’Tis the season right? It’s almost Thanksgiving, the temperature has dropped and the clocks were set back. But fear not, as much as I hate (like really hate) when it gets dark out this early, I do seem to allow myself to spend more time in the kitchen during these fall and winter evenings.
Recently Ry brought home a sac of golden delicious (emphasis on delicious) apples. And, I’ve been wanting to make a giant tart in my fancy scalloped baking dish, so a cardamom cream cheese apple tart seemed like the right thing to do. This is basically a cream cheese tart that’s topped with some baked fruit. Use this recipe as a really basic framework to make any type of cream cheese tart and top it with whatever you like and flavor it with whatever you like. (Be sure to let me know about what variations you did in the comments below!)
For this version I did a brown sugar, cardamom and vanilla cream cheese base, but you could go citrus, chocolate, simply just sweetened with some sugar, and then top it with anything from fresh berries, figs, caramel, cookie crumbles, really anything you want. Go wild.
...as much as I hate (like really hate) when it gets dark out this early, I do seem to allow myself to spend more time in the kitchen during these fall and winter evenings.
Apple Cream Cheese Tart (Rich, Spiced & Buttery)
The best fall desserts balance cozy spices, buttery crusts, and just the right amount of sweetness. This apple tart with a cardamom and brown sugar cream cheese filling does all that and more. It’s got a flaky, golden crust, a silky cream cheese filling infused with cardamom, and a topping of tender, spiced apples baked until perfectly caramelized. Think of it as an upgrade to your classic apple pie—just as comforting but a little extra.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Creamy & Spiced: The sweet cream cheese filling has a hint of warmth from the cardamom, making each bite absolutely delicious.
- Flaky Crust: The buttery homemade pie crust that holds everything together beautifully.
- Perfect for Fall: Apples and cardamom create a wonderful flavor combo, that is a little unexpected.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep everything in advance for easy assembly.
Ingredients to Make This Apple Cardamon Cream Cheese Tart
The Flakey Tart Crust
The Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 lb cream cheese – make sure it’s at room temperature
- 1 c sour cream – room temp also
- 1/2 c dark brown sugar – packed
- 2 eggs – these need to be at room temp too
- 5 green cardamon pods, freshly ground or a scant 1/2 tsp pre-ground cardamom
- 1 vanilla bean split and scraped or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
The Apple Topping
- 6 small to medium apples – I used golden delicious here, but use whatever apples you like
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tbsp sugar
How To Make This Creamy Apple Tart
Make the Sliced Apple Topping
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Thinly slice the apples and arrange them in small, overlapping layers on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush the apples with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and golden brown.
Prep the Crust
- Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).
- Roll out the All-Butter Pie Crust until it fits your baking dish. Transfer the dough, trimming any excess overhang.
- Use a fork to dock the base of the crust, then line it with foil or parchment paper. If using pie weights, add them now (or live dangerously and skip them).
- Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes, then remove the pie weights (if used).
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the crust cool completely before filling.
Make the Spiced Brown Sugar and Cream Cheese Filling
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
- In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar until smooth.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Stir in the cardamom, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
- Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake at 325°F for 30 minutes, or until the center is just set.
- Let the tart cool to room temperature before topping with the baked apple slices.
- Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar just before serving. Enjoy!
The crust recipe I used here is my All Butter Pie Crust. I made the entire batch, which would normally be enough for two pies, or one covered pie in your standard 9” pie plate. But, this scalloped baking dish is pretty massive, 13” in diameter, so I used the full recipe to cover the entire dish. I also par baked the crust, since the cream cheese filling really doesn’t take that long to bake in comparison. There’s a fairly thin layer of filling, so you only need to bake it for about 25-30 mins till it’s set.
If you’re using a smaller baking dish, and have a thicker layer of filling, you’ll need to cook it a little longer. After 35 minutes baking, I would keep checking every 10 minutes for doneness. The filling should have just set in the very center. I would recommend erring on the side of underbaking here. You’ll have some carry-over cooking when it comes out of the oven, and it’ll also firm up some more once it’s cooled. You want it to have that nice smooth, creamy interior, rather than an overbaked chalky kinda thing going on.
