Quick puff pastry apple rings (donuts) – a perfect cozy fall treat that tastes like apple pie! Wrap cinnamon sugar flavored apple slices with puff pastry strips, then bake them until sweet, tender, and flaky!
Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Apple Rings
There is rarely a week of fall that I don’t have a basket of apples in my kitchen, ready to whip up tasty treats. Whether it’s cinnamon apple pancakes or baked oats for breakfast, a snack of apple pie cookies or muffins, or caramel apple cheesecake or strudel for dessert. My newest obsession, though? These puff pastry baked apple rings!
Apple pie rings, puff pastry donuts, apple ring pastries – whatever you want to call these delicious puff pastry wrapped apples, they are a fall must-make. They encase warm, tender, cinnamon sugar (I use coconut sugar) spiced apple slices with flaky, crisp puff pastry, topped off with more cinnamon sugar – and taste just like apple pie but MUCH simpler to prepare with a handful of ingredients, a few minutes prep, and minimal effort.
Plus, while they look donut-esque, there’s no having to deal with batter or hot oil. Instead, there’s just a little cutting, wrapping, and sprinkling. Then, transfer them to an oven (or air fryer) to bake. Once ready, these apple puff pastry treats are adorable, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for last-minute guests and sweet cravings, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more.
The Ingredients
- Apple: You can use any firm/crisp apple, though I recommend large, sweet-tart apples. Options include Honey Crisp, Gala, Pink Lady, fuji, Braeburn, or Granny Smith.
- Vegan puff pastry: Save time and effort by using pre-made vegan puff pastry dough, gluten-free, if necessary.
- Coconut sugar: I love the caramel-like flavor of this unrefined sugar, though it’s possible to use brown sugar, too. A brown sugar alternative would also work.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon and apple are made for one another. Increase the ‘warmth’ further with a pinch of nutmeg, ginger, and/or cardamom.
- Plant-based milk: I use coconut milk, but any should work – to brush the pastry so it browns.
Topping Ideas
- Caramel sauce/chocolate sauce (As a drizzle or dip)
- Powdered sugar (aka icing sugar)
- Warmed Biscoff/cookie butter (as a dip)
- Simple glaze icing (powdered sugar + vanilla + milk)
- Cream cheese frosting (vegan cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla + milk)
- Raisins, shredded coconut, chocolate chips (any or all – to sprinkle)
- Vegan heavy cream or coconut whipped cream
- Caramel or vanilla ice cream
Please read the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information.
How to Make Puff Pastry Apple Rings
Get ready to be surprised at just how simple it is to prepare these puff pastry apple pie rings – even your kids can get in on the action.
- First, thaw the puff pastry if it’s frozen and prepare it according to its instructions (many require you to leave it at room temp for a while before use). Then, preheat the oven to 400F/205C.
- Next, slice the apples into about 1/2-inch rounds, coring them with a small round cookie cutter (about 1 1/2 inches / 4 cm wide) or a paring knife.
You can peel the apples if preferred, but I left them on for extra fiber and nutrients.
- Combine the coconut sugar and cinnamon in a wide, shallow dish. Working one at a time, press each apple ring into the cinnamon sugar mixture on both sides.
- Next, unroll the pull pastry and carefully roll it with a rolling pin/bottle until it’s just a little thinner and larger.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the puff pastry into 1-inch (2.5 cm) strips crosswise, then cut them in half across the middle (so they aren’t as long).
- Wrap the puff pastry strips around the apple rings (I used 3-4 strips per apple ring) with some slight overlap.
- Then, brush them with the milk and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.
- Transfer the puff pastry-wrapped apple slices to a parchment paper-lined baking tray, with space in-between, and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the puff pastry is flaky and golden brown and the apple slices are tender.
- Finally, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes. Optionally drizzle them with salted caramel sauce (or serve it as a dip) or your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
Enjoy the puff pastry apple pie donuts as a sweet snack, or make more of a dessert with a scoop of vegan caramel or vanilla ice cream.
Storing Instructions
Store: I prefer to eat them immediately after baking, when possible, but leftovers will store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: You can then reheat the puff pastry apple doughnuts in the oven or an air fryer until warm and slightly crisp. Avoid the microwave, as the pastry will become soggy.
