fritters:** Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these fritters are a delightful breakfast or dessert.
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Air Fryer Apple Tart
Rate
Equipment
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1 Air Fryer
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1 7-inch Tart Pan
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Mandolin (optional, for thin apple slices)
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 refrigerated pie crust, sheet
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
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1. Prepare the tart pan with nonstick spray.
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2. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
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3. Unroll the refrigerated pie crust dough.
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4. Press the pie crust dough evenly into the prepared tart pan.
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5. Place the tart pan with pie crust into the basket of your air fryer. Poke holes into the crust with a fork before baking to prevent puffing.
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6. Air fry the pie crust at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) for 4-5 minutes, or until lightly golden.
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7. Carefully remove the tart pan from the air fryer.
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8. Arrange the thinly sliced apples over the pre-baked dough in a decorative pattern.
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9. Brush the tops of the arranged apples generously with the reserved melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, and brown sugar mixture.
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10. Place the tart back into the basket of the air fryer.
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11. Air fry at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) for 16-20 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown. If crust begins to over-brown, loosely tent with foil.
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12. Allow the tart to cool slightly in the pan before slicing and serving. Enjoy warm!
Notes
**Even Slicing:** While not mandatory, using a mandolin for slicing apples thinly and uniformly will ensure they cook evenly and present beautifully.
**Air Fryer Variations:** This recipe was made in a 1700 watt 5.8 quart Cosori Air Fryer. Air fryer models vary, so cooking times and temperatures may need slight adjustments for your specific appliance. Always monitor your tart closely.
**Toppings:** For an extra treat, serve your warm apple tart with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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