Apple Puff Pastry with Cream Cheese and Apples (Easy Braid)
Flaky puff pastry wrapped around sweet spiced apples and creamy cheesecake filling this apple puff pastry braid looks bakery-fancy but is shockingly easy to make at home. It’s golden, crisp, and absolutely irresistible fresh from the oven.
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled and diced
- ¾ cup water
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box puff pastry sheets thawed
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water egg wash
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir until thickened, then add apples. Simmer 8 minutes until tender. Let cool.
- Beat cream cheese until fluffy, then mix in sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.
- Roll puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Spread cream cheese mixture down the center, leaving borders. Spoon cooled apple filling on top.
- Cut slits along both pastry sides. Fold strips over filling to form a braid, tucking in the ends.
- Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake at 375°F for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Slice and enjoy warm.
Notes
For the best results, let apple filling cool before adding to the pastry, fully soften cream cheese for a smooth filling, and don’t skip the egg wash—it’s the secret to that gorgeous golden shine. Try swapping apples with peaches, blueberries, or cherries for a fun twist.