Easy Caramel Apple Tart

This caramel apple tart features a flaky crust, spiced apple pie filling, and a luscious salted caramel topping. It’s super easy and perfect for fall!

This caramel apple tart has everything you want in a fall dessert.

Spiced apples? Check.

Flaky crust to complement the thick, warm filling? Check.

A buttery homemade caramel drizzle that’s both salty and sweet? Check. 

This apple tart with caramel sauce is definitely the perfect treat for your autumn gathering when you don’t want a project. It’s super impressive and just overall a scrumptious way to pay homage to the timeless fall-favorite apple pie. 

What Is Caramel Apple Tart?

You can think of this caramel apple tart as an apple pie served outside the pan. And, of course, who would refuse a spiced apple tart you can slice?

Don’t get me wrong, mini tarts are amazing, but larger tarts give you more artistic freedom. Imagine the fun patterns you can make when you arrange the apple slices!

This must-bake fall dessert is also not your ordinary apple tart.

While it’s a nod to the classic apple pie with its delicious apple pie filling, it’s also served with a homemade caramel sauce.

Compared to a store-bought one, this caramel is rich, buttery, and oh-so-gooey. I mean, it’s made with butter and cream! ?

Both the apple pie and salted caramel drizzle are also easy to make. In fact, we just used a store-bought pie crust for the tart. 

But for the “tart purists” out there, I got you!

Scroll down, and you’ll get an easy melt-in-your-mouth flaky tart crust that doesn’t require kneading. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Classic Fall Flavors: You’ll love how this salted caramel apple tart tastes comforting and familiar while still being new and exciting. It’s like a nostalgic treat with a twist as it combines an apple pie and caramel apple tart. 
• Delicious Use Of Apples: What to do with all those apples? Make a yummy apple and caramel tart! Besides the autumn fruit, you’ll only need some basic ingredients for this easy dessert. 
• Easy But Crowd-Pleasing: This apple tart with caramel sauce may look like a showstopper, but it’s a fall baking project you won’t dread. You can use a pie crust from the store, and you won’t burn your homemade salted caramel sauce as long as you keep our tips in mind. 

What Does Apple Caramel Tart Taste Like?

If you love caramel apples, this apple tart with caramel sauce will transport you straight to caramel apple heaven. ?

The golden crust is nice and flaky, perfectly complementing the thick apple pie filling. Yes, apple pie filling!

The sweet apples, warm spices, and just the right zing from the lemon juice (this is to slow down the browning of the apples, but it also enhances the overall flavor of the filling!) come together beautifully. 

Then, to satisfy our inner child, the tart is topped with salted caramel sauce, made extra special with heavy cream and butter.

This is why I highly recommend using a mixture of sweet and tart apples, as the tartness will be perfect with the rich caramel. 

Ingredients For Apple Tart With Caramel Sauce

• Tart dough or pie crust – You can make your own tart pastry or use a store-bought pie crust for convenience. 
• Lemon – We’ll toss the fresh apple slices in lemon to keep them from browning. Lemon also adds a nice tangy contrast to our caramel apple tart.
• Apples – You can use any of your favorite apples for baking. You can even combine different varieties!
• Granulated sugar – This apple and caramel tart has a similar filling to an apple pie, so our sliced apples are simply tossed in sugar, spices, and a thickening agent. We’ll also use this type of sugar for our caramel sauce.
• Cornstarch – To thicken our apple tart filling. 
• Apple pie spice – You can use whatever warm spice you like for this autumn dessert. 
• Water – For dissolving the sugar. 
• Salt – Don’t you just love the balance of salty and sweet in desserts? Salt, especially with caramel, creates a scientifically proven addictive flavor!
• Heavy cream – I highly recommend making your caramel with heavy cream. It makes it richer and thicker. ?
• Unsalted butter – Besides cream, we’ll also use butter on our homemade caramel sauce for the apple tart. The result? A glossier, thicker, and richer topping to complement our tart. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Apple And Caramel Tart

• Bowls for combining the ingredients
• Rolling pin for the crust
• Knife for slicing the apples
• Tart pan for baking the tart
• Saucepan for cooking the caramel sauce
• Spatula for stirring the caramel

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Salted Caramel Apple Tart

Pecans

I’m calling this apple tart with caramel sauce the perfect tart recipe for fall. That being said, what better combination to have than apples, warm spices, caramel, and crunchy pecans for the cozy weather?

Vanilla extract

This is a suggestion, but adding some vanilla extract to the caramel sauce really elevates its flavor.

Fig jam

Here’s a unique fall caramel flavor you probably haven’t tried before: salted caramel fig sauce! Just add fig jam to the caramel at the same time you stir in the butter and cream.

How to Make Apple Tart With Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tart dough or pie crust
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 apples, cored and sliced
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 and 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 cup granulated sugar for the caramel
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter

Tools you need:

• Bowls
• Rolling pin
• Knife
• Tart pan
• Saucepan
• Spatula

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your caramel apple tart. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP 2: Toss the apple slices in lemon juice to prevent browning. Then, add the sugar, cornstarch, and apple pie spice. Mix so everything is incorporated and the apples are well-coated.

STEP 3: Roll out the crust and place it in the tart pan. Don’t forget to trim off the edges.

STEP 4: Arrange the apple filling in the crust. Pour the leftover extract into the pan.

STEP 5: Bake the apple tart for 45 minutes or until bubbly.

STEP 6: Once done, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

STEP 7: Meanwhile, make the caramel sauce. Simmer sugar, water, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.

STEP 8: Stop stirring once the caramel is boiling to avoid scraping the burnt bits at the bottom. Turn the heat to medium-low.

