This Easy Rustic Apple Crostata recipe is made with homemade pie dough. However, should you prefer to use store-bought pie dough that's perfectly fine with me! I won't tell a soul.
For other delicious and unique crostata recipes, please check out the following: Fresh Peach Crostata, Apple Crumble Crostata, Roasted Broccoli Crostata with Cheese Sauce, and Strawberry Crostata with Sweet Almond Glaze.
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Go directly to the recipe.
- The ingredient list:
- How this apple crostata recipe came to be:
- What apples work best for making a crostata?
- How many crostatas does this recipe yield?
- Can apple crostatas be frozen?
- How to freeze apple crostatas:
- Some step-by-step photos for making rustic apple crostatas:
- Related recipes for you to enjoy:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2012. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
- Granny Smith apples
- prepared pie dough (store-bought or homemade)
- butter
- cinnamon
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- lemon juice
- pure vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- all-purpose flour
- confectioners sugar
- milk
- egg
How this apple crostata recipe came to be:
Somehow, right before my eyes, my apple pie bars morphed into a rustic apple crostata.
I think it had a lot to do with my fear of making homemade pie crust and a need to turn something a little too complex into something simple and non-threatening.
Enter...Rustic Apple Crostata With Vanilla Cinnamon Glaze.
What apples work best for making a crostata?
I used Granny Smith apples, but any apple with firm flesh that won't get mushy while baking is what you want.
Other good apples for pie and crostata baking include: Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious.
How many crostatas does this recipe yield?
As written, this recipe makes 2 good-sized crostatas with approximately 6 slices per crostata.
Can apple crostatas be frozen?
They sure can so don't worry that this recipe makes two. Serve one now, and save one for later.
How to freeze apple crostatas:
Allow the crostata to cool completely and then wrap it well with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
Individual slices may also be frozen. Store them in airtight freezer containers for up to 3 months.
I like to use these dissolvable content labels for adding dates and container content information to the outside of refrigerator and freezer packages.
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did. Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
Easy Rustic Apple Crostata with Vanilla Cinnamon Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST: (store bought may be substituted)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1 cup ice-cold butter flavor shortening cut into cubes (or you can substitute butter)
- 4 egg yolks
- zest from one lemon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 8-10 tablespoons icy cold water
FOR THE FILLING:
- 7-8 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and cut into slices
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
- dash of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 egg + one tablespoon of water
- additional sugar for topping
- 2 tablespoons butter for dotting
FOR THE GLAZE:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
TO MAKE THE CRUST:
- -Add flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a food processor. Pulse to combine.
- -Add the shortening and egg yolks, lemon zest, and juice to the flour mixture. Pulse until the mixture comes together slightly and looks slightly wet and crumbly.
- -Add a few tablespoons of ice water and pulse the mixture until the dough comes together as a ball. (You may not need all the water called for)
- -Divide the dough into two discs and wrap them in plastic.
- -Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
TO MAKE THE FILLING:
- -In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well.
TO PREPARE THE CROSTATA:
- -Roll each chilled dough disk into a sizeable free-form circle (approximately 12" round) on a lightly floured surface.
- -Gently move the crust onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- -Mound half of the apple mixture into the center of the dough, leaving at least 3" of dough around the border of the dough.
- -Gently fold up the 3" of plain dough around the apple slices in the middle, forming a rustic free-form pie with no top. Press the dough around the apples with your hands and form your crostata to your preference.
- -Bake the crostatas in the preheated oven for approximately 50-55 minutes or until the juices bubble and the crust is nicely browned.
- -Cool completely on a wire rack.
- -Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- -Whisk the egg and the water together and brush it onto the visible outer crust.
- -Sprinkle the entire crostata with sugar.
- -Dot the mound of apple slices with one tablespoon of butter.
- -Continue the same process with the additional dough and flour.
TO MAKE THE GLAZE:
- -In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until it forms a relatively thick icing that will drizzle generously but not be too thin so it immediately runs off (you may need to play with the amount of sugar or milk to achieve your desired consistency).
- -Drizzle the glaze over the cooled crostata and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you'll enjoy making (and eating) today's apple crostata recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Paula says
If you make a crostata look so wonderful I know you can make a pie look gorgeous. This looks delicious and that glaze is a keeper.
Katrina says
That looks delicious and beautiful! I think your crust looks perfect. I love crostatas--same reason you mention--doesn't have to be perfect! 😉