FAQs
How to avoid browning apples?
After slicing the apples, transfer them to a bowl with water and the juice of one lemon, or brush them directly with lemon juice to avoid premature browning.
Can I substitute the puff pastry?
Yes, pie crust dough should work as an alternative.
Can I make puff pastry apple rings in advance?
Though I haven’t tried it myself, I think you should be able to freeze the raw/un-baked spiced apple wrapped in puff pastry. Spread them across a tray to flash freeze, then pop them into a Ziplock for up to 2 months. Then, bake them from frozen, adding extra time to baking.
Can I air-fry the apple puff pastry rings?
I haven’t tried it yet, but it should work fine. I recommend air frying the apple rings at 375F/190C for 10-14 minutes. But keep an eye on them, as that may need adjusting.
Recipe Notes and Top Tips
- Follow the pastry instructions: It needs to be fully thawed and left out of the refrigerator for the required time, but not much longer. If it’s too cold, it’s not as pliable and liable to crack. If it’s too warm, it can lose its ‘puff’ ability.
- Remove enough from the middle: When you core the apple, it’s a good idea to remove at least 1 1/2 inches from the middle of the apple slices. This is so it’s easier to wrap the pastry around the ring.
- Sweeten to taste: Depending on the sweetness of the apple, increase or decrease the added sugar accordingly.
- For ‘stuffed’ puff pastry apple donuts: Instead of cutting strips, cut two puff pastry circles. That way, you could sprinkle in some chocolate chips, coconut, raisins, etc., beneath the top layer of pastry. Then, use the tip of a knife to cut out the middle and press the top and layers of dough together so they’re still donut-shaped.
More Vegan Fall Treats
- Vegan blueberry apple crumble
- Apple crisp (without oats)
- Apple pie with streusel topping
- Pecan tarts (vegan butter tarts)
- Vegan snickerdoodles
- Pumpkin cookies
- Vegan pumpkin pie
If you try this easy puff pastry apple rings recipe, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan and #elavegan—I love seeing them.
Puff Pastry Apple Rings
Ingredients
- 2 large apples
- 1 sheet of vegan (275 g) puff pastry (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 Tbsp coconut sugar or sugar of choice
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- Coconut milk to brush
- Serve with vegan caramel sauce
Instructions
- You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.First, thaw the puff pastry if it’s frozen and prepare it according to its instructions (many require you to leave it at room temp for a while before use). Then, preheat the oven to 400F/205C.
- Next, slice the apples into about 1/2-inch (1.2 cm) rounds, coring them with a small round cookie cutter (about 1 1/2 inches / 4 cm wide) or a paring knife.You can peel the apples if preferred, but I left them on for extra fiber and nutrients.
- Combine the coconut sugar and cinnamon in a wide, shallow dish. Working one at a time, press each apple ring into the cinnamon sugar mixture on both sides.
- Next, unroll the pull pastry and carefully roll it with a rolling pin/bottle until it’s just a little thinner and larger.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the puff pastry into 1-inch (2.5 cm) strips crosswise, then cut them in half across the middle (so they aren’t as long).
- Wrap the puff pastry strips around the apple rings (I used 3-4 strips per apple ring) with some slight overlap.
- Then, brush them with the milk and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.
- Transfer the puff pastry-wrapped apple slices to a parchment paper-lined baking tray, with space in-between, and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the puff pastry is flaky and golden brown and the apple slices are tender.
- Finally, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes. Optionally drizzle them with salted caramel sauce (or serve it as a dip) or your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
Notes
- Remove enough from the middle: When you core the apple, it’s a good idea to remove at least 1 1/2 inches from the middle of the apple slices. This is so it’s easier to wrap the pastry around the ring.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
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great recipe, absolutely delicious!
the video and pictures are super helpful.
So happy to hear you like them as well. 🙂
I would love to find vegan gluten free puff pastry….so far I found gluten free puff pastry but it does contain eggs, or it’s vegan and made with wheat. I live in Canada if someone has any tips.
Unfortunately, I don’t know where it’s available in Canada. Did you check if you can buy it online?