Upside Down Puff Pastry Tart

This caramelized upside down puff pastry tart delivers golden, glossy toppings and a tender, flaky crust with hardly any fuss. Whether you crave a sweet apple treat or a savory showstopper with tomatoes or zucchini, this recipe adapts to your fridge and cravings. It works for entertaining or a cozy dessert and is as fun to make as it is to flip.

The first time I made this, I used apples from an orchard trip and honestly squealed at the caramelized reveal. My parents asked for seconds before it even cooled.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: Melted for rich flavor and even browning choose high quality European style if possible
• Light brown sugar: For sweet caramelization or honey for floral depth in savory versions look for fresh and fragrant brown sugar
• Large apples: Thinly sliced for classic comfort food select firm tart apples or switch to tomatoes zucchini or onions for savory twist
• Ground cinnamon: For subtle warmth in sweet versions freshly ground is always best skip it for savory
• Puff pastry: Store bought for simplicity opt for all butter sheets if available thaw fully for best puff
• Egg: Beaten this gives that shiny golden crust free range eggs have richer color
• Salt: For balanced flavor a pinch highlights both sweet and savory notes
• Puff pastry circles: Should slightly overlap toppings for that perfect edge caramelization

Instructions

Preheat the Oven:

Set your oven to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit or two hundred degrees Celsius. This high temp is key for crisping puff pastry without drying out the toppings and gives you that glossy finish.

Prepare the Baking Sheet:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a pastry brush cover six evenly spaced four inch circles with melted butter. This creates a nonstick layer and helps your toppings caramelize underneath.

Caramelize the Base:

Sprinkle brown sugar generously over the buttered circles. If going savory use honey instead. Layer on apple slices or your chosen topping in a single neat and slightly overlapping pattern. This keeps the tart juicy on the bottom but caramelized on top once flipped. Dust with cinnamon for sweet.

Cut and Place Puff Pastry:

Slice the puff pastry into six circles just a bit larger than your toppings. Drape each circle over the mounded toppings and tuck the edges snugly under to seal in juices and get that showstopping rim.

Apply Egg Wash and Salt:

Brush the top of each pastry with beaten egg. Sprinkle lightly with salt. This step gives that bakery window shine and balances all the flavors.

Bake to Perfection:

Slide the tray into the oven for twenty five to thirty minutes. The pastry will puff dramatically and turn deep golden. Check for an even crust color.

Flip and Reveal:

Once out of the oven cool the tray for two minutes just until safe to handle. With a spatula quickly invert each tart onto a plate so the glossy toppings are on top. Caramel will drip and everything should look beautifully lacquered.

Serve Up:

Enjoy these warm optionally with whipped cream for sweet versions or fresh herbs for savory. Their texture is best just out of the oven when the pastry is crispest.

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My daughter once begged to lick the parchment after I made these for Sunday brunch They are the antidote to any dreary weekend

Storage Tips

To keep leftovers crisp store pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for one to two days or refrigerate for up to three The crust will soften but can be reheated on a baking sheet in a hot oven for a few minutes to bring back the flake Avoid microwaving as it makes the pastry dense Place parchment between layers if stacking

Ingredient Substitutions

Feel free to swap pears or plums for apples or use vegetables like eggplant or mushroom in savory versions Goat cheese or feta crumbled under the pastry gives savory recipes extra creaminess If you cannot find all butter puff pastry try add a touch of grated frozen butter between store bought pastry layers for more flavor

Serving Suggestions

For dessert serve with vanilla ice cream whipped cream or a drizzle of maple syrup Savory versions pair delightfully with soft poached eggs or a green salad with sharp vinaigrette They also look beautiful on a brunch board or as an appetizer at parties

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This tart is a celebration of what you have on hand and flips out impressive every single time. Try a sweet or savory spin and you will have a new favorite in your baking rotation.