These beautiful rose-shaped pastries are made with soft and delicious apple slices, wrapped in sweet and crispy puff pastry.

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 2-3 red-skinned Gala apples
• 1 sheet of frozen puffed pastry, thawed
• 3 teaspoons of honey, divided
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• Ground cinnamon
• Confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven 375° F.
2.  Slice the apples in half from top to bottom. Remove the core ends and scoop out the core in the center.  Horizontally slice each apple half into 1/8-inch thin slices.
3. Fill a medium-sized microwaveable bowl half full of water and add lemon juice.  Place the sliced apples in the water and microwave for 5 minutes until slightly tender.  Drain the apples in a colander.
4. Place the puff pastry sheet flat on a floured surface. Roll the pastry out with a rolling pin to approximately 10 x14-inches.  Cut pastry into 6 equal strips.  Spread ½ teaspoon of honey onto each strip of pastry.
5. Place 7-8 apple slices along one half of the pastry slice with the peel side facing out.  Sprinkle apples with cinnamon.  Fold the pastry in half to cover the apples.
6. Starting on one end, roll the pastry and apples to the other end of the pastry.
7. Place the apple rose in a buttered muffin tin.  Continue with the other pieces of pastry until you have 6 apple roses.
8. Bake on the middle rack in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.  Pastry should be fully cooked on the inside before removing the roses from the oven.  Remove from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes.  Run a sharp knife around the edge of each apple rose.  Using a spatula, gently remove each to a wire rack to cool.
9. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.  Serve. 

Tips:

• If after the first 30 minutes the apples start to burn on top, cover loosely with aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes, to avoid burning the tops.
• Recipe can be easily doubled.