Tips for The Best Apple Tart
- Thinly Slice the Apples – They’ll bake evenly and create a more even layer when you go to top the tart.
- Chill the Dough – A cold crust bakes up crisp and holds its shape better. Keep the dough in the fridge until you’re ready to roll it out.
- Don’t Overbake – The cream cheese filling should be just set when you remove it from the oven.
FAQs When Making This Apple Tart
Can I make this tart ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the crust and filling a day in advance and assemble before baking. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What’s the best apple for baking?
Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith work best for tarts since they hold their shape while baking.
Can I freeze this tart?
Yes! Wrap the baked and cooled tart tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
What pairs well with this tart?
A dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a drizzle of salted caramel takes it to the next level.
More Delicious Fruit Dessert Recipes to Try
Easy Apple Galette – An easy apple galette made with flakey dough, layered with apples and topped with cinnamon crumble and toasted walnuts. An elegant rustic dessert that is unbelievably easy to make.
Italian Pear and Almond Cake – This Italian pear and almond cake is simple to make yet impressive. Topped with crunchy almonds, it’s a perfectly sweet, moist dessert filled with juicy pears and nutty almond.
Persimmon Pavlova – A classic vanilla meringue pavlova gets topped with lots of fresh persimmons, raspberries, blueberries and whipped cream.
Caramelized Banana Dutch Baby – This caramelized banana dutch baby recipe is the perfect sweet treat for breakfast, or dessert.
Blueberry Pie – A classic easy blueberry pie recipe. It’s simple, perfect and the peak of summer, and can even be made with frozen blueberries.
Key Lime Cheesecake With No-bake Chocolate Cookie Crust – This creamy key lime cheesecake is the perfect dessert with a no-bake chocolate cookie crust and smooth lime-infused filling. easy to make and perfectly tangy!
Rhubarb Crumble – An easy recipe for rhubarb crumble. Tart, delicious rhubarb gets topped with a sweet, buttery crumble topping. So good!
Poires Belle Hélène – Delicious poached pears covered in a salted dark chocolate sauce, toasted almonds, flaky salt and served with vanilla ice cream.
Did you make this recipe?
This Apple Cardamom Cream Cheese Tart is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or a weeknight treat. Let me know in the comments if you make it—I’d love to hear what you think!
Share your version on Instagram by tagging @TheMostHungry. I’d love to see how you made it your own!
Apple and Cardamom Cream Cheese Tart
Ingredients
- 1 all butter pie crust
- 1 lb cream cheese room temp*
- 1 c sour cream room temp*
- 1/2 c dark brown sugar packed
- 2 eggs room temp*
- 5 green cardamon pods freshly ground or a scant 1/2 tsp pre-ground cardamom
- 1 vanilla bean split and scraped or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 6 small to medium apples i used golden delicious here, but use whatever apples you like
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
The Apple Topping
- Pre-heat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Slice apples thinly and arrange in small, shingled layers on a parchment lined baking tray. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 45 minutes or until they are tender and golden brown.
The Crust
- Turn oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Roll out your All Butter Pie Crust till it’s large enough to fit in your baking dish. Transfer to baking dish, trim off any excess dough that is overhanging. Dock the base of your crust with a fork. Line with foil, or parchment, and pie weights if you have them. (I lived dangerously here and didn’t use any weights.) Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes, you can remove your pie weights, then lower temp to 375°F and bake for another 15 minutes till crust is golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before you fill it.
The Filling
- Pre-heat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Ok home stretch, time to make the filling. Combine your cream cheese, sour cream and sugar in a large bowl and beat till fully combined. Add in one egg at a time till fully incorporated. Then stir in your cardamom, vanilla and pinch of salt. Pour filling into crust and bake at 325°F for 30 minutes or until center has just set.
- Let cool at room temperature. Top with your baked apple slices, give it a nice sprinkle of powdered sugar just before serving and eat up!
Notes
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment with your thoughts or share your version on Instagram by tagging @TheMostHungry. I’d love to see how you made it your own!
