14 Simple Fruit-Filled Puff Pastry Desserts for Beginner Cooks

Fresh Fruit Frangipane Tart Recipe

Everyone will think you picked up this sophisticated fruit tart from an upscale bakery, so watch their reactions when you reveal that you made it yourself. This recipe features fresh pluots, but you can swap them for any seasonal fruit like apples or pears. Watch Chef John’s video to see how he effortlessly assembles this tart and adds the finishing touch that gives it a professional, bakery-style finish.

Apple Tartlets Recipe

If you can slice apples and heat up some apricot jam, you’re all set to make these simple apple tartlets. Make sure to slice the apples thinly so they bake to a tender perfection. You can either create individual tartlets or one large tart to share. Home cook Marieclaire0924 shared, 'We loved it! I ended up using peach preserves instead of apricot because that's what I had. It was a big hit at our party! Such a buttery, sweet taste!'

Peach Tartlets with Apricot Glaze Recipe

Here’s another incredibly simple tartlet recipe made with fresh peaches instead of apples. Feel free to swap in plums, nectarines, or pears as well. Home cook Casablancaise shares, 'The fastest dessert I’ve ever made! And it’s so delicious. I always keep puff pastry in my freezer and a few kinds of jam in the fridge, so this will be my go-to recipe for quick, last-minute desserts.'

• Get Our Favorite Peach Dessert Recipes

Apple Turnovers Recipe

For this recipe, you'll cook the apples for a few minutes before filling and sealing the puff pastry triangles. Be sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking, just in case a little filling escapes. Cook the cornstarch mixture with the filling until it thickens nicely.

Simple Apple Strudel Recipe

For this version, the apples aren’t pre-cooked, and you’ll be making one large pastry instead of individual turnovers. To prevent the filling from becoming too watery, cut slits in the top before baking to allow steam to escape. Some reviewers opted to cook the filling slightly before adding it to the pastry.

Black Walnut and Cherry Strudel Recipe

A creamy filling made with cream cheese, sweetened with sugar, and brightened with lemon juice, gives this cherry strudel a tangy twist. Whether you use fresh or frozen cherries, the results will be equally delicious.

Apple Galette Recipe

Call it a tart, galette, or even a topless pie—whatever you prefer. This simple dessert was invented in a hotel room kitchenette: a heap of spiced apple slices is placed in the center of a sheet of puff pastry, and the edges are folded up to form a rustic, edible pie crust. Bake it, let it cool, slice, and enjoy.

Allie's Savory Baked Dumplings

Ready for another apple-filled puff pastry variation? This one doesn’t require thin apple slices. Instead, apple halves (peeled and cored) are wrapped in puff pastry squares with a sweet, spiced breadcrumb filling, then baked until the apple is perfectly soft and tender.

Raspberry Pain au Chocolat (Raspberry Chocolate Croissants) Recipe

Sure, croissants are typically a breakfast or brunch item, but who’s to say that’s the rule? This delightful pastry is filled with a decadent hazelnut-chocolate spread and raspberry jam. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream, and see if anyone protests breakfast for dessert.

Strawberry Napoleon Pastries

This shortcut version of a classic Napoleon uses puff pastry, instant pudding, whipped topping, and fresh strawberries. For an extra touch of elegance, drizzle with chocolate before serving.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Clouds Recipe

Sweetened cream cheese and sliced strawberries are generously spooned into crisp baked puff pastry shells to create these charming individual desserts. Want to swap in other fruits and garnish with mint or edible flowers? Absolutely, go ahead.

Lemon Berry Tartlets Recipe

Elegant yet incredibly simple. Store-bought or homemade lemon curd is spooned into pastry shells and topped with fresh blackberries. Watch the video to see just how easy it is to prepare these delightful tartlets.

Blackberry Puff Pastry Tarts Recipe

Sweetened cream cheese and blackberries (either fresh or frozen) are nestled in crisp pastry shells to create these delectable, bite-sized treats.

Strawberry Kiwi Tartlets Recipe

The recipe suggests removing the kiwi seeds, but many reviewers left them in—and guess what? Everything turned out just fine, and the desserts still looked fantastic. See? Sometimes it’s okay to break the rules.

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