A simple and incredibly flavorful dessert!
As summer winds down and apple season begins, our Apple Cheese Tart is the perfect bridge into fall. A buttery shortbread cookie crust holds a creamy layer of sweetened cream cheese, topped with apples and a hint of cinnamon.
It’s light enough for warm days yet cozy enough to welcome the cooler evenings ahead. With no rolling pin required, this easy tart delivers a balance of tangy fruit, rich filling, and delicate sweetness, ideal for your end of summer gatherings, Labor Day, or an afternoon treat.
Apple Cheese Tart with Effortless Crust
Equipment
- 12” Tart dish or pan
Ingredients
Crust
- 8 tbsp butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup organic sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup organic sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Apple mixture
- 5-6 small apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 4 tbsp organic sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For serving
- Vanilla Greek yogurt for topping
- Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
For the crust
- In a mixing bowl, cream the room temperature butter with sugar and vanilla. Blend until well incorporated.
- Add the flour and stir until a crumbly mixture forms.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 12” tart pan and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and let cool while preparing the other ingredients.
- Reduce the oven to 375 degrees F.
For the cheese filling
- In a mixer or mixing bowl with beaters, combine the room temperature cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
For the apple mixture
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the thinly sliced apples, juice from ½ lemon, sugar, and cinnamon. Gently toss until well combined and the apples are evenly coated.
Assembly
- Spoon the cheese filling mixture into the tart crust and evenly smooth over the crust, leaving about a ½” space around the edge of the tart. In other words, do not spread the cheese mixture over all of the crust, just from the center to about ½” from the edge. This will be a thin layer of cheese mixture.
- Evenly arrange the seasoned apple slices on top of the cheese filling, extending them to the edge of the tart pan, so that only the apples are visible.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until apples are tender. Note: The apples in this tart will soften, but not as much as an apple pie filling.
- Let the tart completely cool before slicing.
- Serve with vanilla Greek yogurt as a topping or whipped cream.
Looking for another summer dessert recipe to try? Check out our Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake Bites!
Enjoy!
Making this recipe? Be sure and share it with us on the WOT Instagram or on Facebook!
All photos by Lorianne DeVita
