Easy Upside Down Apple Puff Pastry

Breakfast for One

Easy Upside Down Apple Puff Pastry

Flaky puff pastry with caramelized apple, maple syrup, and cinnamon — an easy upside-down breakfast pastry or last-minute dessert that looks impressive with minimal effort.

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Yield: 4 pastries

Total Time: 35

Ingredients

1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed (for the batch)

For the Filling (per pastry)

1½ tsp salted butter
1½ tsp maple syrup
Apple slices Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp recommended
Granola a small handful
Ground cinnamon to taste

Instructions

Thaw puff pastry and cut into 4 equal squares or rectangles.
Line a sheet pan with parchment. Place butter on each spot where a pastry will sit.
Spoon maple syrup over each butter piece and sprinkle generously with cinnamon.
Arrange apple slices in a single layer over each base. Add a small handful of granola.
Place a pastry square over each stack, press lightly, and crimp the edges to seal.
Optional: brush tops with egg yolk for a shiny finish.
Bake at 405°F (205°C) for 20 minutes until puffed and golden. Cool slightly, then flip.

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Notes

Use a firm, sweet-tart apple like Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp — soft varieties like Fuji can turn mushy and watery in the oven. Don't stack the apple slices or the filling won't cook evenly. Scraps from cutting the pastry sheets make a great snack in the air fryer. To store, layer in an airtight container with parchment and refrigerate or freeze. Reheat in the air fryer or toaster oven — avoid the microwave.