Smiley spiral apple tarts - Ella's Kitchen recipe

Who knew apple tarts could taste this good? Little ones will love to get involved using pastry cutters and decorating the tarts with apple slices.

Makes 6.

Prep time - 20 minutes.

Cooking time - 15-20 minutes.

What you need.

*  320 g/11¼ oz ready-made puff pastry

*  2 eating apples (Granny Smith or Royal Gala work best)

*  1 tablespoon lemon juice

*  50 g/1¾ oz unsalted butter, cut into 6 cubes

*  ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

*  25 g/1 oz soft light brown Sugar

What to do.

*  Preheat the oven to 200ºC /400ºF/Gas Mark 6.

*  Roll out the puff pastry until it is 0.5 cm/¼ in thick. Using a 10 cm/4 inch pastry cutter, cut out 6 circles from the pastry and place them spaced well apart on a baking sheet.

*  Core the apples, then cut them into very thin slices and put them in a bowl with the lemon juice. Toss the apple slices well to coat them in the juice. 

*  Arrange the apple slices on top of the dough circles in a ‘flower’ pattern.

*  Place a cube of butter on each tart, then sprinkle the tarts with a little cinnamon (to taste) and the sugar.

*  Bake the tarts in the oven for 15–20 minutes until golden brown. Serve them warm or cold with vanilla ice cream or crème fraîche.

Can I help? - Roll, cut, fill.

Tots of all ages get to play at being baker with these simple apple tarts. Making them is a brilliant activity for a play date. One friend rolls the dough, another cuts the circles and another fills the tart with pieces of apple.  

*  Ella's Kitchen The Cook Book - the Red One is out now (£14.99, Hamlyn).  Visit EllasKitchen.co.uk for more information *

* I have not received anything for sharing this recipe *