Baked Apple Roses

Ingredients

• 1 large red apple , cored and very thinly sliced
• 0.25 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry , 17.25 ounce
• 0.25 cups melted butter
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Butter two (6 to 8-ounce) ramekins and dust with white sugar.

2. 2

   Place apple slices on a microwave-safe plate, overlapping slightly if necessary. Microwave on high until slices slightly soften, about 45 seconds. Cover the plate with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel.

3. 3

   Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

4. 4

   Roll puff pastry sheet to less than 1/8-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, cut two (3x12-inch) rectangles. Reserve remaining pieces for another use.

5. 5

   Spread melted butter over dough; sprinkle with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar. Place apple slices along one long edge of dough, about 1/4 inch beyond the edge, overlapping slices slightly. Fold the bottom half of dough over apple slices to form a long "folder" of dough with rounded edges of apple slices exposed.

6. 6

   Beat together egg and water in a small bowl. Brush surface of dough with egg wash. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

7. 7

   Starting at one end, roll dough to form a rose-shaped pastry. Seal roll with end of dough strip. Transfer roses to the prepared ramekins. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

8. 8

   Bake on the middle rack in the preheated oven until well browned, about 45 minutes. Use tongs to remove the ramekins to a baking sheet to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove apple roses from the ramekins and finish cooling on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.