Rustic Mini Apple Tarts with Crunchy Oat Muesli Crumble

I’ve made versions of these kind of mini tarts before, not exactly this recipe, but something similar, and they are just delicious and ridiculously easy to pull together. Unlike a regular full-size tart where you convince yourself you can make that slice just a tiny bit bigger heheheh… just a little more… okay fine, one more sliver… these little individual ones somehow make portion control feel effortless. I think they feel a bit more fancy, and it makes it easier to share and to try and control yourself hahahaha, until you eat four of them, which is also completely valid 😀

This is also a fantastic recipe to make when you have a surplus of apples sitting around, you know the ones, you get a good price at the market buy a delicious bunch and then they just sit there going past their prime hehehehe. Hey don’t throw them out. Cook them low and slow into something caramelized and wonderful, because honestly, a slightly older apple often has even more flavor than a fresh one. This recipe was practically made for that situation, and it’s a great way to give those apples the send off they reaaaallllyyy deserve.

Now, a word about this crumble. There are plenty of other apple tart recipes out there with a more classic sugary crumble on top and they’re good, they are delicious, they really are, but i feel like the muesli here changes the whole game. The oats, the dried bits of fruit, the grainy texture of it all baked golden on top… it gives these little tarts something that a plain butter+sugar crumble just can’t match. It’s more rustic, it’s heartier, and the texture is way better. Once you try it this way, it’s hard to go back. Let’s get into it!

Rustic Mini Apple Tarts with Crunchy Oat Muesli Crumble

Servings: 12
Time: 1hr
Difficulty: Normal
Rating: ★★★★★
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You know that bowl of apples on the counter that's been quietly judging you for a week? Hahahaha this is the recipe for you, gotta baked them all! 😀

Ingredients

Apples – 9 (Small/Medium)
Lemon – 1 Tablespoon (Juice)
Cinnamon – 1 Teaspoon
Brown Sugar – 1 Tablespoon
Salt – A Pinch
Puff Pastry – 1 Roll (+/- 200g)
Flour – 75g
Butter – 50g (Cold)
Brown Sugar – 40g
Muesli – 40g

Directions

Start by peeling and cutting the apples into cubes. As these are for tartlets, it is best to cut them into very small cubes. Add a little lemon juice, cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and finally a pinch of salt.

Cook in a large frying pan over medium/low heat until there is no more juice and the apples are cooked and slightly caramelized. Taste, remove from the heat and let them cool down completely.

Line all the muffin tins with nonstick paper and preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).

Cut the puff pastry into circles (if you don’t have a circle cutter, use a glass), add each circle of dough to each muffin tin, and prick the bottom.

In a bowl, combine the flour, cold butter, brown sugar, and muesli, mixing with your fingers until you have a sandy texture (do not knead, just mix with your fingers).

Fill each mold with the caramelized apples, distributing them evenly among all the molds, don’t worry about pilling on, these will cook down.

Finally, sprinkle each of the tarts with the muesli crumble and bake.
Take them all in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown on top and on the bottom (if the to is browning too much put on a lower rack or put some aluminum foil on top to protect it). And That’s it, enjoy!

Notes & Tips: This is genuinely one of the best recipes to make with apples that are getting a little wrinkly and past their prime, cooking them low and slow brings out even more flavor and natural sweetness. The older the apple, the better it often turns out!

Once the apples are soft and the juice is gone, keep cooking a little longer over low heat. They’ll go deeper in color and flavor, totally worth it, taste and adjust the sweetness to your taste, you don’t want them super sweet because the crumble will be sweet as well.

Unlike the more classic all butter and sugar crumble (which is still delicious, don’t get me wrong), the muesli gives this topping a much more rustic, hearty texture. The oats and dried fruits in the muesli add little pockets of chewiness and super crunch that make every bite genuinely way more interesting.

A drinking glass or even a small bowl works perfectly for cutting the pastry circles. Just press and twist.

If you add hot apples to the raw pastry it can make the base soggy, so patience here pays off, also you can easily cook the apples the day before and keep it in the fridge, after cooking the apples they will keep well in the fridge for a couple of days.

Unlike a single large tart where someone inevitably ends up with a tiny corner slice and a big smile hiding their disappointment, these mini versions are perfect for sharing, everyone gets their own little tart, its easier to transport for a picnic or party and they are wayyyy less messy.

This recipe for Rustic Mini Apple Tarts with Crunchy Oat Muesli Crumble was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Tartinhas de Maçã com Crumble de Muesli foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.