Simple Apple Tart Ginger Snap Crust

Published 10/3/2022 • Updated 11/5/2024 Have no fear, this apple tart may look fancy, but it is really easy to make. It just takes a little time. If you are looking for more easy holiday desserts these soft gingerbread cookies or these chocolate chai cheesecake bars.

Simple Apple Tart Recipe

Yes, we mentioned above that this apple tart is made with a gingersnap crust rather than a traditional pie crust made of pastry dough (like other apple tarts). We love the simplicity of the gingersnap crust and the big flavor and extra bit it gives this delicious tart. We recognize that this tart recipe looks a bit complicated, but you will surprise yourself when you make a gorgeous tart and serve it to your family.

Other reasons to make this easy apple tart.

Its not your average apple pie. This tart is made up of thin apple slices and a ginger crust to die for. The ingredients for this apple tart are ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now. It is a great recipe to take to a party to impress your friends and family.

Ingredients You Need

Honey crisp apples- we combined a sweet apple like an apple crisp with a tart apple. Granny smith apples– the tart apple we use in this recipe are the classic granny smith. Ginger snaps– buy a box of your favorite gingersnaps and they will be a part of the dry rub that you toss with the apples and the main ingredient in the ginger snap crust. Brown sugar- both the apple pie filling and the crust have brown sugar. Spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg)- the spices that you coat your apples with are classic warming spices that are the perfect combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. You can also use one teaspoon of our pumpkin pie spice if you have it on hand instead). Salt- there is both table salt and kosher salt in this recipe. It draws out the moisture from the apple slices and brings out all of the flavor in the apple tart itself. Cold unsalted butter- be sure the butter for the crust is cold and then you will also need butter for the orange juice reduction. Orange juice- you only use a little bit of orange juice to create a sweet butter reduction. Water- this thins out your reduction rather than using more orange juice. It’s sweet enough as it is. Apple juices (be sure you save these!)- you get all the flavors from the apples, spices, and other tasty ingredients from the apples. Honey- the honey both gives this apple crisp both a shiny glaze and a bit of natural sweetness.

Tools You Need

Kitchen mandolin– the most important tool for this recipe (in my our opinion) is a mandolin. It is the easiest way to get exactly the same thickness for every single apple slice. Don’t have honey? Many people skip the reduction all together and use jams or preserves. Apricot jam or apricot preserves are a great option. They are sweet, sticky, and have just a hint of flavor. 9-inch tart pan– we have this tart pan and prefer the scalloped edges. If you have a 9 inch pan with no scallops, thats ok. Be aware that some tarts pans have a removable bottom, so be sure to grab the sides of the plate rather than placing your hand on the bottom. You may end up with a mess. Small saucepan– the small sauce pan is used to make the reduction that will be brushed on to the top of the tart. Pastry brush- whether you use a pastry brush or a new small paint brush, it is so helpful to have a brush rather than pouring the sauce over the tart. You will end up with puddles of reduction. Food processor– you will have to process the ginger snaps and butter together to create the base of your tart. Be sure you have a big enough food processor.

How to Make a Simple Apple Tart

Storage

Store this apple tart covered and in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It tends to get a little soggy after that. Uniform apple slices. To make a beautiful and uniform rose be sure that your apple slices are sliced to about the same thickness. Set aside broken apples. Save broken apple slices for the end to fill in holes within your apple rose. Take your time. Take your time as you line the apple tart with the apple slices, row by row. Set apples aside for the middle. The middle of the apple rose is key to making the apple tart look like a rose. Line 3-4 slices of apple up in a line, overlapping at each end of the apple and roll the slices of apple into a beautiful apple twist. Set the apple twist aside. You will place this into the middle of the apple tart at the end.
Add more apples. If you run out of apples before your tart is finished slice more apples and sprinkle them with cinnamon and let them sit for a few minutes. Then finish your tart.