STEP 9: Allow the caramel to boil for another 5 minutes until golden brown.

STEP 10: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and butter.

STEP 11: Drizzle your apple tart with caramel and enjoy.

What To Serve With Salted Caramel Apple Tart

This salted caramel apple tart is already decadent and enjoyable on its own, but of course, you can serve it with some vanilla ice cream. Caramel apple tart a la mode, anyone?

I think vanilla ice cream or whipped cream will be perfect as they don’t taste overbearing, so you can still savor the spiced apples and caramel in the dessert.

You can also use apricot jam to glaze your apple and caramel tart before drizzling the caramel sauce on top. 

Will you be serving this caramel apple tart at your next fall gathering? Impress your guests and give them a sweet time with other apple desserts!

Have this apple and caramel tart alongside our apple crumble cheesecake (this has a must-try spiced crust and streusel topping) and apple sugar cookies, which are like soft snickerdoodle cookies crossed with a warm apple pie. ?

Tips About Making Apple And Caramel Tart

• We’ve used Granny Smith apples for this apple tart with caramel sauce, but any apple varieties that hold up well after baking will be perfect. You can even use a mix of apple varieties. Maybe combine Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, for example.
• Always press down into the bottom and sides of the tart pan after putting the dough on it. And to remove the excess tart crust, run a rolling pin over the top of the pan. You can make your own tart pastry!
• Baking this salted caramel apple tart can take anywhere from 45 to 55 minutes. You’ll notice the filling bubbling, and the apples should be nice and soft. But if the apple tart is browning too quickly or the tips of the apples are starting to burn, tent the top with foil.

How To Store Caramel Apple Tart

• Fridge: You can store your salted caramel apple tart in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 5 to 7 days, as condensation can ruin its texture and taste. If you made the caramel sauce in advance, you can store it covered in the fridge for up to a week as well. 
• Freezer: Wrap your caramel apple tart in plastic wrap, then store it in a freezer bag for 2 to 3 months. To defrost, unwrap the tart and let it thaw at room temperature. 
• Reheating: Serve your apple tart cold from the fridge, but you can also quickly rewarm the leftover tart in the microwave at 30-second intervals, air fryer for 2 minutes at 250°F, or oven for 6 minutes. These are just guidelines, so adjust the time and temperature accordingly.  

Why Is My Apple Tart Dry?

Is your apple tart filling dry? Make sure your ingredient ratios are correct. It’s also important not to overcook the apples because their natural juices might evaporate.

Quite similarly, overcooking your tart can also lead to a dry crust.

And as a bonus tip, keep the apple tart in its tin until serving so the pastry doesn’t dry out. 

How Do You Make an Apple Tart Without a Soggy Bottom?

Do not fear the dreaded “soggy bottom syndrome” when baking tarts.

First, chill your pastry base in the freezer while preparing the apple tart filling.

If you made your own tart shell (kudos to you, by the way!),  brush it with an egg yolk wash while it’s still hot after it was blind-baked in the oven. Then, allow it to chill. 

This will act as a barrier between the filling and tart shell, so you won’t get a soggy bottom. 

What’s the Difference Between Apple Pie and Apple Tart?

While we used a pie crust on this apple tart, the main difference between an apple pie and an apple tart is their crust. 

An apple pie usually uses a flaky pie crust, while an apple tart has a crumbly tart shell or pastry dough.

Apple pies also tend to have a more rustic look, with the filling covered and the pie served right in the dish. On the other hand, apple tarts are more picture-perfect, showcasing intricate patterns, and are taken out of the dish before serving.   

Can you make a tart with a pie crust?

As seen in this easy apple tart with caramel sauce, yes, it’s possible to make a tart using a pie crust. Just note the difference in textures since the tart dough is more cookie-like than the more tender pie dough.

Regardless, it’s a lifesaver for me when I don’t have the time and energy to make a tart shell. ?

Of course, you can also buy those small tart shells and make a mini version of this recipe, but there’s just something more satisfying when you slice a large tart.

After all, this dessert is like a cross between an apple pie and a tart. 

How to make a tart crust

Don’t want to use a store-bought pie crust for this caramel apple tart recipe? You can quickly make a flaky and crunchy crust to house our cozy apple filling!

You don’t even need to knead or roll it.

First, make sure you’ve oiled and dusted your tart pan with flour.

Start with the wet mixture: combine water, oil, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Then, in another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. 

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and compact the dough with your hands.

Once ready, just flatten it into the tart pan, prick the crust with a fork, and refrigerate. 

FAQ About Apple Tarts

Conclusion

This easy caramel apple tart tastes as good as it looks!

The sweet and perfectly spiced classic apple pie filling is nestled in a golden crust to give you cozy fall flavors in a new and exciting way.

And to deliver the gooey goodness that will make you want to have the whole apple tart to yourself, the tart is also drizzled generously with rich, buttery, salty, and sweet caramel. 

I know tarts are usually crumbly and not flaky, and some might even argue that this is just an open-face apple caramel pie. But whatever you want to call this delicious fusion of two classic autumn desserts, I’m sure you won’t deny a slice when offered. ?

It’s apple season, but don’t limit yourself to apple pies and apple crisps! I have some easy but delicious apple recipes, ranging from single-serving desserts, gluten-free delights, outdoor-friendly sweets, crunchy slaw, and even a Starbucks copycat drink:

• Easy Spiced Apple Mug Cake
• Best Gluten Free Apple Muffins
• Easy Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler Recipe
• Apple Pear Slaw with Caramel Cider Vinaigrette
• Apple Crisp Frappuccino (Copycat Starbucks Recipe)